The present invention relates to spirulina infused gummies. Particularly, the invention relates to gummies with goodness of spirulina. More particularly the invention relates to a method to prepare spirulina infused gummies.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

Globally, malnutrition is a serious issue, and developing nations bear the brunt of this challenging public health issue. As per several statistical reports it affects not less than one in four children around the world. Indeed, it is a major reason affecting several children every day. The effects of malnutrition are certainly a matter of concern. Chronic malnutrition is more lethal and more extensive than short term acute malnutrition.

Malnutrition can also be defined as insufficient, excessive and imbalanced consumption of nutrients. World Health Organisation reports that malnutrition is the largest contributor to child mortality. It also reports that absence of Vitamin A, Zinc and other micronutrients during pregnancy leads to underweight births, it also leads to intra-uterine growth restrictions. Iron deficiency can result in stunted growth, cognitive impairment, and reproductive harm. Vitamin A deficiency can result in poor immunity, blindness, or even death in children. Anemia (iodine deficiency) causes developmental disabilities, goiters, and other health issues.

Research supports that, malnourished children usually face health and educational problems in their adulthood. Malnutrition is directly associated with mortality and morbidity resulted from diseases including diarrhea, malaria, and other communicable diseases which can be otherwise controlled with strong immunity. Though, malnutrition can be easily treated with supportive nutrition balance and drug regimen, but major challenge is to identify and provide to the malnourish child on time. It is always better to provide fortify food to them with required nutrition to avoid future chances of malnutrition.

Spirulina is a well known blue-green algae heavily loaded with micronutrients required for human body. Spirulina is categorized as superfood and recommended by WHO. Researchers have proved that daily intake of 1-3 gms of Spirulina powder can help in maintaining nutritional fitness in human body.

Spirulina contains iron, protein, carbohydrate vitamins, magnesium, potassium, manganese in required amount for human body. A tablespoon of spirulina contains a small amount of fat (around 1 gram), including both omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids in about a 1.5:1 ratio. It is a single most nutritious food on the planet. The quality of the protein in Spirulina is considered excellent, comparable to eggs. It contains all the essential amino acids that human body need require. Spirulina is good source of protein per gram more so than beef, poultry, fish, and soybeans. Research supports that, Spirulina also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; it modulates immune response, which would help in fighting against communicable diseases.

Though raw Spirulina in the form of capsules and tablets are present in the market but strong odour and bad taste is a big deterrent for children and adults to consume it on regular basis. Due to strong odour and bad taste it is usually disliked by children & expected mothers.

Thus, there is a need of new form of spirulina product which could mask the bad taste and strong odour of raw form. Particularly, there is a need of processing of raw natural spirulina which do not affect the nutritive value of spirulina. Further, there is a need of new form spirulina which could be liked by masses specially young children. Further, there is a need of process which could make spirulina infused gummies which can mask the odour and taste of raw spirulina in a scientific way.

SUMMARY

The following presents a simplified summary of the disclosure in order to provide a basic understanding to the reader. This summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure and it does not identify key/critical elements of the invention or delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts disclosed herein in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

A more complete appreciation of the present invention and the scope thereof can be obtained from the accompanying drawings which are briefly summarized below and the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments.

The embodiment of the present invention contemplates to spirulina infused gummies which completely mask the bad taste and odour of spirulina.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention contemplates to spirulina infused gummies comprising of pectin, Sugar, Citric Acid, Glucose, Sugar, Spirulina, Preservative and Flavour.

Yet another embodiment of the present invention contemplates to a method to prepare spirulina infused gummies wherein Citric Acid, sugar, water, pectin, Spirulina, Preservative and flavor are heated till all the ingredients start melting. The mixture is stirred occasionally till the jellification starts. Post jellification it is poured in to moulds of desired shape.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to designate like elements, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of method for preparing spirulina infused gummies in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The present disclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

The use of “including”, “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item. Further, the use of terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another.

Spirulina is a spiral-shaped, multi-celled organism that uses light, warmth, and water to produce a wide variety of essential nutrients. It’s one of the most nutritionally dense foods on earth.

By weight, spirulina is about 60% protein. While protein deficiency isn’t a major problem for most in the first world, those in developing countries often have a difficult time obtaining enough good quality protein. Further, the protein in spirulina is complete, which means it contains all 9 of the essential amino acids not produced by the human body. Spirulina is also rich in minerals such as iron, chromium, and potassium, fatty acids, and vitamins, including B12, A, K1, and K2. In short, spirulina has all the nutrients necessary to make global malnutrition a historical footnote. The benefits of spirulina are so potent, it provides health and nourishment to nearly every single organ and bodily function.

Referring to Fig. 1 the spirulina infused gummy is prepared by a method in which first of all a certain amount of citric acid, pectin and water is heated to a suitable temperature. This heated mixture is poured into hot liquid glucose syrup the resulting mixture is heated further alongwith continuous stirring. After slight dip in temperature of the mixture, spirulina of predefined quantity is added to the mixture, after which the resulting mixture is stirred continuously. To this mixture artificial flavor and preservative is added and the resulting mixture is occasionally stirred to which again citric acid is added till the jellification starts. On the onset of jellification the mixture is poured in to molds for and is allowed to cool. Once the mixture is cooled it is unmolded resulting in spirulina infused gummies.

The formulation of spirulina infused gummies:
S.no. Constituent Preferable weight percentage
1. Pectin 2.5
2. Water 16.5
3. Citric Acid 2.9
4. Sugar 75
5. Spirulina 6.6
6. Preservative 0.5
7. Flavour 0.5

The following example, which include preferred embodiment will serve to illustrate the practice of this invention, it is being understood that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purpose of illustrative discussion of preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to be taken restrictively to imply any limitation on the scope of the present invention.
Example
Composition and process for preparing 1 Kilogram of spirulina infused gummies
Key Ingredients Amount
Composition for Step-1 Pectin 30gm
Sugar 100gm
Water 200gm
Citric acid 8gm
Liquid Glucose Syrup 700gm

Composition for Step-2 Spirulina 80gm
Preservative 0.1gm diluted in 0.5ml water
Flavor 2.5 ml
Citric Acid 25gm

[;’

The preparation of spirulina infused gummies include two steps.
Step-1
- First of all citric acid is poured in water and heated to a temperature of 80 degree Celsius, the solution is allowed to settle for a while. To this solution pectin and sugar is added in their respective quantity. The resulting solution is stirred forming a buffer solution.
- The buffer solution prepared above is now poured to hot liquid glucose syrup. This solution is stirred and heated to a temperature of 100 degree celsius for a period of 5 minutes. This is the final composition of step -1.

Step -2
- The final composition of step -1 is cooled to a temperature around 90 degree celsius to which spirulina is added with continued stirring to ensure uniform distribution without any lumps.
- After 15 minutes desired flavor is added along with preservative followed by continuous stirring.
- Then citric acid for step -2 is added to the composition to adjust the pH of the composition. This final composition is occasionally stirred until jellification starts.
- As soon as the jellification starts, the entire composition is poured in desired molds and the composition is allowed to cool and settle down.
- After the cooling of the composition it is unmolded, resulting in spirulina infused gummies.

Some of the major advantages of the present invention is
- The Spirulina infused gummies are cost effective, and are low cost in comparison to the currently available capsule and Tablets.
- The Spirulina infused gummies prepared by the above stated method is completely free from the natural taste and bad odour of the spirulina. Due to which it becomes more favorable for regular consumption.
- Gummies are generally very popular among kids and small children so Spirulina infused gummies could be very popular among kids, and can help in eradicating malnutrition among small children and young kids.
- The Spirulina infused gummies prepared by the above stated method will have optimum dosage of spirulina as required by humans.

In the foregoing specification, the invention is described with reference to specific embodiments thereof, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited thereto. Various features and aspects of the above-described invention may be used individually or jointly. Further, the invention can be utilized in any number of environments and applications beyond those described herein without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the specification. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. It will be recognized that the terms "comprising," "including," and "having," as used herein, are specifically intended to be read as open-ended terms of art.

Claims:I Claim:

1. A spirulina infused gummy prepared by the method comprising:
Heating mixture of citric acid, pectin and water;
adding hot liquid glucose syrup to heated mixture;
stirring the heated mixture is allowed to cool;
adding spirulina followed by continuous stirring;
adding flavor and preservative to the mixture;
adding citric acid to the mixture;
pouring mixture in to molds; and
unmolding the cooled mixture.

2. The spirulina infused gummy prepared by the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flavor is any artificial food flavor.
3. The spirulina infused gummy prepared by the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the preservative can be any food grade preservative.
4. The spirulina infused gummy prepared by the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mixture after adding flavor and preservative is occasionally stirred till jellification.
5. The spirulina infused gummy prepared by the method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the citric acid is added to mixture to maintain the pH.
6. A method to prepare spirulina infused gummy comprising:
Heating mixture of citric acid, pectin and water;
adding hot liquid glucose syrup to heated mixture;
stirring the heated mixture and allow it to cool;
adding spirulina followed by continuous stirring;
adding flavor and preservative to the mixture;
adding citric acid to the mixture;
pouring mixture in to molds;
unmolding the cooled mixture.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the flavor is any artificial food flavor.
8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the preservative can be any food grade preservative.
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mixture after adding flavor and preservative is occasionally stirred till jellification
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the citric acid is added to mixture to maintain the pH.