Claims for Patent: 7,220,440

Summary for Patent: 7,220,440

Title:	Method for reduction of acrylamide in roasted coffee beans, roasted coffee beans having reduced levels of acrylamide, and article of commerce
Abstract:	Roasted coffee beans having reduced levels of acrylamide, coffee beans having reduced levels of asparagine, and an article of commerce. In one aspect, the invention provides a method for reducing the level of acrylamide in roasted coffee beans comprising reducing the level of asparagine in coffee beans. In another aspect, the invention provides a method for reducing the level of asparagine in coffee beans comprising adding an asparagine-reducing enzyme to coffee beans. In still another aspect, an article of commerce communicates to the consumer that the roasted coffee beans, coffee beans, product comprising roasted coffee beans or coffee beans, and/or article of commerce has reduced or low levels of asparagine and/or acrylamide.
Inventor(s):	Dria; Glenn James (Okeana, OH), Zyzak; David Vincent (Mason, OH), Gutwein; Roger William (Cincinnati, OH), Villagran; Francisco Valentino (Mason, OH), Young; Herbert Thomas (Cincinnati, OH), Bunke; Paul Ralph (Cincinnati, OH), Lin; Peter Yau Tak (Liberty Township, OH), Howie; John Keeney (Oregonia, OH), Schafermeyer; Richard Gerard (Cincinnati, OH)
Assignee:	The Procter & Gamble Company (Cincinnati, OH)
Application Number:	10/603,973
Patent Claims:	1. A method for reducing the level of acrylamide formation in coffee beans which comprise soluble materials and asparagine using an asparaginase-reducing enzyme, said method comprising the step of extracting at least a portion of asparagine from said coffee beans to form an extract, contacting said extract with said enzyme for a sufficient amount of time to reduce the level of asparagine at least about 10%, and adding back at least a portion of said extract comprising said soluble materials to at least a portion of said coffee beans, followed by roasting said beans. 2. A method according to claim 1 which employs a dominant bath comprising said enzyme, whereby soluble materials in said beans, with the exception of said asparagine, do not continue to extract out of said beans, once equilibrium has been reached.

Details for Patent 7,220,440

Applicant	Tradename	Biologic Ingredient	Dosage Form	BLA	Approval Date	Patent No.	Expiredate
Recordati Rare Diseases, Inc.	ELSPAR	asparaginase	For Injection	101063	01/10/1978		2022-10-25