ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,778,167, issued on Nov. 3, was assigned to MARS Inc. (McLean, Va.).
"Flavor compositions and pet food products containing the same" was invented by Scott Joseph McGrane (Leicestershire, Great Britain), Andrew John Taylor (Loughborough, Great Britain), Richard Masten Fine (Oradell, N.J.) and Jerry Wallace Skiles (Oradell, N.J.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A flavor composition comprising at least one transmembrane compound and/or at least one nucleotide derivative that modulates, increases and/or enhances the activity of an umami receptor is provided that can be used to enhance the umami taste and/or palatability of food products. In cert...