Bestfoods , the US food manufacturer that recently merged with Anglo-Dutch conglomerate Unilever , has been awarded a US patent protecting its new cream substitution for addition to hot meals. The invention is intended to improve upon cream powder already commercially available, which Bestfoods claims is unsuitable for addition to hot meals as it tastes of dried milk and cannot be evenly dispersed. The present invention is intended to fulfil the functions of cream in terms of its whitening power, its sensation in the mouth and its taste.