Our invention is concerned with a process and equipment and the resulting
product. The process and equipment produce simulated cylindrical olive
products with a central core. An aqueous alginate or low-methoxy pectate
sol containing dispersed olive flesh is co-extruded through a nozzle with
a stream of an aqueous solution containing dissolved calcium ions flowing
through an inner core of the nozzle at not more than +/-30.degree. to the
horizontal into a bath of an aqueous solution containing dissolved
calcium ions. The sol of alginate or low-methoxy pectate gels by
diffusion of the calcium ions from the co-extruded stream containing
dissolved calcium ions and from the aqueous solution containing dissolved
calcium ions in the bath. A cylindrical tube of gelled alginate or
low-methoxy pectate containing pulped olive is formed with a hollow core.
Preferably the sol contains a calcium salt in addition to the dispersed
olive flesh which calcium salt has insufficient free ions to gel the sol
but in acidic conditions is soluble and so then can gel the sol. A
plurality of nozzles can advantageously be used. The density of the
solution in the bath is preferably greater than the density of the
extruded sol.