The invention provides fruit-like products based on alginate or
low-methoxy pectate gel which are spherical with two dimples spaced at
opposite extremes of the sphere. These are prepared by extruding a sol
through a cylindrical nozzle and at the same time extruding a gelling
agent through a tube centrally located in the nozzle and co-terminous
with it. The extrudate is cut off at the end of the nozzle below the
surface of a bath of the gelling agent. The extrudate is allowed to gel
by diffusion of calcium ions. The gelling agent is an aqueous solution
containing calcium ions. The sol, which is an aqueous alginate or
low-methoxy pectate sol, preferably contains dispersed fruit puree.
Preferably the solution in the bath has a lower density than the density
of the sol. In a preferred form of the invention equipment is used
comprising a nozzle, a centrally spaced tube, a gelling bath and a
perforated support surface in the bath for the gelling product.