FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF

Introduced: September 1968

Last revised: January 2006

Classification Context

Section:: HUMAN NECESSITIES
Class:: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES; PREPARATION, TREATMENT OR PRESERVATION THEREOF
Subclass:: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF

Description

A23L covers foods, foodstuffs, and non-alcoholic beverages that do not fall within more specific IPC/CPC classes, along with their preparation and treatment methods. This subclass includes diverse products such as natural foodstuffs (nuts, seeds, spices, coffee, tea), composite food products, dietary supplements, food additives, and beverages like soft drinks and plant-based drinks. It encompasses processing techniques including grinding, mixing, texturizing, fortification, and flavor modification, as well as preservation methods not covered by specialized classes. A23L serves as a residual category for food and beverage inventions not classifiable under dedicated subclasses (A23B–A23K) that address specific product categories such as meat, fish, grain products, or fats and oils.

Additional Content

Glossary

food foodstuffs foods in addition to the commonly accepted meaning of foods or foodstuffs, the term in this subclass also extends to cover less traditional items such as thickening agents (e.g. starch), flavouring agents, artificial sweeteners or food colouring agents.

Limiting references

Preservation of foods, foodstuffs or non-alcoholic beverages

Application references

Edible extracts or preparations for medicinal purposes Preparation of malt for brewing

Related Keywords

PICKLING of foodstuffschemical STABILISATION of foodstuffs

17 direct subcodes

Child Classifications

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A23L 11/00 Pulses, i.e. fruits of leguminous plants, for production of food; Products from legumes; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 13/00 Meat products; Meat meal; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 15/00 Egg products; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 17/00 Food-from-the-sea products; Fish products; Fish meal; Fish-egg substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 19/00 Products from fruits or vegetables; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 2/00 Non-alcoholic beverages; Dry compositions or concentrates therefor; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 21/00 Marmalades, jams, jellies or the like; Products from apiculture; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 23/00 Soups; Sauces; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 25/00 Food consisting mainly of nutmeat or seeds; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 27/00 Spices; Flavouring agents or condiments; Artificial sweetening agents; Table salts; Dietetic salt substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 29/00 Foods or foodstuffs containing additives; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 31/00 Edible extracts or preparations of fungi; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 33/00 Modifying nutritive qualities of foods; Dietetic products; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 35/00 Foods or foodstuffs not provided for in groups; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 5/00 Preparation or treatment of foods or foodstuffs, in general; Food or foodstuffs obtained thereby; Materials therefor
A23L 7/00 Cereal-derived products; Malt products; Preparation or treatment thereof
A23L 9/00 Puddings; Cream substitutes; Preparation or treatment thereof

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class A23, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

KVASENKOV OLEG IVANOVICH RU 6,158
NESTLE CH 4,562
NESTEC CH 3,354
JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 2,699
DSM IP ASSETS (DUTCH STATE MINES IP ASSETS) NL 2,320
SUNTORY HOLDINGS JP 1,926
CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,804
CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 1,653
CARGILL US 1,588
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (RURAL DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION) KR 1,314