A METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF A FOOD PRODUCT COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: WHOLLY OR PARTIALLY IMPREGNATING A SUBSTRATE WITH A STABILIZER COMPOSITION WHEREIN THE SUBSTRATE COMPRISES PIECES OF MEAT, POULTRY OR FISH; WHEREIN THE STABILIZER COMPOSITION COMPRISES AN AQUEOUS SOLUTION OF: CELLULOSE GUM 5-25% ;MODIFIED STARCH 16-50%; THICKENER COMPONENT 32-79% AND OPTIONAL FURTHER INGREDIENTS WHEREIN THE PERCENTAGE OF THE INGREDIENTS ARE BY DRY WEIGHT AND ARE SELECTED FROM THE RANGES QUOTED TO TOTAL 100%; AND WHEREIN THE IMPREGNATED SUBSTRATE IS COATED WITH AN AQUEOUS COATING COMPRISING 0.1 TO 5% BY DRY WEIGHT OF: CELLULOSE GUM 15-35%; MODIFIED STARCH 15-50%; HYDROCOLLOID 20-30%; PROTEINACEOUS COMPONENT 10-20%