Fruit paste-based food product incorporating high protein particulates

摘要

A food product is defined by a moist, fruit-paste matrix, having a water activity level in a range of 0.55 to 0.70, within which protein particulates are intermixed. The protein particulates include protein bits having a bulk density of about 0.4 g/cc and provided with a natural syrup coating. With the added protein bits, the protein level of the food product is at least 10 grams per serving or 10 grams/50-55 grams of the food product. The food product can be provided in the form of a snack product, such as a bite-sized snack product or a snack bar. The invention also sets forth a method of making the food product wherein provisions are taken to assure that the protein bits are properly coated, separated, sized and added to the fruit-paste matrix under time and other condition constraints to assure the integrity of the protein bits.

主权项

1. A food product, comprising:
a moist, fruit-paste matrix having a water activity level in a range of 0.55 to 0.70; and, protein particulates intermixed with the fruit-paste matrix, said protein particulates including protein bits, established from a non-dairy and non-soy protein source, and a syrup coating selected from the group consisting of honey, maple, tapioca, agave, brown rice, date and sorghum syrups, provided directly on and hardened around the protein bits such that the protein particulates have a crunchy texture attribute and remain crunchy in the fruit-paste matrix over an extended period of time versus protein particulates which do not include a corresponding syrup coating.