Confectionery product made of protein and carbohydrate materials present in a relative weight ratio higher than 1

Abstract

The invention provides a confectionery bar comprising a proteinaceous material and a carbohydrate material in a relative weight ratio higher than 1 (from 1:0 to about 1:0.999). The bar produced is very palatable and chewy and has good organoleptic properties. It may be coated (enrobed) or not as desired. The product of the invention provides a meal replacement for very low calorie diets, diet supplement or protein supplement, and may optionally comprise a carbohydrate material of low digestibility or indigestible nature.

Description

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention[0002] The present invention relates to a confectionery product having a protein to carbohydrate relative weight ratio higher than 1. In particular, the invention relates to a diet bar for use as part of a low calorie diet, especially a very low calorie diet.[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art[0004] Very low calorie formula diet containing the minimum daily requirements of each of the minerals, proteins and digestible carbohydrates required by man have achieved remarkable commercial success. Such diets are usually formulated as a dry powder for use when mixed with water, either to produce a savory flavour drink resembling a soup, or a sweet flavour drink resembling a milk shake. The diets are designed for use as a sole source of nutrition over a lengthy period of time and their use can lead to significant weight losses.[0005] However, since the diet is consumed in liquid form any desire on the part of the dieter to chew what is consumed as the da...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] It is one object of the present invention to provide a solid substitute for one or more meals in a very low calorie dietary regimen, which is at least as palatable as the various formula diet products or the conventional foods used, and which has a chewy texture.

[0017] It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a confectionery product as a bar containing a relatively high proportion of protein and having a good, chewy, yet open texture, with good organoleptic characteristics.

[0018] It is a yet further object of the invention to provide a confectionery bar which can be used as a vehicle for other special ingredients of a dietary, nutritional or pharmaceutical nature, without imposing an undue burden in terms of calorie content which might impede the use of the bar for such purposes.

[0020] Such products can provide the chewy texture required by the dieter, and are otherwise organoleptically acceptable, providing the necessary level of proteinaceous material without an excessive intake of carbohydrate. The formulations in accordance with the invention also surprisingly aid in masking the taste of any minerals and / or trace elements which are optionally present.

[0032] Properties that the filler proteins should possess are: low functionality in general, with in particular low water absorption and low viscosity.

[0075] 1) low functionality in general, with in particular low water absorption and low viscosity.

Problems solved by technology

The diets are designed for use as a sole source of nutrition over a lengthy period of time and their use can lead to significant weight losses.

However, since the diet is consumed in liquid form any desire on the part of the dieter to chew what is consumed as the daily diet is frustrated unless the dieter consumes something other than the formula diet itself.

On the other hand, if the dieter does consume something other than the formula diet itself out of a desire to chew something, that can negate the effect of the diet and lead to a smaller than expected weight loss, with consequent disappointment, and / or to the breaking of the diet altogether.

While some meal replacement bars for use in conjunction with very low calorie formula diets have been proposed, such bars have to date proved to be relatively unsatisfactory and generally do not meet objectives of supplying protein without an excess of carbohydrate, due to the requirements of the manufacturing technology.

However, known bars made by a confectionery process have a poor taste and provide a substitute for one or more meals in a very low calorie dietary regimen which is much less palatable than the liquid formula diet itself.

Firstly, the bar must contain the necessary meal replacement level of protein in the overall diet.

However, such a product is imposed with burdensome requirements because it must possess a minimum percentage of indigestible carbohydrate of molecular weight lower than 5000, in order to reduce the calorific content, and remain palatable.