Nutritional bar and components

Abstract

A nutrition bar which incorporates protein in the form of nuggets having high levels of selected proteins. By use of the nuggets of the invention, nutrition bars are formulated to have elevated levels of protein, yet good taste and other organoleptic properties. The nuggets according to the invention include greater than 50 wt % of a non-soy protein selected from the group consisting of milk protein, rice protein and pea protein, especially between 51 wt % and 99 wt %, more preferably between 52 wt % and 95 wt %, most preferably 55 wt % or above. The milk protein is preferably whey protein. The nuggets of the invention are preferably made using an extrusion process wherein the extrusion temperature is moderated so as to avoid damage to the whey proteins and concomitant off-taste. In this preferred process according to the invention, extrusion is conducted at temperatures of from 60 to 140° C., after which the protein is dried using a belt / conveyor drier or a fluid bed drier. In an alternate method of making the nuggets according to the invention, a lower extrusion temperature of up to 90° C. is used and one or more supercritical fluids are injected prior to extrusion to form a puffed product.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Increasingly, a focus of modern preventive medicine is weight reduction. Excessive weight is frequently cited in reports concerning the surge in cases of type 2 diabetes. Moreover, obesity is often mentioned in discussions of other modern diseases, such as heart disease. [0002] For years a debate has raged as to which class of nutrients, fats or carbohydrates, are preferentially minimized to promote weight loss. Recently, much consumer attention has focussed on those who advocate reduction of carbohydrates and higher intakes of unsaturated fat and / or protein. [0003] An increasingly popular form for ingestion of nutrients for those seeking to lose weight is the nutrition bar. The nutrition bar provides a convenient vehicle for replacing a meal or for supplementing meals as a snack. While consumers express a preference for snacks and other foods which are more healthful and which can assist them to achieve their weight loss goals, they show little in...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The present invention is about a nutrition bar that has high levels of protein. The invention uses nuggets made of non-soy proteins like milk, rice, or pea protein. These nuggets have good taste and organoleptic properties. The nuggets have a high percentage of protein, but also contain other ingredients like flour and starch. The nuggets are made using an extrusion process that maintains the protein's quality and prevents damage. The nuggets can be used in various applications like nutritional bars or other food products. They are small, bite-sized particles with a specific size range. The nuggets have a high percentage of protein and may also contain other ingredients like flour and starch."

Problems solved by technology

High protein levels are particularly difficult to incorporate into good tasting foods since popular proteins, such as soy, often have undesirable aftertastes.

According to Carr, a problem with MPCs and MPI (milk protein isolates: >85% milk protein as dry matter) is that such products are generally very insoluble at cold temperatures.

A problem is said to be that they are associated with the formation of nuggets in the cheese.