Development of nutritive cereal bars and effect of processing on the protein quality

Commercial cereal bars (CB) have low and poor nutritional quality of protein and fats and are included in school snacks. A nutritional CB was developed with increased protein and fat content and quality, with a balanced energy distribution. The influence of processing on protein quality was studied. The process was divided into two stages: controlled formulation dry premix (DP) and further agglutination before consumption. In DP textured grains were used (rice, whole corn and semolina, wheat germ, oats), egg albumin and milk powder. Honey, egg white, soybean oil and sucrose were used as binding syrup. The processing was carried out in a pilot plant with drying at 105 degrees C, per 30 minutes. Percentage and protein quality (NPU) were determined at each stage: DP, CB before and after drying (HCB and DCB). In DCB fatty acids (FA) were determined by gas chromatography and shelf-life through sensorial evaluation by a trained panel. The DP protein content reached was 21.6 % with NPU 70 % and 91 % of D. For HCB and DCB the results were: protein 14.7 % and 15.7%, NPU 73 % and 51 %, D 86 % and 81 % respectively. In DCB fat was 12.6 % (16% saturated FA, 34 % monounsaturated, 48 % polyunsaturated). The energy distribution was balanced. Sensory evaluation showed stable products for 7 days. It would be possible to develop CB in bakeries with short life where a unit of 25 g would cover 7 % of the protein requirement of a 30 kg child.