General Mills, Inc.

Dena K Strehlow

Dean F Funk

Barrie R Froseth

Robert J Harrison

Patrick E Allen

Fern Alane Panda

Patrick C Dreese

Stefan Bucher

Described are coated food products having a sweet coating, such as a (e.g., sucrose, fructose, or the like) coating, the coating containing core-shell sweetener particles that include a sweetener layer at an exterior; also described are related methods of preparing the coated food product and the core-shell sweetener particles.

Sweetener particles, sweetener particle compositions, and related methods of preparation and use

A cereal bar comprising identifiable ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal pieces; and a carbohydrate binder combined with the cereal pieces, wherein the carbohydrate binder contains inulin is provided. In one embodiment, the cereal bar comprises added protein. A method of making a cereal bar is also provided.

Cereal bars containing inulin and their methods of manufacture

A non-cooked cereal bar containing inulin and having a total nutrient level equal to or greater than the nutrient level of a single serving of RTE cereal with milk is described. In one embodiment, the cereal layer is comprised of a cereal composition containing RTE cereal, high-protein rice pieces and TVP in a ratio of about 2:1:1. In another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a non-cooked cereal bar containing inulin is described.

Layered cereal bars containing inulin and their methods of manufacture

A layered cereal bar with at least two cereal layers having identifiable RTE cereal pieces and at least one visible filling layer in between the two cereal layers is described. In one embodiment, the cereal bar is a non-cooked cereal bar having a total nutrient level equal to or greater than the nutrient level of a single serving of RTE cereal with milk. In one embodiment, the cereal layer is comprised of a cereal composition containing RTE cereal, high-protein rice pieces and TVP in a ratio of about 2:1:1. The cereal layer further comprises a binder to hold the cereal composition together. In one embodiment, the filling layer is a confectionery center that is high in milk content, but possesses a relatively low water activity. In another embodiment, a method for manufacturing a layered cereal bar having a visible filling layer is described. The steps include mixing a binder with a cereal composition having identifiable cereal pieces to form an amorphous mass, compressing the amorphous mass into a first layer and a second layer, applying a filling layer on the first layer, combining the first layer and filling layer with the second layer, and pressing the first layer, filling layer and second layer together to form pressed layers, wherein the pressed layers are cut into individual cereal bars having identifiable cereal pieces. In another embodiment, an apparatus for manufacturing a layered cereal bar is described. The apparatus includes beltless compressing rollers that operate in series to combine a mixture comprising the cereal composition and binder.

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Maple Grove, MN, United States of America

Dena K Strehlow