Hershey Foods Corporation

The Hershey Company

Philip C Ward

Thomas J Carroll

Robert J Huzinec

Steven M Kumiega

Julie A Emsing

Sue Zaccano

Julie Emsing Mann

Debra L Miller

Mary Ellen Kline

Jorge O Bouzas

Beth Anne Ritchey

Cheryl A Doherty

Brian J Paul

The invention provides, in one aspect, a health bar or composition having high levels of a cacao-based product, and with correspondingly high levels of cocoa anti-oxidants, that are shelf stable, heat-resistant, and have good taste and mouthfeel properties. The energy bars and food compositions can deliver healthful cocoa ingredients to improve vigor, enhance physical energy, enhance mental energy, enhance cognitive focus abilities, and/or improve athletic performance. Methods of making such health bars, food ingredients, or heat-resistant compositions that comprise the same high levels of cacao product and other ingredients in effective amounts and that are shelf-stable are also disclosed.

Health bars and compositions for improving mental and physical energy

The present invention is directed to a continuous process for making a high solids confectionery product containing agar-agar using high temperature short time processing. The process comprises (a) preparing a homogenous mixture comprising agar-agar, an agar-agar dispersing agent in an amount sufficient to disperse and suspend the agar-agar to control hydration when in contact with water and heat, a sweetening effective amount of a sweetener, and water, said homogenous mixture containing a solids content ranging from about 60% to about 80% by weight solids; (b) feeding the homogenous mixture of step (a) to a heating apparatus having an inlet and outlet with heating means interposed therebetween, and subjecting said mixture to a high temperature short time continuous process under conditions sufficient to cook and concentrate the mixture and to evaporate the water to form water vapor; (c) removing the formed water vapor formed in step (b); and (d) cooling said mixture, thereby forming a high solids confectionery product, all of said steps (a), (b) (c) and (d) being conducted in a continuous process.

Process utilizing agar-agar in a high temperature, short time processing of high solids confectionery products

The invention provides, in one aspect, a method of making a confectionery or ingredient or filling for a confectionery, which includes forming a first component by combining water, at least one humectant, corn syrup and sugar; heating the blend to above 170&deg; F.; adding a hydrocolloid or emulsifier; and continuing to heat until a solids content of about 80-90 wt. % is obtained. A second component is formed by combining a fat or fat-containing mixture and a flavoring. The first and second component are then mixed at a temperature above the melting point of the fat to form a mixture. The mixture can then be cooled and formed into finished confectionery, which can be used for retail sale, or processed as an ingredient in a confectionery.

Confectionary products, low fat chocolate and chocolate-like products and methods for making them

A low or no fat confection is prepared containing 80% soluble solids wherein at least 70% of the solids are carbohydrates. The mixture containing carbohydrate, a cationic reactive and thermosensitive hydrocolloid and an edible cation containing material is cooked or its solids concentration adjusted to 80% solids while hot. The molten mixture is then cooled to form a solid confection having a water activity being 0.30 to 0.65 Aw and a pH from 3.0 to 8.5.

Use of hydrocolloids for formulating and processing of low fat low water

Growing community of inventors

Palmyra, PA, United States of America

Philip C Ward