Reduced Sucrose Sugar Coatings for Cereals and Methods of Preparation

Abstract

Disclosed are improved sugar coatings for topically pre-sweetened food products that are sugar reduced whether in the form of a syrup or in the form of a dried coating. The syrup form is useful as an intermediate product in the preparation of pre-sweetened food products. In dry form, the present formulations can be a component part of a composite food product especially in the form of a topical coating or filling. The present invention is particularly suited for the preparation of R-T-E pre-sweetened cereals. The coating formulations comprise less than 70% sucrose, corn syrup and 1-20% non-hydrated integrated starch and preferably about 5-10% insoluble mineral salts each of particle size of about 50 microns.

1 . A sweetened dry comestible, comprising:
 from 5-60% of the comestible of a coating, said coating including from 0.5-5% of non-hydrated starch, a calcium material in amounts sufficient to provide a calcium content ranging from 0.15-5.5% by weight, dry basis, an insoluble fiber ingredient, and the balance nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners.   
     
     
         2 . The comestible of  claim 1  wherein the comestible is a R-T-E cereal particle. 
     
     
         3 . The comestible of  claim 2  wherein the insoluble fiber ingredient is finely milled so as to have a particle size of 50 microns or less. 
     
     
         4 . The comestible of  claim 3  wherein the insoluble fiber ingredient constitutes 0.1 to about 15% of the coating. 
     
     
         5 . The comestible of  claim 3  wherein the calcium material is ground limestone having a particle size of less than 15 microns. 
     
     
         6 . The comestible of  claim 1  wherein the coating has a thickness in the range of 10-200 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The comestible of  claim 6  wherein the coating has a thickness in the range of 20-40 microns. 
     
     
         8 . The comestible of  claim 6  wherein at least a portion of the starch ingredient is provided by a whole grain cereal flour ingredient. 
     
     
         9 . The comestible of  claim 1  wherein the starch ingredient is an insoluble starch. 
     
     
         10 . The comestible of  claim 1  wherein the coating further comprises 40-70% sucrose (dry weight basis) and 10-35% non-sucrose soluble solids. 
     
     
         11 . A sweetened dry comestible, comprising:
 from 5-60% of the comestible of a coating, said coating including from 0.5-5% of non-hydrated insoluble starch in particulate form, a calcium material in amounts sufficient to provide a calcium content ranging from 0.15-5.5% by weight, dry basis, and the balance nutritive carbohydrate sweeteners.   
     
     
         12 . The comestible of  claim 11  wherein the comestible is a R-T-E cereal particle. 
     
     
         13 . The comestible of  claim 12  wherein the insoluble fiber ingredient is finely Milled so as to have a particle size of 50 microns or less. 
     
     
         14 . The comestible of  claim 13  wherein the insoluble fiber ingredient constitutes 0.1 to about 15% of the coating. 
     
     
         15 . The comestible of  claim 13  wherein the calcium material is ground limestone having a particle size of less than 15 microns. 
     
     
         16 . The comestible of  claim 11  wherein the coating has a thickness in the range of 10-200 microns. 
     
     
         17 . The comestible of  claim 16  wherein the coating has a thickness in the range of 20-40 microns. 
     
     
         18 . The comestible of  claim 16  wherein at least a portion of the starch ingredient is provided by a whole grain cereal flour ingredient. 
     
     
         19 . The comestible of  claim 11  wherein the starch ingredient is an insoluble starch. 
     
     
         20 . The comestible of  claim 11  wherein the coating further comprises 40-70% sucrose (dry weight basis) and 10-35% non-sucrose soluble solids.