| abstract |
A multi-piece food product ( 10 ) comprising a plurality of strands ( 12 A- 12 K) that are extruded and aggregated to form an aesthetically pleasing food product is provided. A formulation used to make each of the strands ( 12 A- 12 K) includes a mixture comprising at least 20% sweetener, at least 15% starchy material, and at least 1% fruit by weight based a total dry weight of the mixture to yield a starch-based confectionary food product. One process for forming the multi-piece food product ( 10 ) includes extruding a food stream from a slurry, dividing the food stream into three separate food streams ( 24 A, 24 B), injecting color, flavor, and ascorbic acid into the food streams ( 24 A, 24 B), conveying the food streams ( 24 A, 24 B) into a former ( 26 ) and extruding the strands ( 12 A- 12 K) therefrom, forming the strands ( 12 A, 12 B) into an aggregate food mass ( 31 ), cooling the food mass ( 31 ), and cutting the food mass ( 31 ) into individual portions. |