| abstract |
A nutrition bar comprising about 10% wt or more of soy and/or rice protein, at least one transition metal or transition metal compound, and about 2% wt or more of a humectant, and wherein the at least one transition metal or transition metal compound is in a substantially water insoluble form at 20° C. or the nutrition bar has an Aw of 0.45 or less or about 1% wt or more of the soy and/or rice protein is in the form of nuggets and the humectant is selected from polyols. The bars have elevated levels of soy and/or rice protein, yet do not suffer unacceptable from a deterioration in taste or other organoleptic properties over time. In other aspects, a nutrition bar or other food which incorporates pro-oxidants and/or polyunsaturated fatty acids or their sources in encapsulated form, especially as microcapsules. The pro-oxidants may be metal salts such as copper, manganese, iron and/or zinc salts. Sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil. Processes for preparing the polyunsaturated fatty acid capsules are also disclosed. The polyunsaturated fatty acid capsules/microcapsules are prepared by forming an emulsion of the unsaturated fatty acid with a carrier, spray drying the emulsion to form a powder and encapsulating powder, especially with a fluid bed. The invention is especially useful for encapsulating polyunsaturated fatty acids, or oil sources thereof, most preferably omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), lineoleic acid, linolenic acid (alpha linolenic acid), and gamma-linolenic acids, fish oil, and oil sources of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids such as canola oil, soybean oil or blends thereof. |