NZ578200A - Nutritionally balanced food or beverage product - Google Patents

Abstract

A food or beverage product containing the same relative proportions of the recommended daily intake of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugar and fibre as listed in the Australia-New Zealand Joint Foods Standards Code, in force 5 on 14 March 2006, the product being substantially homogenised throughout such that any portion of the product consumed will contain the same relative proportion of fat, protein, carbohydrate and fibre as any other. Also disclosed is a method of making the food or beverage product.

Description

60V6l7S<iS0(H* ;Provisional Specification 538828 dated 14 March 2005 Provisional Specification 541066 dated 1 July 2005 ;Our Ref: MAY132 Patents Form No. 5 ;PATENTS ACT 1953 Divisional Application out of NZ538828 dated 14 March 2006 ;Nutritionally Balanced Food or Beverage Product ;We, Sapporo Holdings Limited, a New Zealand company of c/-Grant Thornton (Chch) Limited, Level 9, Anthony Harper Building, 47 Cathedral Square, Christchurch, New Zealand, do hereby declare the invention for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ;3 JUL 2009 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Nutritionally Balanced Food or Beverage Product Field of the Invention ;This invention relates to a nutritionally balanced food or beverage product for human consumption. ;5 Background Art ;Modern day food technologists and dieticians have developed and created food and beverage products of various types and kinds for many different purposes. For example, muesli bars, which are a typically consumed snack or meal substitute. However, these are commonly very low in fat but very high in 10 carbohydrate, particularly sugar. Other bar type products created for those wishing to build muscle bulk are very low in carbohydrate, but high in protein. ;Existing products which are developed to with a particular nutritional goal in mind, be it low fat, high protein, low carbohydrate, high in fibre, or low in calorie content generally deal focus on that goal only, with little or no attention 15 being given to the nutritional profile of all of the other macronutrients. ;In the past, where greater attention has been given to trying to produce balance in one or other aspects of the remainder of the nutritional profile of the food or beverage product this has typically been achieved by the addition of an artificial additive of one sort or another, thereby losing the synergistic 20 nutritional benefits derived from taking a more holistic design and development approach using real and natural ingredients. ;There is a need for a concentrated, condensed, pleasant tasting and conveniently formatted nutritionally balanced food or beverage product which can be used as partial or total meal replacement for people engaged in 25 sporting or other pursuits, school children, and those whose time commitments do not adequately allow for stopping for a meal break. ;It is an object of the present invention to address this perceived need, or at least to provide the public with a useful choice. ;2 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Summary of the Invention ;According to the present invention there is provided a method of manufacture of a food or beverage product wherein each serving of said food or beverage product wherein each serving of said food or beverage product contains protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugar, fibre and one or more vitamins and minerals in proportions as a percentage of the recommended daily intake of each such ingredient in substantially identical percentages to the calorific value of the serving as a percentage of the recommended daily intake of calories, the method comprising the steps of: ;a: weighting out the various individual ingredients including bulk dry ingredients, dry ingredients for use in formulating a syrup mixture, oils, fats, water an sugars and preparing each ingredient according to the product requirements; and b: tempering the bulk dry ingredients to bring them to room temperature or slightly above; and c: pre-blending the dry ingredient components for use in formulating the syrup mixture to ensure homogeneity; then d: blending the dry ingredient components for use in formulating the syrup mixture with the oils, fats, water and sugar and heating to a temperature less than 100°C; then e: mixing the heated syrup with the bulk dry ingredients and blending to form a substantially homogeneous mix of predetermined density. ;In particular the invention provides a food or beverage product containing the same relative proportions of the recommended daily intake of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugar and fibre as listed in the Australia- New Zealand Food ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Standards Code, in force on 14 March 2006, the product being substantially homogenized throughout such that any portion of the product consumed will contain the same relative proportion of fat, protein, carbohydrate and fibre as any other. ;5 The applicant also refers to its related divisional application which provides a food or beverage product in which each complete serving of the product includes an amount substantially between 10% to 33.3% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) for calories, protein, fat and carbohydrate, wherein the calories, protein, fat and carbohydrate are all present at substantially the same 10 relative proportions of RDI. ;The applicant also refers to its further related divisional application which relates to a method of producing a low glycemic value food or beverage comprising the step of: providing a ratio of complex carbohydrates to simple sugars of at least one to one. ;15 Also provided is a food or beverage product which includes complex carbohydrates and simple sugars together in the ratio of at least one to one. ;For the purposes of the present application the term "nutritionally balanced" is intended to refer to the relative proportions of calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugar, fibre and one or more vitamins and minerals as 20 specified as the recommended daily intake for an average adult diet in the Australia - New Zealand Joint Food Standards Code. ;For the purposes of the present application the term "recommended daily intake' means the recommended daily intake of calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugar, fibre and one or more vitamins and minerals as 25 specified as the recommended daily intake for an average adult diet in the Australia - New Zealand Joint Food Standards Code. ;4 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Such a product is suitable to act as a simple and convenient ergogenic aid, particularly but not exclusively for persons, whether adult or child, participating in sports or other forms of exercise, or people who are under time pressures and for whom, from time to time, stopping for meal breaks is not convenient. 5 The product of this invention is also useful in addressing general hunger or fatigue in the wider population, and in that regard is intended as suitable for use as a meal replacement. ;It is acknowledged that the term 'comprise' may, under varying jurisdictions, be attributed with either an exclusive or an inclusive meaning. For the purpose of 10 this specification, and unless otherwise noted, the term "comprise' shall have an inclusive meaning - i.e. that it will be taken to mean an inclusion of not only the listed components which it directly references, but also to other non-specified components or elements. This rationale will also be used when the term 'comprised' or 'comprising' is used in relation to one or more steps in a method 15 or process. ;Preferably the syrup mixture is heated to no more than 950C instep (d). ;Desirably the syrup mixture is at between 800C and 950C during step (e). ;Preferably the product manufactured is a food product, and the method includes the further steps of forming the homogeneous mix into predetermined 20 size pieces, wherein each piece contains substantially the same quantity of product mix as all of the others, and then promptly wrapping each piece to avoid take up of moisture from the air. ;Optionally the pieces of homogeneous mix may be formed via a process which includes forming the mix into a sheet of even thickness and then cutting the 25 sheet into the pieces. Alternatively the pieces of homogeneous mix may be ;5 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;formed via a process by an extrusion process, or formed via a moulding process. ;The present invention also includes a method of manufacture of a food product according to the invention wherein all of the ingredients are combined together 5 at a temperature below 100°C so that the pre-existing beneficial attributes of the constituent parts are not degraded through being subjected to excessive heat for an extended time period during production. ;A product manufactured according to the method of this invention may comprise a baked or moulded edible bar, cookie or biscuit, or a beverage in the ;10 form of a shake or smoothie. A baked or moulded edible bar, or a shake or smoothie are preferred forms. ;Optimally each complete serving of the product of this invention contains 33.3% of the recommended daily amount of calories, protein, fat, and carbohydrate. ;15 Use of fibre in the product is advantageous because fibre influences the release of sugars, affects the binding of various components, and advantageously delays digestion. This means that a sustained, or filling, feel is produced which lasts for longer, and thus helps to reduce over eating. A high fibre content also assists in reducing the glycemic value of the product. ;20 Preferably the ratio of complex carbohydrates to simple sugars is at least one to one, and more preferably three or more to one, thereby producing a low glycemic value product so as to prevent creating spikes in the blood glucose levels, thus reducing the risk to consumers of diseases such as coronary heart disease, obesity, and Type 2 diabetes. ;25 Preferably the product contains a honey based sweetener, more preferably honey made from the nectar of the manuka bush, Leptospermum scoparium. ;6 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;It is well-known that carbohydrate ingestion prior to, during, and after exercise enhances athletic performance and speeds recovery. Honey is a natural source of readily available carbohydrates providing approximately 17 grams of carbohydrates per tablespoon. Honey's unique carbohydrate composition 5 (approximately equal amounts of fructose and glucose) makes its use desirable because it reduces the incidence of rebound hypoglycemia and provides sustained carbohydrate availability during exercise. ;Because honey contains such a variety of carbohydrates and other nutrients, it functions more than just as a sweetener. The carbohydrates, major 10 monosaccharides and minor oligosaccharides of honey are responsible for some of its key functional properties. The ability of honey to hold moisture and extend shelf-life, its microwave reactivity, and its ability to promote color and flavors development are all related to its carbohydrate composition. ;In addition to having its own sweetener functionality and capability, honey is 15 also a potent sweetness enhancer. In that regard, honey enhances and magnifies the residual sweetness of a product beyond the level of sweetness that the mere introduction of honey alone would produce. This is particularly so when added to products with low levels of sweetness. ;Additional or alternative sources of natural sugars can be derived from fruits, 20 such as apricots, apples, berry or tropical fruits, which can also be used to impart a desirable flavour profile to the food product. Other additional or alternative flavouring agents potentially include chocolate, as well as a range of savoury options. ;Desirably any fat sources used should comprise a ratio of poly-unsaturated and 25 mono-unsaturated fatty acids versus saturated fats. More preferably including use of oils with omega fatty acids. ;7 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Optionally a food product according to the present invention should include various key vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, Bl, B2, B6, B12, C, D, and E, and niacin and foliate, as well as calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, ;phosphorus and zinc at levels corresponding to the nutritionally balanced levels 5 of carbohydrate, fat, protein and fibre. For example, if the food product contains 33.3% of these of the recommended daily intake levels of these components then the levels of key vitamins and minerals should also be at least 33.3% of recommended minimum daily intake levels. ;The product should have the taste, texture and appearance of real food. ;10 Use of polydextrose, such as from the Litesse@ family of modified polydextrose, is considered desirable to enhance mouth feel and textural qualities without the need for more traditional carriers of such characteristics, sugars and fats, which tend to render food unduly high in carbohydrates and fats. ;Alternatively, and more preferably Acacia gum can be used in place of 15 polydexrose. Acacia gum provides a number of further advantages in that it is able to act as a moisture sink, stopping the product from being sticky to the touch. Acacia gum is also a source of biofidogenic fibre, which means that it promotes the growth of desirable gastrointestinal bacteria. ;Desirably, but not essentially, any product according to the present invention 20 should contain largely natural ingredients, be free from genetically modified materials, and contain no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives. Optionally it may contain organically produced and certified ingredients. ;Further, it is envisaged that an embodiment of the invention may be produced which is substantially free of known allergens such as gluten/wheat, 25 lactose/dairy products, eggs and nuts and sesame seeds, and yeast. ;8 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;An important attribute of the present invention is that the product must be substantially homogenous throughout. Each portion, bite or mouthful consumed must itself be substantially nutritionally balanced, containing substantially the same relative proportion of fat, protein, carbohydrate and 5 dietary fibre as every other. ;The key advantage that this characteristic of the food product has is that whether the whole serving is consumed, or just a portion of it, the consumer has always consumed a nutritionally balanced quantity. ;While the packaged "serving" of a food product according to this invention may 10 be designed to satisfy a specific portion of the recommended daily intake, anyone consuming any portion of the serving will advantageously receive a balanced input, so that, for example, a child or an elderly person who may only consume half a serving, will receive the same nutritionally balanced benefit as a young man or woman who consumes the entire serving, or perhaps slightly 15 more. It doesn't matter how much the consumer eats, they always get a nutritionally balanced intake. ;Each serving of the food product of the present invention preferably contains 33.3% of the recommended daily intake of energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, dietary fibre, and key vitamins and minerals. However, it is within the scope of 20 the invention envisaged that the serving size could be from 10% to 33.3%. ;As the food product of the present invention is intended to be used by consumers who may not be in a position to take a proper meal break the product must be sized and of a weight to facilitate being easily and conveniently carried with the consumer. In that regard, a serving of the product 25 should preferably weigh between 50grams and no more than 250grams depending on the proportion of the recommended daily intake of dietary needs it contains, and should preferably take up between 25cm3 and no more than ;9 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;250cm3 of volume, again depending on the proportion of the recommended daily intake of dietary needs it contains. ;Preferably each serving of the product of the invention should be individually wrapped. Optionally each serving may contain two separately wrapped half 5 servings. In one such embodiment one half serving may be savoury in flavour, and the other sweet to taste, but each having the same level of recommended daily dietary needs. Alternatively, each half serving may contain a different level of the recommended daily dietary needs, but taken together combine to a specific proportion of the recommended daily dietary requirements. ;10 Advantageously a food product according to the present invention has a shelf life of at least 3 months, in ambient conditions. ;The invention is further described by means of examples, but not in any limitative sense. ;Brief Description of the Drawing ;15 Figure 1 illustrates the temperature profile of the syrup used in the manufacture of a moulded bar product according to a 'preferred embodiment of the present invention during its production. ;Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments ;A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with 20 reference to the accompanying drawing, figure 1. ;The table below details the major macro-nutritional qualities of a chewable bar food product according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, weighting a net total of 165g: ;25 ;10 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Quantity/serving ;% of RDI/serving ;% by weight/serving ;Energy ;2900KJ ;33.3% ;100% ;Protein ;16.7g ;33.3% ;10.1% ;Fat, Total ;23.3g ;33.3% ;14.1% ;Fat, Saturated ;8.0g ;33.3% ;4.8% ;Carbohydrate, Total ;90.2g ;33.3% ;54.7% ;Carbohydrate, Sugar ;30.Og ;33.3% ;18.2% ;Dietary Fibre ;10.Og ;33.3% ;6.1% ;The chewable food bar is manufactured from various ingredients. These essentially comprise three separate sets, namely, liquid ingredients for use in the production of the syrup mixture, dry ingredients for the syrup mixture, and 5 bulk muesli ingredients. ;The liquid ingredients for the syrup mixture include rice bran oil, palm oil, manuka honey and glycerine. The dry ingredients for the syrup mixture include cornflour, Acacia gum and low dextrose equivalent maltodextrin. And the bulk muesli ingredients include raisins, dried apricots, rice flour, rolled oats, wheat 10 flakes and soy nuggets. ;In terms of nutritional profile of the bar, the bulk carbohydrate ingredients include multidextrin, wheat flakes, corn flour, rolled oats and rice flour, with natural sugars being substantially contributed by fruits, such as apricots and raisins, and honey, preferably Manuka honey. Protein is primarily provided as 15 soy protein, although rolled oats and apricots are further significant protein sources. Vegetable oils such as rice bran oil, palm oil and palm kernel oil provide the major fat contributors and assist with carrying the flavours. Other major fat sources include wheat flakes. The desired level of dietary fibre in part comes from rolled oats, but also from Acacia gum and dried apricots. ;20 Additional humectants in the form of glycerine can be added, along with an emulsifier such as soy lecithin. Glycerine also has a sweetening effect. ;11 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Additional key vitamins and minerals, such as vitamins A, Bl, B2, B6, B12, C, D, and E, and niacin and foliate, as well as calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorus and zinc can be added to raise levels to 33.3% of recommended daily intake levels and combined with the remaining ingredients to form 5 dispersed units within the matrix where otherwise deficient. ;Cornflour helps to raise the complex carbohydrate level carbohydrates that don't have fibre or other nutrients associated with them, and decreases chewiness in the final product. ;Rolled oats are used because they provide a cereal free of added sugar to use 10 as base ingredient for the bar product. Bumped oats are an alternative, but generally less desirable because they have a hard texture. ;Maltodextrin is included as a syrup ingredient to avoid the use of glucose. Use of a love dextrose equivalent maltodextrin minimises simple sugar content. ;Rice bran oil not only has a good fatty acid composition and health giving 15 properties, but it also is naturally very high in Vitamin E, an antioxidant, which means no artificial additive/preservative/antioxidant is required. ;Soy nuggets are common in protein bars as a way of adding protein without the unpleasant taste often associated with powdered forms of protein. Most bars use the soy nuggets of 80% density. However, soy nuggets having a 20 density of 60% open up the bar texture and add crunch to it's texture profile. In addition the soy protein in soy nuggets is what is termed "high quality" which means it contains a full complement of all the essential amino acids in appropriate proportions. ;Wheatflakes are a low fat/high complex carbohydrate product which provide a 25 means of increasing crunch and complex carbohydrates in the bar product. ;12 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;Glycerine adds sweetness to the bar product without adding sugar, but also crucial as a humectant (to retard the drying out of the bar). ;The manufacturing process commences with pre weighing of the rice flour and dried apricots. Next the dried apricots are chopped, with the rice flour being 5 sprinkled over apricots as needed while they are being chopped. Rice flour should be added throughout the duration of the chopping process and all the rice flour must be added by the end of chopping. No water to be added. The rice flour is added at this point so that the dried apricot pieces do not stick to each other or to the chopper blades. Typically dried apricots would be chopped 10 up with water as a lubricant. However, using rice flour helps to reduce the water in the formulation and boosts the carbohydrate levels. It also produces a much more free flow mix. ;Next the fat (palm oil) and liquid ingredients for the syrup are weighed out and kept separately at or about room temperature. The dry ingredients for the syrup 15 are also pre-weighed, and then placed into an air tight container until use. ;Ingredients such as the wheat flakes and the soy nuggets are pre-weighed into separate bags and sealed in air-tight containers, with the remaining bulk muesli ingredients pre-weighed into a single container and sealed. The sealed containers are then tempered at room temperature. ;20 The pre-weighed syrup dry ingredients, namely the salt, acacia gum, cornflour and maltodextrin, are then placed in a blender and mixed until homogenous. Blending in this manner stops lumps of cornflour forming when added to syrup liquids. Blending also ensures even distribution of acacia gum in the powders which is important for functional and nutritional reasons. ;25 The normal method of syrup production for a bound cereal bar is to combine solid fats (unless low fat variety) and simple short chain sugars in the form of ;13 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;glucose syrup, high fructose corn syrup, sugar etc. with water (and emulsifier) and boil to a set temperature - normally in the range of 110 - 116 °C. This ensures the final syrup has a consistent total solids/moisture content. ;However boiling to a higher temperature means: ;5 - syrup boiling time is very long as it takes time to drive off water to achieve each degree rise in temperature; and ;- the final syrup is very viscous which makes mixing the syrup with the bulk muesli ingredients more difficult. ;Referring specifically to the drawing, syrup production is commenced with the 10 rice bran oil, lecithin, and palm oil placed into a heating vessel. The addition point is shown at 1 in the figure. ;Once the temperature in the vessel has reached approximately 50°C, at point 2 as shown in the figure, the Manuka honey, glycerine and other liquid syrup ingredients are added. It is important that the contents of the vessel are kept 15 sufficiently mixed at all times so that they do not boil, as any boiling will result in water evaporating from the syrup, and this is most likely to occur where liquid is in direct contact with the vessel surface. ;Once any liquid ingredients such as honey and palm oil have completely melted, the pre-blended syrup dry ingredients are added to the vessel and fully 20 mixed into the rest of syrup, shown at point 3 on the figure. ;After the dry syrup ingredients have been added the syrup should continue to be heated and mixed with constant stirring until syrup reaches 95°C. The maximum temperature of the syrup should be kept below 100°C to ensure minimal loss of water. However the temperature must be above the 25 gelatinisation temperature for starch (starches start to gel at 75 degrees Celsius, ;14 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;but full gelatinisation (in the presence of sufficient water) only occurs at around 90 to 95 degrees Celsius). ;Heating to 95°C also has pasteurisation effect on this portion of the product. ;When the syrup is well mixed and at 95°C it is considered ready, as shown at 5 point 4 on the figure, and should be used within an hour of preparation to ensure its temperature does not drop below 85°C before being used. ;In preparing the final mix the bulk dry ingredients are mixed together thoroughly, but carefully, as a first step to ensure substantial homogeneity. ;Mixing of the final product is timed and the syrup temperature is controlled to 10 ensure density of mix is as constant as possible. Care must be taken in the final mixing. Over mixing, or cooler (and thus more viscous) syrup, increases product density by crushing the wheat flakes and soy nuggets, and therefore the proportion of overall recommended daily intake levels of key vitamins, minerals, fat, protein and carbohydrate for a given bar volume is adversely affected. Mix 15 density is also important to bar texture over shelf life. ;In commencing the final mix the syrup is added in first so flavours and vitamins can be mixed in before the bulk muesli ingredients are added. Adding these after the bulk muesli ingredients would result in less loss of vitamins and flavour components as mixture would be lower temperature, but they would not be 20 sufficiently homogenously distributed throughout mix. Adding the syrup first also eliminates the risk of a puddle of dry bulk muesli ingredient being left in the bottom of a mixing bowl that doesn't get mixed in. ;Immediately after mixing has been completed it should be rolled out into a sheet to give an even layer of consistent thickness and density throughout, and 25 to minimise crushing of the soy nuggets and wheat flakes. No water is used to lubricate the rolling process. ;15 ;RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 ;After forming into sheets the mix should be cooled through the cooling tunnel with temperature and time controlled to aim for a consistent level of moisture loss over the cooling process. The desired cooling tunnel temperature is 12C. The temperature of the sheets at exit of the tunnel should be 18-20C. ;5 Once cool the sheets can be cut into predetermined sized pieces or bars, with each bar representing a predetermined portion of the recommended daily intake of key vitamins, minerals, fat, protein and carbohydrate. ;The bars should be wrapped promptly after cutting to avoid uptake of moisture from the air, which reduces shelf life. Foil wrap has high barrier properties, and 10 is therefore its use is desirable to assist shelf life. ;Wherein the foregoing description reference has been made to integers or components having known equivalents then such equivalents are herein incorporated as if individually set forth. ;Although this invention has been described by a way of example of possible 15 embodiments, it is to be appreciated that improvements and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims. ;16 *

Claims (34)

RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 What we claim is:

1. A food or beverage product containing the same relative proportions of the recommended daily intake of calories, protein, fat, carbohydrate, sugar and fibre as listed in the Australia-New Zealand Joint Foods 5 Standards Code, in force on 14 March 2006, the product being substantially homogenised throughout such that any portion of the product consumed will contain the same relative proportion of fat, protein, carbohydrate and fibre as any other.

2. A food or beverage product according to claim 1 in which each complete 10 serving of the product contains between substantially 10% and 33.3% of the recommended daily amount of calories, protein fat and carbohydrate as listed in the Australia-New Zealand Joint Foods Standards Code in force on 14 March 2006.

3. A food or beverage product according to claim 2 in which each complete 15 serving of the product contains 33.3% of the recommended daily amount of calories, protein fat and carbohydrate as listed in the Australia-New Zealand Joint Foods Standards Code in force on 14 March 2006.

4. A food or beverage product according to any one of claims 1-3 which 20 additionally comprises the same relative proportions of the recommended daily intake of vitamins and minerals as listed in the Australia-New Zealand Joint Foods Standards Code in force on 14 March 2006.

5. A product according to any one of claims 1-4 in the form of a food 25 product wherein the food product is an edible bar, cookie or biscuit.

6. A product according to any one of claims 1-4 in the form of a beverage product which is a shake or smoothie. 17 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012

7. A product according to claim 1 wherein each complete serving of the product of this invention contains 33.3% of the recommended daily amount of calories, protein, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, sugar, fibre and one or more vitamins and minerals. 5

8. A product according to claim 1 where in the ratio of complex carbohydrates to simple sugars is at least one to one.

9. A product according to claim 8 the ratio of complex carbohydrates to simple sugars is three or more to one.

10. A product according to claim 1 containing a honey based sweetener. 10

11. A product according to claim 10 containing honey derived from the nectar of leptospermum scoparium.

12. A product according to claim 10 further containing natural sugars derived from fruit.

13. A product according to claim 1 further comprising sweet or savoury 15 flavouring agents.

14. A product according to claim 1 wherein the fat derives at least in part from one or more oils containing omega fatty acids.

15. A product according to any one of the preceding claims which additionally comprises the same relative preparations of the 20 recommended daily intake of vitamins A, Bl, B2, B6, B12, C, D and E, niacin, foliate, calcium, iodine, iron, magnesium, phosphorous and zinc as listed in the Australia-New Zealand Joint Food Standards Code in force on 14 March 2006. 18 16 17 5 18 19 20 10 21 22 23 15 24 25 20 26 27 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012

A product according to claim 5 wherein the product is free from genetically modified materials and contains no artificial colours, artificial flavours or artificial preservatives.

A product according to claim 1 containing polydextrose.

A product according to claim 1 containing Acacia gum.

A product according to claim 16 which is substantially free of known allergens including gluten/wheat, lactose/dairy products, eggs and nuts and sesame seeds and yeast.

A product according to claim 1 containing a low dextrose equivalent maltodextrin.

A product according to claim 20 wherein the maltodextrin has a dextrose equivalent of 10.

A product according to claim 20 further containing cornflour.

A product according to claim 5 wherein a serving of the product weighs between 50 grams and 250 grams.

A product according to claim 5 wherein a serving of the product occupies between 25cm3 and 250cm3 of volume.

A product according to claim 5 wherein each serving of the product is individually wrapped.

A product according to claim 5 wherein each serving comprises two separately wrapped half servings.

A product according to claim 26 wherein each half serving comprises the same relative proportions of the daily intake of calories, protein, fat, 19 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 carbohydrate, sugar and fibre as listed in the Australia- New Zealand Foods Standards code in force on 14 March 2006 and wherein one half serving is savoury in flavour, and the other is sweet.

A method of manufacture of a food product according to claim 5 comprising the steps of: a) Weighing out various individual ingredients including bulk dry ingredients, dry ingredients for use in formulating a syrup mixture, oils, fats, water and sugars, and preparing each ingredient according to the product requirements; b) Tempering the bulk dry ingredients to bring them to room temperature or slightly above; c) Pre-blending the dry ingredient components for use in formulating the syrup mixture to ensure homogeneity; d) blending the dry ingredient components for use in formulating the syrup mixture with the oils, fats, water and sugar and heating to a temperature less than 100°C; and e) mixing the heated syrup mixture with the bulk dry ingredients and blending to form a substantially homogeneous mix of predetermined density; f) forming the homogeneous mixture into predetermined sized pieces, wherein each piece contains substantially the same quantity of product mix as all of the others.

The method of claim 28 wherein the syrup mixture is heated to no more than 95°C in step (d). 20 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the syrup mixture is heated to between 80°C and 95°C during step (e).

31. The method of claim 28 wherein the pieces of homogeneous mix may be formed at step (f) using a process which includes forming the mix into a 5 sheet of even thickness and then cutting the sheet into pieces.

32. The method of claim 28 wherein the pieces of homogeneous mix may be formed at step (f) using a process of extrusion.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the pieces of homogeneous mix may be formed at step (f) via a moulding process. 10

34. A method of manufacture of a food product according to claim 5 comprising the steps of: a) Weighing out various individual ingredients including bulk dry ingredients, dry ingredients for use in formulating a syrup mixture, oils, fats, water and sugars, and preparing each ingredient 15 according to the product requirements; b) tempering the bulk dry ingredients to bring them to room temperature or slightly above; c) pre-blending the dry ingredient components for use in formulating the syrup mixture to ensure homogeneity; 20 d) blending the dry ingredient components for use in formulating the syrup mixture with the oils, fats, water and sugar and heating to a temperature less than 100°C; and 21 RECEIVED at IPONZ on 20 March 2012 e) mixing the heated syrup mixture with the bulk dry ingredients and blending to form a substantially homogeneous mix of predetermined density; f) blending the homogeneous mix with a predetermined quantity of water to form a substantially smooth and homogeneous fluid; and g) forming the homogeneous mixture into predetermined sized pieces, wherein each piece contains substantially the same quantity of product mix as all of the others. A food or beverage product according to claim 1 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments on pages 10-16 of the accompanying specification. A method according to claim 28 or 34 and substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments on pages 10-16 of the accompanying specification. A food or beverage product as claimed in claim 1 and with the quantities of ingredients as set out in the table on page 11 of the accompanying specification. 22