Changes in lifestyle and dietary habits affect nutrient intake and nutritional requirements, highlighting the importance of a healthy and balanced diet to meet the body’s basic needs. In this context, cereal and energy bars have become a sophisticated ready-to-eat option, valued for their natural ingredients and health benefits.
However, their high-fat content makes them prone to oxidation, reducing shelf life and degrading nutritional quality. Natural antioxidants in food support the preservation of cereal bars, and Btsa’s Tocobiol® offers an optimal solution to maintain their stability and freshness.
The Challenge of Preserve Oxidative Stability in Cereal Bars
Cereal and energy bars with fruit peels and nuts can provide important supplemental calories and nutrients such as lipids, fiber, protein, minerals, and vitamins. However, due to their high lipid content and significant amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, they are prone to oxidative deterioration, leading to rancidity and decreasing their stability during storage.
Oxidative rancidity is characterized by the formation of toxic compounds, changes in color and texture, and a decrease in nutritional value due to the degradation of vitamins and fatty acids. Moreover, oxidation is accelerated by exposure to oxygen, light, heat, metals, and alkaline conditions, making the preservation of cereal bars challenging.
Antioxidants in Cereal Bars as a Reliable Solution for Product Freshness
Although preventive measures such as limiting exposure to oxygen and light can mitigate oxidation, they are often impractical at the scale required for mass production and distribution. Consequently, adding antioxidants to cereal bars has become the most reliable approach for their preservation.
Among natural antioxidants in food, Tocopherols, a class of Vitamin E compounds, are highly effective in stabilizing fats without impacting the taste or appearance of the product, allowing manufacturers to extend shelf life while maintaining sensory appeal.
Preservation of Cereal Bars with Btsa’s Tocobiol®
Btsa’s Tocobiol® is a line of 100% natural antioxidants sourced from non-GMO vegetable oils and rich in Tocopherols, some of the most powerful options among natural antioxidants in food products. Tocopherols neutralizes free radicals and halts the oxidative chain reaction, which would otherwise compromise bars’ fat content. This significantly extends product shelf life and contributes to the effective preservation of cereal and energy bars, maintaining their quality over time.
The production of cereal bars typically involves two key stages: the solid phase, where ingredients like grains, nuts, and dried fruits are compacted, and the continuous phase, where binding agents such as honey, molasses, sugars, soy lecithin, pectin, and various oils are added to create the desired texture and consistency. Tocobiol® is ideally added during the continuous phase, blending with the lipids to create a protective barrier against oxidation.
Benefits of Using Tocobiol® as Antioxidant in Cereal and Energy Bars
- Natural and safe: composed of naturally sourced Tocopherols, Tocobiol® provides a healthier and safer alternative to synthetic antioxidants for cereals like BHA and BHT, which have raised concerns about potential long-term health effects. This natural origin enhances product appeal among health-conscious consumers.
- Compatibility with various product types: Tocobiol® offers versatility in application, seamlessly integrating into a wide range of formulations, including those with nuts, whole grains, and vegetable oils. This adaptability allows manufacturers to use it as an antioxidant for energy bars and cereals one’s and across diverse product lines.
- Clean label advantage: with a growing consumer preference for natural ingredients, Tocobiol® enables companies to offer “clean label” cereal bars, free from artificial additives. This alignment with consumer expectations for transparency and natural ingredients strengthens brand trust and product appeal.
- Quality certifications: the Tocobiol® line holds multiple quality certifications, including organic and kosher certifications, making it suitable for brands aiming to meet various market preferences and regulatory requirements.
The growing preference for natural and healthier foods has led the food industry to prioritize safe and effective preservation methods. In cereal bars, using natural antioxidants for food products like tocopherols is key to maintaining quality and freshness without compromising flavor.
Btsa’s Tocobiol® provides an ideal option for producers aiming to extend product shelf life naturally, ensuring that each bar retains its original taste and nutritional value. For brands focused on enhancing product quality to meet today’s consumer expectations, Tocobiol® offers a well-suited solution that aligns with these evolving standards.
