The team believe that their research could lead to the development of the first fruit-based snacks in the UK market and help in the fight against obesity.
The snacks were made by a process called extrusion - the same process used in making products like Quavers and Wotsits. However, these snacks contain fruit powders.
A group of eight- and nine-year-olds from Broadoak Primary School in Manchester were asked to sample each of the five flavours: plain, apple, banana, tangerine, and strawberry. They had to evaluate the snacks in terms of appearance and taste using a series of faces. They also had to guess the flavour, indicate which their favourite flavour was, and give suggestions on how the snacks could be improved.
The tangerine and apple flavoured snacks were the most popular, while the banana flavour was the least liked.
The study was carried out by staff researchers Valentina Stojceska, Andrew Plunkett and student Ruth Potter, who chose to sample the research as part of her project for her final year dissertation.
Dr Stojceska said, ‘This type of research could help fight child obesity and make snacking healthier.
‘While it is too early to say what commercial opportunities this might present there is currently very little information about his field and it will give direction to manufacturers in terms of producing this sort of snack.’
The fruit samples showed fairly high levels of antioxidants and increased fibre levels. They were also low in salt and fat.
Extruded snacks are those which are cooked, pressurised and then pushed out of a die which produces are particular shape. It is a short time, high temperature and low cost technology.
This research could lead to the first fruit based snacks intended for children in the UK market.
