Arla Foods Ingredients Essentials Bar using Lacprodan SoftBar whey protein

Arla Foods Ingredients has launched a new concept for high-protein wholefood snack bars.

Whey protein can be absent from many wholefood bars, as it can react with the natural fruit sugars they commonly contain, causing hardening. The Essentials Bar is designed to demonstrate how manufacturers can overcome this challenge and meet three key needs: high protein content, a whole foods positioning and softness throughout shelf life.

The concept uses Lacprodan SoftBar, a whey protein ingredient that is designed to enable high levels of high-quality protein to be included in the snack bar while maintaining soft texture. In the Essentials Bar it is combined with dairy calcium ingredient Capolac, as well as dates and nuts.

Designed to inspire cleaner-label alternatives, the recipe contains only 10 ingredients, with no maltitol or added sugar. It meets US and EU standards for snack bars with a natural positioning, and opens up opportunities for a range of on-pack claims, including ‘high in protein’ and ‘high in fibre’.