TECHNICAL BULLETIN
DRIED PLUMS CREATE THE PERFECTLY BALANCED ENERGY
BAR: PERFECT NUTRITION. . .PERFECT TASTE AND TEXTURE
Summary
The energy bar category wasn’t even a category in the late 1980’s. Today, however,energy bars are estimated to be $300 million in sales and growing at 40% annually.
Money Magazine forecasts that it will top $500 million by the end of the decade if notsooner.
High-energy foods aren’t new, even in bar form. In the past, energy bars were a stepchildto candy bars. Energy (or performance bars) were heavy textured and expensive, with awoody flavor only an athlete could love. They represented quick, easy, portable nutrition-an energy boost for athletes who really needed it.
But times have changed. Portable nutrition is a priority for a fast-paced, mobile society.
A healthy image for a food product is an important lifestyle consideration, albeit with ahard-to-define set of priorities, particularly among fitness oriented consumers.
Energy bars have cross-generational appeal: generation Xers like the nutrition, babyboomers appreciate the energy boost and the youthful appeal, athletes (includingrecreational) value the performance edge. Even seniors gravitate to the category as a mealreplacement.
Energy bars can be divided into two categories:••

High in carbohydrates (up to 90%), low in proteins and as little as 2% fat.
A more balanced mix of these same three components.

Critics contend that many of these energy bars are not as healthful due to high fat andcalorie content and questionable digestibility.
However, the more balanced approach (higher protein and fat content and lower
proportion of carbohydrates (40-60%) promotes greater fat burning during exercise, thus
saving carbohydrate stores for the final push at the end of a long workout or race.
What has been lacking in both types of energy bars has been the flavor and texture
characteristics that both athletes and general consumers would find acceptable. Can
nutrition and energy be delivered in a convenient bar form without sacrificing sensory
value?
Recently, The California Dried Plum Board, working with David Michael Company,
Philadelphia, PA, developed a new energy bar protocept that combines a balanced
approach to the nutritional content with a significant improvement in flavor and texture.
In fact, the flavor and texture of Dried Plum Energy Bars approximate that of agranola/cereal/snack bar.

Concept
PLUM GOOD ENERGY BARSPlum Good Energy Bars are all natural, balanced energy
bars made from plum juice and plum powder, soy protein,corn syrup, puffed rice, rolled oats, puffed wheat, sunflower
seeds, canola oil, wheat germ, oat bran, dried coconut andnatural flavors.
Plum Good Energy Bars are available un-coated and yogurt
or chocolate coated. Each 40 gram coated bar contains 150
calories, 3 grams of fat and 5 grams of protein. Theseenergy bars also contain 3 grams of fiber, 65%
carbohydrates, only 30 mg of sodium and 330 mg ofpotassium.
Unlike other energy bars that are dry and tough to eat, Plum
Good Energy Bars are lighter in texture--more like a
granola bar and tasty to eat.

Balanced Nutrition
When comparing the nutritional content of various examples of balanced energy bars,
the Dried Plum Energy Bars have the same or less fat, less sodium, more fiber,
substantially more potassium and is generally comparable in protein andcarbohydrates.

SELECTED ENERGY BARSNUTRITIONAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS(40 gram equivalent basis)
Balance Bar
YogurtCoated/Honey Peanut

Calories
Total Fat (g)% FatSodium (mg)
Potassium (mg)Protein (g)% Protein
Fiber (g)Carbohydrates (g)% Carbohydrates

Power Bar
OatmealRaisin

160.0
4.8
12.0
176.0
72.0
11.2
28.0
0.8
17.6
44.0

Power Bar
Chcolate

142.0
1.5
3.8
74.0
110.0
6.2
15.4
1.8
27.7
69.2

Cliff Bar
Real Berry

142.0
1.2
3.1
55.0
89.0
6.2
15.4
1.8
27.7
69.2Plum Good
Energy Bar
Uncoated

147.0
1.2
2.9
59.0
159.0
2.4
5.9
2.9
30.6
76.5

140.0
1.5
3.7
35.0
380.0
6.0
15.0
3.0
26.0
65.0

FORMULA
Plum Good Energy Bars
(40 grams)
Dried Plum Powder (Dried Plums and Apples)
Fresh Plum Juice Concentrate
Soyrich B
Hi Fructose Corn Syrup
Puffed Rice
Rolled Oats
Puffed Wheat
Sunflower Seeds
Honey
Sesame Seeds
Canola Oil
Rolled Wheat Germ
Toasted Wheat GermOat Bran-Dry
Dried Coconut
Michaelthermics N & A Blueberry Flavor #15296
TOTAL
Source: David Michael Company%
23.96
19.61
17.6516.66
8.82
2.59
1.96
1.92
1.81
1.47
1.16
0.91
0.60
0.50
0.32
0.06
100.00PlumGoodEnergyBarYogurt
Coated
150.0
3.0
7.5
30.0
330.0
5.0
12.5
3.0
26.0
65.0

Sensory Evaluation
Working with Five Star Brands, a manufacturer of energy bars, the California Dried Plum
Board took the David Michael protocept energy bars to the laboratory sample stage for
consumer evaluation. Samples of the bar were yogurt coated.
One hundred-one respondents who had purchased and personally consumed energy bars
in the past 90 days were selected for the test. The product was code named Plum Good
Energy Bars.
Using a five-point rating scale, the energy bar samples received ratings in the 3.8-4.4
range for all characteristics. A related attribute rating on the all important texture
characteristic resulted in 62.4% indicating the texture was “just right”.
What respondents liked most about Plum Good Energy Bars was “flavor” (38.6%),“texture/crunchy” (32.7%), “appearance/color” (22.8%).
Fifty-nine percent (59.6%) indicated they would definitely/probably purchase Plum Good
Energy Bars, with good taste/flavor being the primary reason for positive purchaseinterest in the product.

CONSUMER SENSORY*EVALUATION OF
PLUM GOOD ENERGY BARS
(N=101)
Sensory Rating
Appearance
Color
Aroma
TextureFlavorOverall
Like versus other energy bars

4.3
4.1
4.1
3.8
3.8
4.0
3.9

Texture Attribute Rating
Much too dry
Slightly too dry
Just right
Slightly too moist
Much too moist

1.0%
22.8%
62.4%
12.9%
1.0%

Purchase Interest
Definitely would purchase
Probably would purchase
May/may not purchase
Probably would not purchaseDefinitely would not purchase* 1= Unsatisfactory, 5 = Excellent

22.4%
37.2%
20.2%
17.0%
3.2%

Conclusions
The addition of dried plum powder and fresh plum juice concentrate in energy bars
provides added moisture and a more desirable texture that is often lacking in theseproducts. This product improvement is due to the naturally occurring fiber and sorbitol indried plums.
The nutritional profile of energy bars containing dried plums is also improved-particularly fat and sodium content as well as fiber. Potassium levels are significantlyincreased. Evaluation of the sensory characteristics of the sample Plum Good Energy
Bars along with positive purchase interest by consumers of energy bars indicates that fooddesigners should consider the addition of dried plum powder and fresh plum juice.