Snack Pellets Expand Whole-Grain Options

The USDA Food Guide Pyramid recommends at least three wholegrain servings per day, increasing the need for consumer-appealing wholegrain products. J.R. Short Milling Company expands the market with Sunlite® extruded snack pellets made from a wide selection of grains and available in a variety of shapes, colors and flavors.

Snack pellets, also referred to as half products, are typically highdensity extruded pieces that are fried or baked (air popped) to produce low-density end products. For example, a wheat- and potato-ring pellet with a density of 18.75 lbs/ft3 expands to 3.5 lbs/ft3 when fried and 2.5 lbs/ft3 when baked in a forced-air, high-velocity oven. “We have recently focused on developing pellet products that supply consumers with good-tasting, whole-grain nutrition, while also providing processors with desired margins,” states Kumaresh Chakraborty, Ph.D., vice president marketing, sales and business development. “And our new, state-of-the-art processing equipment ensures the production of consistent pellets that expand uniformly.”

Customers can choose from the Sunlite product line or request customized pellets. End-product attributes are influenced by the grain or blend of grains used in the pellet formulation. In general, the higher the level of complex carbohydrates, such as in potato and rice, the greater the expansion. Grains with more protein, like soy, or those with higher fiber, like oat flour, reduce expansion. “While end-product densities will vary, all have a pleasing, crunchy texture,” says Mike Shafiabady, director of research. “The pellets can be flavored and/or colored to achieve interesting and appealing products, such as our onion-flavored, orange-yellow ring that expands into a crispy onion-ring snack.” Flavorings can be incorporated into the pellet or applied topically to the end product. The company offers numerous shapes, including twists, rings, fish and split pea. Nutritionally, the pellets can be designed with healthful features like high protein, whole grain, low fat or high fiber, as well as with specific nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids.

Available products include:

A whole-ground-corn-based pellet with 17.5% fiber and an appealing toasted-corn flavor;

: A multigrain product made from whole-ground corn flour, whole-ground wheat flour and rice flour, recommended for air-popping and topical coating for a tasty, healthy snack;

Small ball or disk micropellets formulated with rice flour and low-fat soy flour that expand into snack chips or crunchy morsels for topical use on applications like salads or ice cream, such as a cocoa-flavored sundae sprinkle;

A corn-based product with an interesting turtle-shell shape and distinctive toasted corn flavor;

A potato and wheat ring with a pleasant potato flavor and airy texture that offers significant expansion and bag-fill advantages.

J.R. Short Milling Company
1580 Grinnell Road
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: 800/544-8734
Fax: 815/937-8806
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.shortmill.com