Speaker
Description
Snack bars are compact, nutrient-dense foods that provide convenient energy for active consumers. Palmyrah tuber flour (PTF) is obtained from the tuberous roots of the Palmyrah palm (Borassus flabellifer L), which are rich in carbohydrates, dietary fibre, and essential minerals. Despite its high nutritional value, PTF is underutilised in ready-to-eat value-added products, limiting consumer acceptance and commercial potential. Developing value-added products using PTF is therefore essential to enhance both consumability and market prospects. This study aimed to formulate a healthy, gluten-free snack bar using PTF and Palmyrah jaggery as primary ingredients, along with other components, and to evaluate its nutritional quality and sensory attributes. Four formulations were prepared by incorporating Palmyrah tuber flour at 10, 20, 25, and 30% (F1–F4) without altering other ingredients. Sensory evaluation using a 9-point hedonic scale with 20 trained panellists identified F3 as the most acceptable. The selected formulation was subjected to nutritional and quality analyses and compared with a commercial snack bar. Results showed that the formulated bar contained carbohydrate (74.55±0.12 g/100 g), crude fibre (7.92±0.04 g/100 g), protein (3.75±0.07 g/100 g), iron (2.32±0.10 mg/100 g), fat (12.52±0.22 g/100 g), total ash (1.33±0.09 g/100 g), and energy (260±3 kcal/100 g), which were comparable to the commercial product. Shelf-life analysis indicated stability for up to 3 months. Texture analysis revealed that the formulated snack bar was slightly softer (76 g) and less sticky than the commercial bar (96 g), suggesting a firm and consumer-friendly texture. A structured survey of 250 respondents evaluated health awareness, lifestyle factors, product perception, and willingness to pay. Findings indicated positive consumer acceptance, confirming that Palmyrah tuber flour–based ready-to-eat products have significant potential to increase consumability and market acceptance.
Keywords: Functional Food, Gluten-Free, Palmyrah Tuber Flour, Jaggery, Snack Bar.
