High moisture edible compositions and methods of preparation thereof

A method of preparing a confectionary product comprising the steps of preparing a plant-based material selected from the group consisting of a fruit pulp, a fruit puree, a fruit juice, a concentrated fruit puree, a concentrated fruit juice, whole fruit pieces, a vegetable puree, a vegetable pulp, a concentrated vegetable puree, a concentrated vegetable juice, or a combination thereof;

• combining the plant-based material with a hydrocolloid;
• subjecting the plant-based material and the hydrocolloid to electromagnetic radiation sufficient to sterilize the plant-based material;
• and transferring the combined composition into a single or multiple serve package.