BUT CAN IT MELT IN YOUR MOUTH?

Operation Desert Storm may be over, but Hershey Foods Corporation plans to continue manufacturing the heat-resistant chocolate bars it developed last fall for United States forces in the Persian Gulf. The company aims the bar at those looking for a candy bar that can ``beat the summer heat'' at picnics and at the beach.

The ``Desert Bar,'' packaged in a bland beige reminiscent of the Army's desert camouflage, can withstand temperatures up to 140 degrees F. That compares with 78 degrees for most chocolate bars, the company says.