Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Normally noningestible chewable material or process of...
Patent
1997-05-15
1998-09-01
Corbin, Arthur L.
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Normally noningestible chewable material or process of...
426 4, 426 6, A23G 330
Patent
active
058008489
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to chewing gum. More specifically, the present invention relates to improved formulations for chewing gum and bases.
Chewing gum generally consists of a water insoluble gum base and a water soluble portion along with flavors. The water soluble portion and flavors dissipate during chewing and the gum base is retained in the mouth throughout the chew.
The insoluble gum base generally comprises elastomers, resins, fats and oils, softeners, and inorganic fillers. Elastomers can include synthetic elastomers including polyisobutylene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymers, styrene-butadiene copolymers, polyvinyl acetate, polyisoprene, polyethylene, vinyl acetate--vinyl laurate copolymers, and combinations thereof. Natural elastomers that can be used include natural rubber.
The gum base can include elastomer plasticizers. Such elastomer plasticizers can include natural rosin esters, as well as other elastomer plasticizers. Additionally, the gum base can include fillers/texturizers and softeners/emulsifiers. Softeners are added to chewing gum in order to optimize the chewability and mouth feel of the gum. Softeners/emulsifiers that are typically used include tallow, hydrogenated tallow, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter, glycerol monostearate, glycerol triacetate, lecithin, and combinations thereof.
In addition to a water insoluble gum base portion, a typical chewing gum composition includes a water soluble portion and one or more flavoring agents. The water soluble portion can include bulk sweeteners, high intensity sweeteners, flavoring agents, softeners, emulsifiers, colors, acidulants, fillers, antioxidants, and other components that provide desirable attributes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides improved chewing gum formulations and bases, as well as methods of producing chewing gum and bases. Pursuant to the present invention, chewing gum is provided that includes sucrose polyesters (SPEs). Sucrose polyesters are used in the base and/or gum formulations as plasticizers, softeners, and/or emulsifiers. In an embodiment, sucrose polyesters are added to sucrose-type gum formulations replacing a small or large quantity of other fats, oils, emulsifiers, and softeners.
A variety of base and chewing gum formulations including sucrose polyesters can be created and/or utilized pursuant to the present invention. The base formulations of the present invention may be conventional bases that include wax or are wax-free, tacky or non-tacky and/or bubble gum-type bases. The gum formulations can be low or high moisture formulations containing low or high amounts of moisture-containing syrup. Sucrose polyesters can also be used in low sugar and non-sugar containing gum formulations made with sorbitol, mannitol, other polyols, and non-sugar carbohydrates. Non-sugar formulations can include low or high moisture sugar-free chewing gums.
In an embodiment, sucrose polyesters are used as a softener and are combined with other base softeners for use in chewing gum base. Such other softeners include, but are not limited to, fats and oils, such as tallow, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter, mono- and di-glycerides, acetylated monoglycerides, softeners such as glycerol triacetate, waxes such as paraffin and microcrystalline waxes, and emulsifiers such as lecithin.
In an embodiment, the sucrose polyesters are used as a softener in chewing gum formulations to replace typical chewing gum softeners. In an embodiment, sucrose polyesters are used in the chewing gum formulation to replace typical plasticizers and emulsifying agents that are used in chewing gum formulations. For example, sucrose polyesters can be used to replace glycerin, lecithin, glycerol triacetate, acetylated monoglycerides, and mono- and di-glycerides.
In an embodiment, the sucrose polyesters softeners are used in a chewing gum formulation combined with other softeners, emulsifiers, and plasticizing agents. If desired
REFERENCES:
patent: 4933190 (1990-06-01), Cherukuri et al.
patent: 4983404 (1991-01-01), Raman et al.
patent: 5057328 (1991-10-01), Cherukuri et al.
Bunczek Michael T.
Greenberg Michael J.
Record David W.
Reed Michael A.
Whistler Roy L.
Corbin Arthur L.
the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company
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