Center-filled chewing gum containing a deliverable form of calcium

• US 20030138518A1
• Filed: 01/16/2002
• Published: 07/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Olaya, Hector, Kiefer, Jesse John, Kellstein, Carolina Buitron, Glenn, Blake Henderson
• Granted Patent: US 7,244,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 426/3
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/06 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/064 containing inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/126 containing vitamins, antibiotics
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/20 Composite products, e.g. centre-filled , multi-layer, laminated
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/0058 Chewing gums non-medicinal aspects, preparing chewing gum A23G4/00; chewing gum for care of the teeth or oral cavity, e.g. with breath freshener A61Q11/00

Abstract

A centerfill chewing gum composition having a shell portion and a centerfill portion, the centerfill portion containing an effective amount of a calcium-containing compound suspended therein.

Claims

1. A centerfilled chewing gum composition comprising a shell portion and a centerfill portion, said centerfill portion comprising an effective amount of a calcium-containing compound suspended in the centerfill.

2. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the centerfill further comprises a suspending agent.

3. The chewing gum composition of claim 2 wherein the suspending agent is selected from the group consisting of alginate, pectin, gelatin, starch, modified starch, and carboxymethylcellulose.

4. The chewing gum composition of claim 2 wherein the suspending agent has a molecular weight such that a 1% to 2% aqueous solution of the suspending agent imparts a viscosity of from about 500 to 10,000 cps to the centerfill portion.

5. The chewing gum composition of claim 4 wherein the viscosity is from about 2,000 to 6,000 cps.

6. The chewing gum composition of claim 5 wherein the viscosity is from about 2,500 to 5,500 cps.

7. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the calcium-containing compound has an average particle size of less than about 17 microns.

8. The chewing gum composition of claim 7 wherein the calcium-containing compound has an average particle size of from about 0.4 to 17 microns.

9. The chewing gum composition of claim 8 wherein the calcium-containing composition has an average particle size of from about 2 to 8 microns.

10. The chewing gum composition of claim 7 wherein the calcium-containing compound is calcium carbonate having an average particle size of from about 3 to 5 microns.

11. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein from 45 to 55% of the calcium-containing compound has a particle size of about 0.6-1.0 microns and the remaining 55 to 45% has a particle size of about 14-17 microns.

12. The chewing gum composition of claim 11 wherein the calcium-compound is calcium carbonate, and wherein 50% of the calcium carbonate has a particle size of about 0.8 micron and 50% has a particle size of about 15 microns.

13. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the calcium-containing compound is non-water soluble or sparingly water soluble.

14. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the calcium-containing compound is selected from the group consisting of calcium carbonate, calcium citrate, calcium lactate, calcium gluconate, calcium maleate, calcium phosphate and mixtures thereof.

15. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein said centerfill portion further comprises at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of vitamins, minerals, mineral salts and botanicals.

16. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the amount of the calcium-containing compound is sufficient to release an effective amount of calcium into the oral cavity by chewing 3 to 5 pieces of the chewing gum composition per day.

17. The chewing gum composition of claim 1 wherein the calcium-containing compound is uniformly dispersed in the centerfill portion.

18. A method of delivering an effective amount of calcium to the oral cavity of a human being comprising chewing 3 to 5 pieces of the chewing gum composition of claim 1.