Method for applying sugarless coating to chewing gum and confections

• US 4,317,838 A
• Filed: 02/23/1981
• Issued: 03/02/1982
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nabisco Technology Company
• Original Assignee: Life Savers Incorporated
• Inventors: Cherukuri, Subraman R., Friello, Dominick R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Jeanette M.
• Application Number:
  US06/237,336
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3-6, 426/103, 426/291, 426/292, 426/295, 426/303, 426/305, 426/804, 426/548, 426/658
• US Class Current: 426/5
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2200/06 containing beet sugar or cane sugar if specifically mentioned or containing other carbohydrates, e.g. starches, gums, alcohol sugar, polysaccharides, dextrin or containing high or low amount of carbohydrate
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2210/00 containing inorganic compounds or water in high or low amount
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/20 Apparatus for coating or filling sweetmeats or confectionery
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/2076 Apparatus for coating with powders or granules, e.g. sprinkling
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/343 Products for covering, coating, finishing, decorating
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/025 for coating or surface-finishing
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/20 Composite products, e.g. centre-filled , multi-layer, laminated
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 20/10 Coating with edible coatings, e.g. with oils or fats
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 9/28 Dragees; Coated pills or tablets , e.g. with film or compression coating A61K9/2072 takes precedence, e.g. partially coated tablets A61K9/2072, coated multilayer tablets A61K9/2086, tablets with drug-coated core A61K9/209

Abstract

An improved method for applying a sugarless coating containing sorbitol to chewing gum pieces and confections by using a single coating syrup containing sorbitol and/or other non-sugar sweetener, an adhesion or binder component, such as gum arabic, a filler-anti-stick component, such as calcium carbonate, and a dispersing agent, such as titanium dioxide.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a sugarless coated chewing gum or candy, which comprises the steps of applying to center portions of said chewing gum or candy a coating syrup comprising an aqueous solution of from about 30 to about 70% by weight of a normally sweet non-sugar hygroscopic material selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, isomaltitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and mixtures thereof, from about 5 to about 30% by weight of a binder, from about 3 to about 15% by weight of an anti-sticking compound, and from about 2 to about 12% by weight of a dispersing agent and applying to said so-treated center portions a coating dusting mix comprising said normally sweet non-sugar hygroscopic material in dry form, at least a portion of said dry hygroscopic material being absorbed on the coating syrup applied to said center portions to form a coating on said center portions.

2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said steps of applying said coating syrup and then applying said coating dusting mix are repeated, as necessary, to build up a coating of desired thickness on the center portions.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 further including the step of applying said coating syrup as the last 2 to 4 coats to said center portions previously coated with said coating syrup and said coating dusting mix, said lastly applied coating syrup comprising said normally sweet hygroscopic material and serving to smooth out and providing a shine to the coating of said normally sweet hygroscopic material previously applied to said center portions.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating dusting mix contains a moisture absorbing agent, an anti-sticking agent, and a dispersing agent.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating syrup comprises liquid sorbitol, gum arabic solution, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and mannitol, and said coating dusting mix comprises sorbitol powder, mannitol powder, calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide.

6. A method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion comprises chewing gum or candy.

7. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion is sugarless chewing gum.

8. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said coating syrup further includes a film-forming agent which comprises gelatin, methyl cellulose, hydroxy-propyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and/or carboxymethyl cellulose.

9. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said binder for imparting cohesivity to the coating ingredients is gum arabic, xanthan gum, gum tragacanth, tapioca dextrin, or modified food starch.

10. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said anti-sticking agent is calcium carbonate, talc, or magnesium trisilicate.

11. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said dispersing agent is titanium dioxide.

12. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion is candy.

13. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said center portion is chewing gum and said coating applied is comprised of sorbitol as said hygroscopic material, gum arabic as a binder, calcium carbonate as an anti-sticking-diluent compound, titanium dioxide as a dispersing agent and mannitol as a moisture absorbing agent.