Reduced-calorie confectionery coated chewing gum compositions and methods for preparing same

• US 5,087,460 A
• Filed: 07/07/1989
• Issued: 02/11/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adams Golf Incorporated (Taylor Made Golf Co., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company (Pfizer Inc.)
• Inventors: Cherukuri, Subraman R., Mansukhani, Gul, Faust, Steven M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Jeanette
• Application Number:
  US07/377,800
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3-6, 426/302.1, 426/305, 426/310, 426/548, 426/804
• US Class Current: 426/5
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/02 Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of chewing gum
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/06 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/066 characterised by the fat used
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/08 of the chewing gum base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 426/804 Low calorie, low sodium or hypoallergic

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion wherein the center portion comprises a reduced-calorie gum base which comprises in percentages by weight of the gum base (a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%, (b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%, (c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%, (d) a wax having a melting point below about 60° C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%, and (e) a component selected from the group consisting of elastomer solvents, emulsifiers, plasticizers, fillers, and mixtures thereof, present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%. The confectionery coated chewing gum compositions may be used with a wide variety of confectionery coatings. The present invention also pertains to methods for preparing the confectionery coated chewing gum compositions.

Claims

1. A confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion wherein the center portion comprises a reduced-calorie gum base which consists essentially of in percentages by weight of the gum base:

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20;

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%;

(D) a wax having a melting point below 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%; and

(e) a filler component present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%.

2. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural gums, synthetic gums, and mixtures thereof.

3. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is present in an amount from about 2.5% to about 15%, by weight of the gum base.

4. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the polyvinyl acetate polymer is present in amount from about 12% to about 17%, by weight of the gum base.

5. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, further comprising a low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 12,000 to about 16,000 present in an amount up to about 17%, by weight of the gum base.

6. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 5, wherein the low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer is present in an amount from about 12% to about 17%, by weight of the gum base.

7. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 5, wherein the mole ratio of low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer to medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer is from about 1:

0.5 to about 1;

1.5, respectively.

8. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the acetylated monoglyceride has a saponification value above about 400.

9. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the acetylated monoglyceride is present in an amount from about 5% to about 9%, by weight of the gum base.

10. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the wax is a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 45°

C. and about 55°

C.

11. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the wax is present in an amount from about 7% to about 9.5%, by weight of the gum base.

12. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer solvent is present and is selected from the group consisting of the pentaerythritol ester of partially hydrogenated wood and gum rosin, the pentaerythritol ester of wood and gum rosin, the glycerol ester of wood rosin, the glycerol ester of partially dimerized wood and gum rosin, the glycerol ester of polymerized wood and gum rosin, the glycerol ester of tall oil rosin, the glycerol ester of wood and gum rosin and the partially hydrogenated wood and gum rosin and the partially hydrogenated methyl ester of wood and rosin, and mixtures thereof.

13. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer solvent is present in an amount from about 2% to about 12%, by weight of the gum base.

14. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present and is a hydrogenated vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, cotton seed oil, and mixtures thereof.

15. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount from about 5% to about 13%, by weight of the gum base.

16. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the filler is present in an amount from about 15% to about 40%, by weight of the gum base.

17. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 1, wherein the center portion is present in an amount from about 25% to about 95%, by weight of the gum composition.

18. A confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion wherein the center portion comprises a reduced-calorie gum base which consists essentially of in percentages by weight of the gum bases:

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%.

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%;

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%;

(e) an elastomer solvent present in an amount from about 2% to about 11%;

(f) a plasticizer in an amount from about 5% to about 14% ; and

(g) a filler in an amount from about 15% to about 40%.

19. A confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion wherein the center portion comprises a reduced-calorie gum base which consists essentially of:

(A) a gum base present in an amount from about 40% to about 75% by weight of the chewing gum composition, which consists essentially of;

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20% by weight of the gum base;

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25% by weight of the gum base;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base;

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base; and

(e) a filler material present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%, by weight of the gum base; and

(B) a bulking agent present in an amount up to about 60%, by weight of the chewing gum composition.

20. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the elastomer is selected from the group consisting of natural gums, synthetic gums, and mixtures thereof.

21. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the elastomer is present in an amount from about 2.5% to about 15%, by weight of the gum base.

22. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the polyvinyl acetate polymer is present in amount from about 12% to about 17%, by weight of the gum base.

23. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, further comprising a low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 12,000 to about 16,000 present in an amount up to about 17%, by weight of the gum base.

24. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 23, wherein the low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer is present in an amount from about 12% to about 17%, by weight of the gum base.

25. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 23, wherein the mole ratio of low molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer to medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer is from about 1:

0.5 to about 1;

1.5, respectively.

26. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the acetylated monoglyceride has a saponification value above about 400.

27. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the acetylated monoglyceride is present in an amount from about 5% to about 9%, by weight of the gum base.

28. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the wax is a paraffin wax having a melting point between about 45°

C. and about 55°

C.

29. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the wax is present in an amount from about 7% to about 9.5%, by weight of the gum base.

30. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the elastomer solvent is present and is selected from the group consisting of the pentaerythritol ester of partially hydrogenated wood and gum rosin, the pentaerythritol ester of wood and gum rosin, the glycerol ester of wood rosin, the glycerol ester of partially dimerized wood and gum rosin, the glycerol ester of polymerized wood and gum rosin, the glycerol ester of tall oil rosin, the glycerol ester of wood and gum rosin and the partially hydrogenated wood and gum rosin and the partially hydrogenated methyl ester of wood and rosin, and mixtures thereof.

31. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the elastomer solvent is present in an amount from about 2% to about 12%, by weight of the gum base.

32. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the plasticizer is present and is a hydrogenated vegetable oil selected from the group consisting of soybean oil, cotton seed oil, and mixtures thereof.

33. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the plasticizer is present in an amount from about 5% to about 13%, by weight of the gum base.

34. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the filler is present in an amount from about 15% to about 40%, by weight of the gum base.

35. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the center portion is present in an amount from about 25% to about 95%, by weight of the gum composition.

36. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 19, wherein the bulking agent is present in an amount from about 25% to about 60%, by weight of the gum composition.

37. A confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion wherein the center portion comprises a reduced-calorie gum base which consists essentially of:

(A) a gum base present in an amount from about 40% to about 75%, by weight of the chewing gum composition, which consists essentially of;

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight of the gum base;

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%, by weight of the gum base,

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base;

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base; and

(e) an elastomer solvent present in an amount from about 2% to about 11%, by weight of the gum base;

(f) a plasticizer in an amount from about 5% to about 14%, by weight of the gum base; and

(g) a filler in an amount from about 15% to about 40%, by weight of the gum base; and

(B) a bulking agent present in an amount up to about 60%, by weight of the chewing gum composition.

38. A method for preparing a center portion in a confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a confectionery coating over the center portion, wherein the center portion is comprised of a gum base, which consists essentially of the steps of:

(1) providing the following ingredients in percentages by weight of the gum base;

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%;

(B) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%;

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in amount from about 6% to about 10%; and

(e) a filler component present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%; and

(2) admixing the ingredients in step (1) to form a uniform mixture.

39. A method for preparing a center portion in a confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a confectionery coating over the center portion, wherein the center portion is comprised of a chewing gum composition, which consists essentially of the steps of:

(1) providing the following ingredients of the chewing gum composition;

(A) a gum base present in an amount from about 40% to about 75%, by weight of the chewing gum composition, which comprises;

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight of the gum base;

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%, by weight of the gum base;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base;

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%, by weight of gum base; and

(e) a filler material present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%, and

(B) a bulking agent present in an amount up to about 60%, by weight of the chewing gum composition; and

(2) admixing the ingredients in step (A) to form a uniform mixture; and

(3) admixing the ingredients in step (B) to the mixture of step (2) to form a uniform mixture.

40. A method for preparing a confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion which comprises coating the center portion with the confectionery coating, wherein the center portion comprises a gum base consisting essentially of in percentages by weight of the gum base:

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%.

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%.

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%; and

(e) a filler component present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%.

41. A method for preparing a confectionery coated chewing gum composition having a center portion and a confectionery coating over the center portion which comprises coating the center portion with the confectionery coating, wherein the center portion comprises a chewing gum composition consisting essentially of:

(A) a gum base present in an amount from about 40% to about 75%, by weight of the chewing gum composition, which consists essentially of;

(a) an elastomer present in an amount from about 0.5% to about 20%, by weight of the gum base;

(b) a medium molecular weight polyvinyl acetate polymer having a molecular weight from about 35,000 to about 55,000 present in an amount from about 10% to about 25%, by weight of the gum base;

(c) an acetylated monoglyceride present in an amount from about 4.5% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base;

(d) a wax having a melting point below about 60°

C. present in an amount from about 6% to about 10%, by weight of the gum base; and

(e) a filler material present in an amount to bring the total amount of gum base to 100%, by weight of the gum base; and

(B) a bulking agent present in an amount up to about 60%, by weight of the chewing gum composition.

42. A confectionery coated chewing gum composition prepared by the method of claim 41 wherein said center portion consists essentially of a reduced-calorie gum base having an enhanced hydrophilic nature.

43. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition according to claim 42, wherein the center portion is present in an amount from about 25% to about 95%, by weight of the gum composition.

44. The confectionery coated chewing gum composition of claim 43 wherein said gum base having an enhanced hydrophilic nature is present in an amount of from about 40% to about 75% by weight of the chewing gum composition.