Chewing gum including agent containing edible film

• US 5,433,960 A
• Filed: 04/20/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: WM Wrigley Jr Company (Mars Incorporated)
• Inventors: Meyers, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): HUNTER, JEANETTE M
• Application Number:
  US08/049,814
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3-6, 426/96, 426/99, 426/302, 426/306, 426/310, 426/307
• US Class Current: 426/5
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 2200/00 containing organic compounds, e.g. synthetic flavouring agents
• 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 4/06 characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/08 of the chewing gum base
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/10 characterised by the carbohydrates used, e.g. polysaccharides containing dairy products A23G4/16
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/20 Composite products, e.g. centre-filled , multi-layer, laminated
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 75/04 Articles or materials wholly enclosed in single sheets or wrapper blanks

Abstract

Improved chewing gums and methods for manufacturing same. A chewing gum is provided comprising an edible film having sufficient barrier properties to provide the chewing gum with increased moisture stability at ambient conditions than a chewing gum without the edible film, the edible film including at least one active chewing gum agent.

Claims

1. A stick of chewing gum comprising:

a gum body in the shape of a stick

a coating of an edible film that coats the stick of chewing gum, the edible film includes at least one material chosen from the group consisting of;

cellulose derivatives;

modified starch;

maltodextrin;

polyols;

low calorie bulking agents;

dextrin;

gelatin;

zein;

soy proteins;

gluten;

whey proteins;

vegetable gums;

edible polymers;

edible plastics;

shellac;

carbohydrates;

modified carbohydrates;

carbohydrate derivatives;

proteins;

lipids;

pseudolatexes;

colloidal dispersion;

ethylcellulose emulsion;

wax emulsions; and

combinations thereof, the coating of edible film having sufficient barrier properties to provide the chewing gum with increased moisture stability at ambient conditions than a chewing gum without the coating of edible film, the edible film including at least one active chewing gum agent.

2. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is a sweetener.

3. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is a flavor.

4. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is a dental agent.

5. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is a softener.

6. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent Is a flavor enhancer.

7. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is water.

8. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is a slip agent.

9. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active agent is an antioxidant.

10. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the active chewing gum agent is a color.

11. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the chewing gum is a stick gum including a first side and a second side and the edible film is applied to both sides.

12. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the coating of edible material includes an edible film forming agent chosen from the group consisting of:

cellulose derivatives;

modified starch;

maltodextrin;

polyols;

low calorie bulking agents;

dextrin;

gelatin;

zein;

soy proteins;

gluten;

whey proteins;

vegetable gums;

edible polymers;

edible plastics;

shellac; and

combinations thereof.

13. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the coating of edible material comprises:

a first layer of an edible film; and

a second layer of at least one material chosen from the group consisting of;

wax, hydrocarbon polymer type waxes, fatty acids, fats, oils, and lipid derivatives.

14. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the coating of edible material is an emulsion including at least two materials chosen from the group consisting of:

carbohydrates;

modified carbohydrates;

carbohydrate derivatives;

proteins; and

lipids.

15. The stick of chewing gum of claim 1 wherein the coating of edible material includes an emulsion chosen from the group consisting of:

pseudolatexes;

colloidal dispersions;

ethylcellulose emulsion; and

wax emulsions.

16. A stick chewing gum comprising:

a gum body in the shape of a stick that includes an insoluble gum base and a water soluble portion;

a coating of an edible film that coats the surface of the gum body, the edible film includes at least one material chosen from the group consisting of;

cellulose derivatives;

modified starch;

maltodextrin;

polyols;

low calorie bulking agents;

dextrin;

gelatin;

zein;

soy proteins;

gluten;

whey proteins;

vegetable gums;

edible polymers;

edible plastics;

shellac;

carbohydrates;

modified carbohydrates;

carbohydrate derivatives;

proteins;

lipids;

pseudolatexes;

colloidal dispersion;

ethylcellulose emulsion;

wax emulsions; and

combinations thereof, the coating of edible film coats at least a substantial portion of the gum body and provides sufficient barrier properties to the gum body to provide the stick chewing gum with increased moisture stability at ambient conditions than a chewing gum without the edible film; and

at least one active agent chosen from the group consisting of;

sweeteners;

flavor;

dental agents;

softeners;

antioxidants;

flavor enhancers;

water;

colors; and

slip agents, that is located within the coating of edible film.

17. The stick chewing gum of claim 16 wherein the sweetener is chosen from the group consisting of:

Aspartame;

alitame;

sucralose;

salts of acesulfame;

saccharine and its salts;

cyclamic acid and its salts;

glycyrrhizin;

dihydrochalcones;

thaumatin; and

combinations thereof.

18. The stick chewing gum of claim 16 wherein the flavor is chosen from the group consisting of:

citrus oils, light fruit esters, mint oils, clove oil, oil of wintergreen, anise, and artificial flavors.

19. The stick chewing gum of claim 16 wherein the dental agent is chosen from the group consisting of:

plaque pH buffers, phosphates, minerals, urea, sodium bicarbonate, calcium glycerophosphate, and remineralizing agents.

20. The stick chewing gum of claim 16 wherein the softener is chosen from the group consisting of:

lecithin, glycerol monostearate, triacetin, acetylated monoglycerides, polyol esters, polyglycol esters, fats, oils, and other lipids.

21. The stick chewing gum of claim 16 wherein the slip agent is chosen from the group consisting of:

silicones, stearates, high melting point waxes, silicon dioxide, talc, and polymer slip agents.

22. The stick chewing gum of claim 16 wherein the color is chosen from the group consisting of:

dyes, lakes, pigments, whitenets, and natural food colorants.

23. A method for manufacturing chewing gum comprising the steps of:

creating a unit of chewing gum in the form of a stick;

coating a surface of the unit of chewing gum with an edible film that includes at least one material chosen from the group consisting of;

cellulose derivatives;

modified starch;

maltodextrin;

polyols;

low calorie bulking agents;

dextrin;

gelatin;

zein;

soy proteins;

gluten;

whey proteins;

vegetable gums;

edible polymers;

edible plastics;

shellac;

carbohydrates;

modified carbohydrates;

carbohydrate derivatives;

proteins;

lipids;

pseudolatexes;

colloidal dispersion;

ethylcellulose emulsion;

wax emulsions; and

combinations thereof, the coating of edible film providing barrier properties; and

locating in the coating of edible film at least one active chewing gum agent chosen from the group consisting of;

sweeteners;

flavor;

antioxidants;

dental agents;

softeners;

flavor enhancers;

water;

colors; and

slip agents.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the unit is a stick of gum.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the stick of chewing gum includes a first and second side and the first and second sides are both coated with the edible film.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein the active agent is present in the film on only a first or a second side of the chewing gum stick.

27. A method for segregating in a chewing gum ingredients comprising the steps of:

creating a chewing gum structure that has a stick shape; and

coating a surface of the chewing gum structure with a coating of an edible film that includes one or more ingredients that interact with one or more ingredients located in the chewing gum structure, the edible film also including at least one material chosen from the group consisting of;

cellulose derivatives;

modified starch;

maltodextrin;

polyols;

low calorie bulking agents;

dextrin;

gelatin;

zein;

soy proteins;

gluten;

whey proteins;

vegetable gums;

edible polymers;

edible plastics;

shellac;

carbohydrates;

modified carbohydrates;

carbohydrate derivatives;

proteins;

lipids;

pseudolatexes;

colloidal dispersion;

ethylcellulose emulsion;

wax emulsions; and

combinations thereof.

28. A method for providing improved processability to a chewing gum composition comprising the steps of:

creating a unit of chewing gum having a stick shape; and

coating a surface of the stick shape with a coating of edible film that includes a slip agent and least one material chosen from the group consisting of;

cellulose derivatives;

modified starch;

maltodextrin;

polyols;

low calorie bulking agents;

dextrin;

gelatin;

zein;

soy proteins;

gluten;

whey proteins;

vegetable gums;

edible polymers;

edible plastics;

shellac;

carbohydrates;

modified carbohydrates;

carbohydrate derivatives;

proteins;

lipids;

pseudolatexes;

colloidal dispersion;

ethylcellulose emulsion;

wax emulsions; and

combinations thereof.

29. The method for providing of claim 28 wherein the slip agent is chosen from the group consisting of:

silicones, stearates, high melting point waxes, silicon dioxide, talc, and polymer slip agents.