Comestible products having extended release of addititives and method of making

• US 5,912,030 A
• Filed: 09/04/1997
• Issued: 06/15/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leaf Holland BV (Hjalmar Svenfelts Stiftelse)
• Original Assignee: Leaf Holland BV (Hjalmar Svenfelts Stiftelse)
• Inventors: Huzinec, Robert J., Schindeldecker, Terry L., Kearns, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Corbin, Arthur L.
• Application Number:
  US08/923,318
• Time in Patent Office: 649 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3, 426/4, 426/5, 426/6, 426/96, 426/565, 426/590
• US Class Current: 426/3
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/362 containing inorganic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/38 Sucrose-free products
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/42 characterised by the carbohydrates used, e.g. polysaccharides containing dairy products A23G3/46
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 3/54 Composite products, e.g. layered, coated, filled
• CPC Class Codes: A23G 4/064 containing inorganic compounds
• 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: A23L 27/70 Fixation, conservation, or encapsulation of flavouring agents
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 27/77 Use of inorganic solid carriers, e.g. silica
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 5/42 Addition of dyes or pigments, e.g. in combination with optical brighteners
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/16 Taste affecting agent
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/22 Coating agent
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1614 Sodium
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/21 Plant extracts
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/24 Non-sugar sweeteners
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/242 Acesulfame K, acetylsulfame
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/2482 Aspartam
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/51082 Carboxymethyl cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/51084 Crystalline, microcrystalline cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/60 : Sugars, e.g. mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-saccharides

Abstract

The present invention provides a comestible product having extended release of additives wherein the additives are mixed with a carrier containing from about 10 wt. % to about 100 wt. % of a microcrystalline material, the microcrystalline material having a particle size ranging from about 0.1 μm to about 100 μm. Additives which may be mixed with the microcrystalline carrier are flavors, sweeteners, vitamins, pharmaceuticals, minerals, colors, acids, and mixtures thereof. Examples of carriers are microcrystalline cellulose, zeolites, carbon black, and mixtures thereof. Examples of comestible products in which the additive/carrier blend may be used are chewing gum, bubble gum, instant beverages, and frozen desserts.

Claims

1. A comestible product, having extended release of an additive, comprising an additive/carrier blend;

the additive/carrier blend comprising a blend of a carrier and a solution comprising the additive, wherein the carrier is a colloidal gel comprising a microcrystalline material and a dispersant;

wherein from about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the carrier is comprised of the microcrystalline material, the carrier having a particle size ranging from about 0.1 μ

m to about 2 μ

m and being capable of absorbing at least 35% of its weight of an oil- or water-based solution; and

wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, vitamins, minerals, acids, and mixtures thereof.

2. The comestible product of claim 1 wherein the carrier contains from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

3. The comestible product of claim 1 wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

4. The comestible product of claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, zeolites, aluminum silicates, carbon black, and mixtures thereof.

5. The comestible product of claim 4 wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

6. The comestible product of claim 5 wherein the disperant is carboxymethylcellulose.

7. The comestible product of claim 5 wherein the the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcyrstalline cellulose.

8. The comestible product of claim 7 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

9. The comestible product of claim 5 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose, and wherein 70% of the microcrystalline cellulose particles are less that 0.2 μ

m.

10. The comestible product of claim 1 wherein the comestible product is chosen from the group consisting of chewing gum and bubble gum.

11. The comestible product of claim 10 wherein the comestible product further comprises a gum base.

12. The comestible product of claim 11 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

13. The comestible product of claim 12 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

14. The comestible product of claim 11 wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

15. The comestible product of claim 14 wherein the dispersant is carboxymethylcellulose.

16. The comestible product of claim 14 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

17. The comestible product of claim 16 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

18. The comestible product of claim 14 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt.% to about 90 wt.% microcrystalline cellulose, and wherein 70% of the microcrystalline cellulose particles are less that 0.2 μ

m.

19. The comestible product of claim 18 wherein the additive is a flavor or a sweetener.

20. The comestible product of claim 19 wherein the flavor is spearmint or peppermint.

21. The comestible product of claim 11 wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

22. The comestible product of claim 21 wherein the flavor is chosen from the group consisting of essential oils, fruit flavors, bean-derived flavors, wine-derived flavors, pungent materials, and mixtures thereof.

23. The comestible product of claim 21 wherein the flavor is chosen from the group consisting of cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, birch, anise, apple, pear, peach, strawberry, cherry, apricot, orange, watermelon, banana, coffee, cocoa, curacao zin, affinin, pepper, and mustard, and mixtures thereof.

24. The comestible product of claim 23 wherein the flavor is spearmint or peppermint.

25. The comestible product of claim 21 wherein the sweetener is chosen from the group consisting of sucrose, fructose, dextrose, lactose, maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, acesulfame potassium, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, talin, sucralose, alitame, monoammoniated glycerizinate, saccharin, cyclamates, cyclodextrins, D-tagatose, and mixtures thereof.

26. The comestible product of claim 25 wherein the sweetener is acesulfame potassium.

27. A comestible product, having extended release of an additive, comprising an additive/carrier blend;

wherein the additive/carrier blend is prepared by a process comprising mixing a carrier with a solution comprising the additive and, optionally, a solvent;

wherein the carrier is a colloidal gel comprising a microcrystalline material and a dispersant;

wherein from about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the carrier is comprised of the microcrystalline material, the carrier having a particle size ranging from about 0.1 μ

m to about 2 μ

m and being capable of absorbing at least 35% of its weight of an oil- or water-based solution, and

wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, vitamins, minerals, acids, and mixtures thereof.

28. The comestible product of claim 27 wherein the comestible product is chosen from the group consisting of chewing gum, bubble gum, instant beverages, and frozen desserts.

29. The comestible product of claim 28 wherein the comestible product is chewing gum or bubble gum and further comprises a gum base.

30. The comestible product of claim 29 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

31. The comestible product of claim 30 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

32. The comestible product of claim 29 wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

33. The comestible product of claim 32 wherein the dispersant is carboxymethylcellulose.

34. The comestible product of claim 32 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

35. The comestible product of claim 34 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

36. The comestible product of claim 32 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose, and wherein 70% of the microcrystalline cellulose particles are less that 0.2 μ

m.

37. The comestible product of claim 36 wherein the additive is a flavor or a sweetener.

38. The comestible product of claim 37 wherein the flavor is spearmint or peppermint.

39. The comestible product of claim 29 wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

40. The comestible product of claim 27 wherein the additive/carrier blend has the consistency of a paste.

41. The comestible product of claim 27 wherein the carrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, zeolites, aluminum silicates, carbon black, and mixtures thereof.

42. The comestible product of claim 41 wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

43. The comestible product of claim 42 wherein the despersant is carboxymethylcellulose.

44. The comestible product of claim 42 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose, and wherein 70% of the microcrystalline cellulose particles are less that 0.2 μ

m.

45. A method of extending the release of an additive from a comestible product, comprising adding an additive/carricr blend to a comestible product;

wherein the additive/carrier blend is prepared by a process comprising mixing a carrier with a solution comprising the additive and, optionally, a solvent;

wherein the carrier is a colloidal gel comprising a microcrystalline material and a dispersant;

wherein from about 10 wt. % to about 90 wt. % of the carrier is comprised of the microcrystalline material, the carrier having a particle size ranging from about 0.1 μ

m to about 2 μ

m and being capable of absorbing at least 35% of its weight of an oil- or water-based solution; and

wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, vitamins, minerals, acids, and mixtures thereof.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the additive/carrier blend has the consistency of a paste.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the carrier contains from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein the comestible product is chosen from the group consisting of chewing gum, bubble gum, instant beverages, and frozen desserts.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the comestible product is chewing gum or bubble gum and further comprises a gum base.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

51. The method of claim 50 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline material.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein the dispersant is carboxymethylcellulose.

54. The method of claim 52 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline celulose.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

56. The method of claim 52 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose, and wherein 70% of the microcrystalline cellulose particles are less that 0.2 μ

m.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the additive is a flavor or a sweetener.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein the flavor is spearmint or peppermint.

59. The method of claim 49 wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the flavor is chosen from the group consisting of essential oils, fruit flavors, bean-derived flavors, wine-derived flavors, pungent materials, and mixtures thereof.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the flavor is chosen from the group consisting of cinnamon, spearmint, peppermint, birch, anise, apple, pear, peach, strawberry, cherry, apricot, orange, watermelon, banana, coffee, cocoa, curacao zin, affinin, pepper, and mustard, and mixtures thereof.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the flavor is spearmint or peppermint.

63. The method of claim 59 wherein the sweetener is chosen from the group consisting of sucrose, fructose, dextrose, lactose, maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, lactitol, acesulfame potassium, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, talin, sucralose, alitame, monoammoniated glycerizinate, saccharin, cyclamates, cyclodextrins, D-tagatose, and mixtures thereof.

64. The method of claim 63 wherein the sweetener is acesulfame potassium.

65. The method of claim 45 wherein the additive is chosen from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, and mixtures thereof.

66. The method of claim 45 wherein the carrier comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of microcrystalline cellulose, zeolites, aluminum silicates, carbon black, and mixtures thereof.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the carrier comprises microcrystalline cellulose.

68. The method of claim 67 wherein the dispersant is carboxymethylcellulose.

69. The method of claim 67 wherein the carrier comprises from about 20 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

70. The method of claim 69 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose.

71. The method of claim 66 wherein the carrier comprises from about 60 wt. % to about 90 wt. % microcrystalline cellulose, and wherein 70% of the microcrystalline cellulose particles are less that 0.2 μ

m.