Liquid-filled chewing gum composition

• US 7,727,565 B2
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cadbury Adams USA LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jani, Bharat, Kabse, Kishor
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Lien
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEKKER, KELLY JO
• Application Number:
  US11/408,761
• Publication Number:
  US 20070003663A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,502 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3, 426/5, 426/89, 426/103, 426/533, 426/615, 426/639, 426/660, 426/6
• US Class Current: 426/3
• 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: A23G 4/205 Hollow products, e.g. with inedible or edible filling, fixed or movable within the cavity
• CPC Class Codes: A23L 29/37 Sugar alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: A23P 10/30 Encapsulation of particles, e.g. foodstuff additives
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2002/00 Food compositions, function of food ingredients or processes for food or foodstuffs
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/04 Colour
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/15 Flavour affecting agent
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2200/22 Coating agent
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/032 Citric acid
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1634 Titanium
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/1842 Lecithin
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/24 Non-sugar sweeteners
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5028 Arabic
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/51082 Carboxymethyl cellulose
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/5432 Gelatine
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/64 Sugar alcohols
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/6416 Maltitol
• CPC Class Codes: A23V 2250/642 Sorbitol

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a chewing or bubble gum composition which includes a liquid fill composition and a gum region which includes a gum base surrounding the liquid fill which may include a modified release component, wherein the gum region includes a polyol composition including at least one polyol and having a water solubility of less than 72% by weight at 25° C. The composition may also include a coating region which surrounds the gum region.

Claims

1. A chewing gum composition comprising:

(a) a liquid-fill composition; and

(b) a gum region surrounding said liquid-fill composition,

said gum region comprising a gum base, maltitol in the amount of about 40% to about 60% by weight of said gum region and sorbitol in the amount of about 0% to about 10% by weight of said gum region;

wherein said liquid-fill composition further comprises at least one modified release component and wherein after three weeks at 37°

C. said chewing gum composition exhibits a reduced loss of said liquid-fill composition into said gum region.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein said modified release component is at least partially encapsulated.

3. The composition of claim 1, wherein said modified release component provides an extended release or an early release of said component.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein said modified release component is selected from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, sensates, breath fresheners, dental care components, actives, herbals, effervescing systems, appetite suppressors, potentiators, food acids, micronutrients, mouth moistening components, throat care components, and combinations thereof.

5. The composition of claim 1 further comprising;

(c) a third region;

said third region surrounding at least a portion of said gum region.

6. The composition of claim 5, wherein at least one of said gum region and said third region comprises a second modified release component.

7. The composition of claim 6, wherein said modified release component is the same as said second modified release component.

8. A composition comprising:

(a) a liquid-fill composition; and

(b) a gum region surrounding said liquid-fill composition,

said gum region comprising a gum base, maltitol in the amount of about 40% to about 60% by weight of said gum region and sorbitol in the amount of about 0% to about 10% by weight of said gum region;

wherein said liquid-fill composition comprises at least one encapsulated component and wherein after three weeks at 37°

C. said chewing gum composition exhibits a reduced loss of said liquid-fill composition into said gum region.

9. The composition of claim 8, wherein said encapsulated component provides extended release or early release of said component.

10. The composition of claim 8, wherein said encapsulated component is selected from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, sensates, breath fresheners, dental care components, actives, herbals, effervescing systems, appetite suppressors, potentiators, food acids, micronutrients, mouth moistening components, throat care components, and combinations thereof.

11. The composition of claim 8, further comprising;

(c) a third region;

said third region surrounding at least a portion of said gum region.

12. The composition of claim 11, wherein at least one of said gum region and said third region comprises at least one additional encapsulated component.

13. The composition of claim 12, wherein said encapsulated component is selected from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, sensates, breath fresheners, dental care components, actives, herbals, effervescing systems, appetite suppressors, potentiators, food acids, micronutrients, mouth moistening components, throat care components, and combinations thereof and said additional encapsulated component is selected from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, sensates, breath fresheners, dental care components, actives, herbals, effervescing systems, appetite suppressors, potentiators, food acids, micronutrients, mouth moistening components, throat care components, and combinations thereof.

14. A gum composition comprising:

(a) a center-fill comprising greater than zero up to about 10% by weight of said gum composition;

(b) a gum region comprising from about 55% to about 65% by weight of said gum composition, said gum region comprising maltitol in the amount of about 40% to about 60% by weight of said gum region and sorbitol in the amount of about 0% to about 10% by weight of said gum region; and

(c) a coating comprising from about 25% to about 35% by weight of said gum composition;

wherein said gum composition further comprises a gum piece of about three grams or less, and

said center-fill comprises as least one modified release component;

and wherein after three weeks at 37°

C. said gum composition exhibits a reduced loss of said center-fill into said gum region.

15. The gum composition of claim 14, wherein at least one of said gum region and said coating composition comprises an additional modified release component.

16. The gum composition of claim 15, wherein said modified release component is selected from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, sensates, breath fresheners, dental care components, actives, herbals, effervescing systems, appetite suppressors, potentiators, food acids, micronutrients, mouth moistening components, throat care components, and combinations thereof and said additional modified release component is selected from the group consisting of flavors, sweeteners, sensates, breath fresheners, dental care components, actives, herbals, effervescing systems, appetite suppressors, potentiators, food acids, micronutrients, mouth moistening components, throat care components, and combinations thereof.

17. A composition comprising:

(a) a liquid-fill composition comprising a first component and a second component, said first component being encapsulated and said second component being unencapsulated; and

(b) a gum region surrounding said liquid-fill composition, said gum region comprising a gum base, maltitol in the amount of about 40% to about 60% by weight of said gum region and sorbitol in the amount of about 0% to about 10% by weight of said gum region,

wherein after three weeks at 37°

C. said gum composition exhibits a reduced loss of said liquid-fill composition into said gum region.

18. The composition of claim 17, wherein said first component and said second component are the same.