Degradable chewing gum

• US 8,268,371 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intercontinental Great Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Kraft Foods Global Brands LLC (Mondelez International, Inc.)
• Inventors: Soper, Paul D., Miladinov, Vesselin Danailov, Amarista, Jose A., Smith, Ian, Elleman, Carole, Taylor, Mark, Slater, Nigel Kenneth Harry, Eccleston, Mark Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Dees, Nikki H
• Application Number:
  US11/981,922
• Publication Number:
  US 20080233233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,784 Days
• Field of Search: 426/3, 426/4, 426/5, 426/6
• US Class Current: 426/6
• 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 4/18 characterised by shape, structure or physical form, e.g. aerated products

Abstract

The present invention provides gum base compositions and chewing gum compositions having non stick or reduced-stick properties and/or increased degradability. The compositions include a terpolymer of methylvinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid, which provide increased degradability. Methods of preparing the gum base and chewing gum compositions, as well as methods of use, are provided.

Claims

1. A gum base composition comprising:

(a) about 5% to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the gum base of a terpolymer of methylvinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid, wherein the gum base degrades faster in the presence of the terpolymer than in the absence of the terpolymer;

(b) an elastomer; and

(c) at least one component that promotes hydrolysis, wherein said component is talc, and combinations thereof and wherein the gum base degrades faster in the presence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis than in the absence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis.

2. The composition of claim 1, wherein the elastomer is present in amounts of about 5% to about 95% by weight of the gum base composition.

3. The composition of claim 1, further including at least one flavor or sensate.

4. The composition of claim 1, wherein the elastomer is present in amounts of about 5% to about 95% by weight of the gum base composition.

9. The composition of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the terpolymer is encapsulated.

5. A chewing gum base composition comprising:

(a) about 5% to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the gum base of a terpolymer of methylvinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid, wherein the chewing gum composition degrades faster in the presence of the terpolymer than in the absence of the terpolymer;

(b) an elastomer;

(c) a sweetener; and

(d) at least one component that promotes hydrolysis, wherein said component is talc, and wherein the chewing gum composition degrades faster in the presence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis than in the absence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis.

6. The composition of claim 5, further including at least one flavor or sensate.

10. The composition of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the terpolymer is encapsulated.

7. A method of preparing a chewing gum composition comprising:

(a) providing a gum base comprising an elastomer; and

(b) combining said gum base with a terpolymer of methylvinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid, at least one sweetener and at least one component that promotes hydrolysis, wherein said component is talc, thereof;

wherein the chewing gum composition degrades faster in the presence of the terpolymer than in the absence of the terpolymer; and

wherein the chewing gum composition degrades faster in the presence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis than in the absence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein at least a portion of the terpolymer is encapsulated.

8. A method of increasing degradability of a chewing gum composition comprising:

(a) providing a gum base composition comprising (i) an elastomer;

(b) adding the following ingredients to the gum base composition;

(ii) about 5% to about 10% by weight based on the weight of the gum base a terpolymer of methyl vinyl ether, maleic anhydride and maleic acid;

(iii) at least one sweetener or flavor; and

(iv) at least one component that promotes hydrolysis, wherein said component is talc;

wherein the chewing gum composition degrades faster in the presence of the terpolymer than in the absence of the terpolymer; and

wherein the chewing gum composition degrades faster in the presence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis than in the absence of the at least one component that promotes hydrolysis.

12. The composition of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the terpolymer is encapsulated.