IE53364B1 - Improved method for applying sugarless coating to chewing gum and confections - Google Patents

Description

The present Invention relates to an Improved method for applying a sugarless coating containing a sweetener, (e.g. sorbitol)in crystalline form, to a chewing gum, confection, and medicinals and therapeutics in the forms of pills or tablets, arid to any of the above comestibles containing such a sugarless coating.

Candy-coated chewing gums have long been a favorite among young and old alike. The candy coatings generally employed are sugar-based and thus are not used as coatings for sugarless gums. The sugar-based coatings may be applied to chewing gum employing procedures such as described in 0. S. latents Nos. 3,554,767 to Daum et al, 2,304,245 to Ekert, 2,460,698 to Lindhe and 3,208,405 to Beer.

O. S. Patent No. 4,127,677 to Fronczkowski et al discloses a xylitol coated chewing gum containing from 95 to 99.5% xylitol which may be used as a coating for sugarless gums. However, for various reasons, xylitol containing chewing gums have not received satisfactory consumer acceptance.

Sorbitol, long used as a plasticizer and sweetener, has been suggested as a substitute for sugar in forming sugarless candy coatings for sugarless chewing gums. Unfortunately, however, it has been found that when sorbitol is applied in an aqueous coating solution to chewing gum centers, the sorbitol does not recrystallize to form a thin crystalline coat. Moreover, the chewing gum centers subjected to the sorbitol coating step stick to one another forming undesirable clumps. -2Accordingly, a need exists in the market place for a sugarless coating, preferably free of xylitol, based on the use of a non-sugar sweetener, such as sorbitol.

U.S. Patent No. 4,238,510 (equivalent to Irish Patent No. 49851) discloses a method for forming a sugarless candy coating, preferably including crystalline sorbitol, on chewing gums, confections, and generally in the preparation of candy coated pills, tablets and other solid shapes, which method overcomes the problems associated with the application of sorbitol-containing coatings to produce a uniform sugarless coating, with good appearance, and flavor release and having bite-through and chew properties of a soft crystal. The technique employed for forming a sugarless coating on a solid shape to be coated (hereinafter referred to as centers) includes the steps of applying to the centers a first coating syrup which contains a sweetener such as sorbitol and/or other nonsugar sweetener, for example, mannitol or hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, an adhesion or binder component and a film-forming component, to thereby coat the centres with the first coating syrup, and then applying a dusting mix to the centers coated with the first coating syrup, the dusting mix including one or more sweeteners, such as employed in the first coating syrup, in powdered form, and a moisture absorbing component, such as mannitol, an antisticking component such as calcium carbonate and a dispersing agent such as titanium dioxide, and then preferably applying a second coating syrup to smooth out the coating of the centers and provide a shine thereto, which second coating syrup generally includes ingredients similar to that present in the dusting mix but dispersed in water.

IR 49851 discloses a coating syrup, comprising a sweetener, a binder, an anti-sticking compound, and a dispersing agent, however, such a syrup is used only after a first coating material, whioh does not include an antisticking compound, and a dispersing agent, and a dusting mix is applied. In the present invention an anti-sticking compound and a dispersing agent are included in the first coating syrup. -3The above technique has proved to be an excellent method, albeit, it usually requires two different types of coating syrup to produce the desired coating. Accordingly, a sugarless coating technique wherein only a single coating syrup is employed would be a tremendous advance over afore-mentioned prior art as well as over the abovedescribed O.S. Patent No. 4 238 510.

The present invention relates to a method, for preparing a sugarless-coated comestible, which comprises the steps of applying to center portions of said comestible, a coating syrup com.pri —'ng an aqueous solution of a sweetener, said sweetene- comprising a normally sweet hygroscopic material, a binder, an anti-sticking compound, and a dispersing agent, and applying to said so-treated center portions a dusting mix, said dusting mix comprising the same or another normally sweet hygroscopic material in dry form, a moisture-absorbing component, and an antisticking component and a dispersing agent, at least a portion of said dry hygroscopic material being absorbed on the coating syrup applied to said·center portions to form a coating on said center portions. In accordance with the present invention, an improved so-called one-rstep* or one syrup method is provided for forming a sugarless coating on solid shapes to be coated (hereinafter referred to as centers) and includes the steps of applying to the centers a coating syrup as defined above, which may optionally also contain a film-forming component, whereby to coat the centers with the coating syrup, and then apply ing the above-defined dusting mix to the centers coated with the coating syrup.

The steps of applying the coating syrup and dusting mix will be repeated, as many times as necessary, to build up a desired coating weight and thickness on the centers.

In carrying out the method, of the invention, coat35 ing syrup will be formed as an aqueous solution of the a) sweetener (or bulking agent), b) adhesion or binder -4component, c) an anti-sticking (filler) component, and d) a dispersing agent.

The sweetener (or bulking agent) (a) may be present in an amount within the range of from 30% to 70%, preferably from 40 to 60% by weight of the coating syrup; the binder (b) may be present in an amount within the range of from 5 to 30%, preferably from 10 to 25% by weight of the coating syrup; the anti-sticking (filler) agent (c) · may be present in an amount within the range from 3 to 15% and preferably from 5 to 10% by weight of the coating syrup; and the dispersing agent (d) may be present in an amount of within the range of from 2 To 12%, and preferably from 3 to 7% by weight of the coating syrup. The coating syrup will also contain from 20 to 60%, and preferably from 25 to 55% water.

The coating syrup functions as a wet base layer to which later-deposited dry sweetener or bulking agent (present in the dusting mix) may adhere or be absorbed on to form the desired coating.

Examples of sweeteners or bulking agents suitable for use in the coating syrup may comprise substantially any known sugarless sweetener such as any of the sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, and combinations thereof, with sorbitol being preferred, as well as maltitol, isomaltitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates such as those disclosed in U.S. Reissue Patent No. 26 959 as well as various hydrogenated glucose syrups and/or powders which contain sorbitol, hydrogenated disaccharides, tri- to hexa-hvdrogenated saccharides, and hydrogenated higher polysaccharides and the modified starch hydrolysates disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3 556 811.

The hydrogenated glucose syrups and/or powders may be produced by catalytic hydrogenation of standard glucose syrups (acid and/or enzyme converted) to the point where all the glucose end groups of the saccharides are reduced to alcohols, that is, dextrose to sorbitol. In -5the case of hydrogenated glucose syrups, the total solids contents will range from 72 to 80% which solids are made of from 4 to 20% sorbitol, from 20 to 65% hydrogenated disaccharides (that is, maltitol), from 15 to 45% tri5 to heptahydrogenated saccharides, and from 10 to 35% hydrogenated saccharides higher than hepta.

Other sweeteners or bulking agents suitable for use in the coating syrup include, but are not limited to free saccharin acid, sodium, calcium and ammonium saccharin, cyclamate salts, dihydrochalcones, glycyrrhizin, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester and mixtures thereof.

The adhesion component or binder employed in the coating syrup aids in initially binding the sweetener to the comestible being coated. Examples of binders suitable for use herein include gum arabic, xanthan gum, gum tragacanth, tapioca dextrin, or modified food starch, with gum arabic being preferred.

The moisture absorbing compound suitable for use herein includes mannitol, or dicalcium phosphate with mannitol being preferred especially when sorbitol is employed as the sweetener.

Examples of the anti-sticking compound which may also function as a filler employed in the coating syrup as well as the dusting mix include calcium carbonate, talc, or magnesium trisilicate, with calcium carbonate being preferred.

Examples of the dispersing agent which may be enplcyed in the coating syrup as well as the dusting agent include titanium dioxide, talc or other anti-stick canpounds set out above, with titanium dioxide being preferred. -71 An optional but important component of the coating syrup is the film-forming agent which enables the deposition of a substantially uniform layer of the sweetener on the comestible being coated. Examples of film-forming agents suitable for use herein include gelatin, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and/or carboxymethyl cellulose.

The dusting mix comprises a dry powder mixture containing a) sweetener (or bulking agent) similar to (and preferably the same as) that employed in the coating syrup, b) moisture absorbing component, c) anti-sticking (or filler) component, and d) dispersing agent. Components b), c) and d) are employed in a weight ratio to sweetener a) of within the range of from about 5 to about 30 b):l, from about 2 to about 20 c):l, and from about 0 to about 5 d):l. Thus, the sweetener a) will be employed in an amount within the range of from about 40 to about 90%, and preferably from about 60 to about 85% by weight of the dusting mix, the moisture absorbing component b) will be employed in an amount within the range of from about 5 to about 30%, and preferably from about 8 to about 20% by weight of the dusting mix, the anti-sticking component c) will be employed in an amount within the range of from about 2 to about 20%, and preferably from about 5 to about 15% by weight of the dusting mix, and the dispersing agent will be employed in an amount within the range of from about 2 to about 12%, and preferably from about 4 to about 9% by weight of the dusting mix. -8As indicated, the sweetener (bulking agent) present in the dusting mix may include any of those employed in the coating syrup and set out above. The preferred sweetener present in the dusting mix will be sorbitol.

In preferred embodiments, the weight ratio of the solids present in the coating syrup to the dusting mix will range from 5:1 to 20:1.

Generally, a single deposition of each of the coating syrup and the dusting mix may not be sufficient to provide the desired amount or thickness of coating deposited on the comestible. Accordingly, it usually will be necessary to apply second, third or more coats of each of the coating syrup and dusting mix in order to build up the weight and thickness of the coating to desired levels. However, before applying subsequent layers of first coating syrup, the previously applied layers of coating syrup are allowed to dry, for example, by gently flowing air at a temperature of from 20 to 32°C and having a relative humidity of from 20 to 40% and flowing at a volume (91 cm. pan) of from 11.3 to 14.2 m2/min. For example, in coating chewing gum, the applications of coating syrup and dusting mix are continued until the average gum piece weight reaches about 90% of the required coated weight. Thus, if the coating is to comprise about 35% by weight of the coated chewing gum tablet, application of 10 to 12 coats of coating syrup and 7 to 9 coats of dusting mix may be required. The last 2 to 4 coats, e.g. the last three coats, should preferably be made with coating syrup comprising said normally sweet hygroscopic material, without dusting mix, which serves to smooth out and provide a shine to the coating of said normally sweet hygroscopic material previously applied to said center portions.

S336 4 -91 It will be appreciated that the number of applications required will also vary depending upon the amount of solids present in the coating syrup, the amount of dusting mix employed, and the type of comestible to be coated.

After a sufficient amount of coating has been applied to the pieces of comestible to be coated, the coating on the pieces will be smooth and polished and otherwise finished without the need for applying a second coating syrup or finishing syrup.

Flavoring in the form of liquid flavor may be added with the coating syrup, while spray dried flavors may be added with the dusting mix. The flavoring will preferably be applied after an initial coating syrup-dusting mix has been applied.

In the case where the comestible.to be coated is chewing gum, flavoring-may be added to the gum base. The flavoring in the gum center will be present in an amount within the range of from about 0.5 to about 1.5%, and preferably from about 0.7 to about 1.2% by weight of the gum center. The flavoring in the coating will be present in an amount within the range of from about 0.5 to about 5% and preferably from about 1.25 to about 4% by weight of the coating. Such flavoring may comprise oils derived from plants, leaves, flowers, fruit, etc. Representative flavor oils of this type include citrus oils such as lemon oil, orange oil, lime oil, grapefruit oil, fruit essences such as apple essence, pear essence, peach essence, strawberry essence, apricot essence, raspberry -ΐη1 essence, cherry essence, plum essence, pineapple essence, as well as the following essential oils: peppermint oil, spearmint oil, mixtures of peppermint oil and spearmint oil, clove oil, bay oil, anise oil, eucalyptus oil, thyme oil, cedar leaf oil, cinnamon oil, oil of nutmeg, oil of sage, oil of bitter almonds, cassia oil, and methylsalicylate (oil of Wintergreen). Various synthetic flavors, such as mixed fruit, may also be incorporated in the chewing gum of the invention with or without conventional preservatives.

Sweeteners suitable for use herein which may be present in the gum center and/or coating may comprise natural or synthetic sugar substitutes.

Where employed, the synthetic sweeteners may be present in the chewing gum center in an amount within the range of from about 0.04 to about 2% and preferably from about 0.4 to about 0.8% by weight of the chewing gum. Examples of synthetic sweeteners suitable for use herein include free saccharin acid, sodium, calcium or ammonium saccharin, cyclamate salts, dihydrochalcones, glycyrrhizic acid and salts, L-aspartylL-phenylalanine methyl ester, .the sodium or potassium ^5 salt of 3,4-dihydro-6-methyl-l,2,3-oxathiazine4-one-2,2-dioxide(Acesulfone-K), and mixtures thereof.

Where employed, natural sugars and/or natural sugar substitutes may be present in the chewing gum center in an amount within the range of from about 0.05 to about 90%, and preferably from about 10 to about 85% by weight of the chewing gum. Such natural 111 sweeteners suitable for use herein include sugar alcohols, such as, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, isomaltitol, or maltitol. If desired, sugars such as sucrose, or dextrose may also be employed.

The gum base will be present in an amount within the range of from about 10 to about 60%, and preferably from about 15 to about 45% by weight.

In general, the gum base is prepared by heating and blending various ingredients, such as natural gums, synthetic resins, waxes, plasticizers, etc., in a manner well known in the art. Typical examples of the ingredients found in a chewing gum base are masticatory substances of synthetic origin such as styrene-butadiene copolymer, isobutylene15 isoprene copolymer, polyisobutylene, polyethylene, petroleum wax, polyvinyl acetate, as well -as masticatory substances of natural origin such as rubber latex solids, chicle, crown gum, nispero, rosidinha, jelutong, pendare, perillo, niger gutta, tunu, etc. The elastomer or masticatory substance will be employed in an amount within the range of about 5 to about 15%, preferably from about 8 to about 12%, and optimally from about 9 to abput 11% by weight of the gum base composition.

The gum base may also include solvents, detackifiers, waxes, softening agents, lubricants, fillers, emulsifiers, colorants, antioxidants, and/or texturizers, bulking agents and other conventional ingredients as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Examples of typical gum bases suitable for use herein are disclosed in U. S. Patent Nos. 3,052,552 and 2,197,719.

As indicated, in addition to chewing gum, the comestible to be coated may include any edible solid, such as candies, including hard candies and pressed candies, jelly beans, peanuts, other confections, as well as pills, tablets or other solid dosage forms for medicinal or therapeutic use.

A preferred coating for use in accordance with the present Invention, for a sugarless chewing gum will have the following composition.

Ingredient Sorbitol Mannitol Gum arable Calcium carbonate Titanium dioxide Parts by weight of coating to 90 to 25 0.25 to 3 2 to 20 0.1 to 5 131 The following Examples represent preferred embodiments of the present invention.

Examples 1 to 3 Sugarless-coated sugarless chewing gums having center or core portions as shown in Table I and coatings as shown in Table II below are prepared as follows.

TABLE I Composition of Gum Center or Core (present in all chewing gum Examples) Barts by Weight Ingredient Gum base 24 Sorbitol-powder 49 Sorbitol liquid (68-70% sorbitol) 25 Yelkin 0.5 Flavor 2 TABLE II Composition of Various Coating Mixtures Required for Forming Coating 25 on Gum Centers of Table I Parts by Weight Example No. 123 Coating Syrup Gum arabic solution (48%) 18 20 24 30 Gelatin solution (20%) 0 30 15 Sorbitol liquid (68-70%) 55 50 60 Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate — 30 10 ' TABLE II (cont.) Example No. 1 2 3 Coatino SyruD (cont.) Mannitol 7 6 5 Calcium carbonate powder 7 8 5 Titanium dioxide powder 5 4 6 Hot water (71*C) 9 11 13 Color (as needed) Dustino Mix Sorbitol (crystalline powder) 70 70 70 Mannitol powder 15 15 15 Calcium carbonate powder 7.5 10 5 ’Titanium dioxide powder 7.5 5 10 The chewing gum centers are prepared as follows: Gum base is melted and maintained at a temperature within the range of 65.5-79.5®C. Softener is added and then the solid sugar alcohols are added slowly with stirring. Thereafter, liquid flavor is added and the mixture is stirred until homogeneous. Sugar alcohols are slowly added and then artificial and/or natural sweetener (where employed,.

Where spray dried flavors are employed, they are added with the artificial sweeteners.

The above mixture is stirred until homogeneous, cooled, rolled and scored and individual pieces or pillows are produced.

The coating mixture is prepared by mixing the various ingredients, under heating if necessary, to form a well-mixed suspension. 533 64 -151 The dusting mix is prepared by simply mixing the various ingredients until a substantially homogeneous mixture is formed.

The gum centers to be coated are placed in a standard revolving coating pan. The gum pieces are dedusted using cool dry air. The coating syrup mixed and warmed to a temperature of 49°C is applied to the gum pieces. After about 2-3 minutes, the dusting mix is applied to the gum pieces coated with the coating syrup.

The gum pieces are allowed to cool for 2 minutes to absorb the dusting mix. The gum pieces are then dried by contact with gently flowing air at a temperature of about 25.5eC and having a relative humidity of about 30% and at a volume of air (91 cm. pan) of 12.74 m’/min, for 2 minutes.

The above coating steps are repeated until the weight of an average gum piece reaches about 90% of the required coated weight. For example, if the required coated weight is 35%, 7 to 10 applications of the dusting mix are needed (the last 3 applications are of other coating syrup without the dusting mix) to reach an average piece weight of 1.5 g.

The so-coated gum pieces may then be polished and otherwise finished employing conventional means to produce sorbitol coated sugarless chewing gum having a soft chew with good sweetness and flavor release properties.

Examples 4 to 6 Sugarless-coated sugarless candy, having a center or core portion as shown in Table III below and a coating as shown in Table II of Example 1, is prepared employing the following procedure.

TABLE III Composition of Candy Center Ingredient Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrup (78% solids, including 6% sorbitol and 50% mannitol) Sorbitol syrup Malic acid Cherry Flavor Color Amount (Farts by Weight) 0.25 0.4 The hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and sorbitol syrups are fed into the top of a mixing kettle and are cooled, under constant slow agitation, to 165.5-168.5°C. The coloring agent is added at 138-149°C. The mix is dropped at 63.5 cm. Hg (0.085 MPa) and held under vacuum for 10 minutes. The hot mix is then transferred to a mixing table where malic acid and flavor are added with mixing. The candy mix is allowed to cool to 71-77°C and is tabletted.

The coating is applied as described in Examples 1 to 3 to produce a pleasant tasting sugarless coated sugarless candy. -,53364 1 In a manner similar to that described in Examples 1 to 6 any type pill or tablet or other solid shape may be coated with a sugarless coating in accordance with the present invention,

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS;

1. A method for preparing a sugarless-coated comestible, which comprises the steps of applying to center portions of said comestible, a coating syrup comprising an aqueous solution of a sweetener, said sweetener comprising a normally sweet hygroscopic material, a binder, an anti-sticking compound, and a dispersing agent, and applying to said so-treated center portions a dusting mix, said dusting mix comprising the same or another normally sweet hygroscopic material in dry form, a moistureabsorbing component, and an anti-sticking component and a dispersing agent, at least a portion of said dry hygroscopic material being absorbed on the coating syrup applied to said center portions to form a coating on said center portions.

2. A method according to Claim 1 wherein the comestible is a chewing gum or candy, and wherein the coating syrup comprises from 30 to 70% by weight of said sweetener which is selected from sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, isomaltitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, and mixtures thereof, from 5 to 30% by weight of said binder, from 3 to 15% by weight of said anti-sticking compound, and from 2 to 12% by weight of said dispersing agent.

3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said steps of applying said coating syrup and then applying dusting mix to form a coating layer are repeated after drying of said coating layer, as necessary, to build up a coating of desired thickness on the center portions.

4. A method as claimed in Claim 3 further including the step of applying, as the last 2 to 4 coats to said center portions previously coated with said coating syrup and said dusting mix, a coating syrup comprising said normally sweet hygroscopic material without said dusting mix, and serving to smooth out and providing a shine to the coating of said normally sweet hygroscopic material previously applied to said center portions.

5. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 5 wherein said coating syrup comprises liquid sorbitol, gum arable solution, calcium carbonate, titanium dioxide and mannitol, and said dusting mix comprises sorbitol powder.

6. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 5 wherein said center portion is sugarless chewing gum or 10 candy.

7. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein said coating syrup further includes a film-forming agent which comprises gelatin, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, 15 and/or carboxymethyl cellulose.

8. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said binder for imparting cohesivity to the coating ingredients is gum arabic, xanthan gum, gum tragacanth, tapioca dextrin, or modified food starch. 20

9. A method as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein said anti-sticking agent is calcium carbonate, talc, or magnesium trisilicate.

10. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein said center portion is chewing gum and said coating applied is 25 comprised of sorbitol as said hygroscopic material, gum arabic as a binder, calcium carbonate as an anti-stickingdiluent compound, titanium dioxide as a dispersing agent and mahnitol as a moisture absorbing agent.

11. A method as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially 30 as hereinbefore described with reference to any of the Examples. -20

12. A sugarlesa-coated comestible when prepared by a method according to any of the preceding Claims.