Patent ID: 11903406
Assignee: AMERICAN SNUFF COMPANY, LLC
Field: Biotechnology (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC A  C | IPC A  C

Claim 0:
1. A method of preparing a smokeless tobacco product, comprising:
(i) receiving a tobacco material;
(ii) adding water to the tobacco material to form a tobacco composition having a moisture content of at least about 40%;
(iii) packaging the tobacco composition in an individual storage container, wherein the individual storage container is a final salable consumer distribution container configured for retail distribution, wherein the individual storage container allows for gases to enter and/or leave the individual storage container;
(iv) putting the individual storage container into a sleeve with additional individual storage containers;
(v) putting the sleeve, alone or in combination with one or more additional sleeves into boxes;
(vi) placing the boxes onto pallets; and
(vii) allowing the tobacco composition to ferment in the individual storage container for at least 25 days,
wherein the process further comprises adding at least one microorganism selected from the group consisting of Tetragenococcus, Staphylococcus nepalensis, Lactobacillus, Weissella, Leuconostoc, and combinations thereof to the tobacco composition prior to step (iii),
or wherein no microorganisms are added to the tobacco composition, and
wherein the tobacco material is not intentionally subjected to any substantial fermentation process prior to step (iii).