Compression-moldet meso-erythritol products.

Abstract: A surface-modified meso-erythritol preparation in the same form as the commercially available sucrose preparations is disclosed. The preparation is less hygroscopic than sucrose preparations, exhibits a beautiful appearance of crystals, or is not solidified under pressurized conditions.

Description: This invention relates to meso-erythritol molded products. Meso-erythritol is a tetrahydric sugar alcohol of the formula: Meso-erythritol crystals are white, have a melting point of 119°C, and exhibit high water solubility, non-digestibility, and non-browning properties. It has a molecular weight of 122. Meso-erythritol exists in natural algae, mushrooms, etc. and also, in small amounts, e.g. in Japanese sake, wine and soybean sauce. According to organoleptic tests, meso-erythritol has a sweet taste slightly weaker than sucrose and slightly stronger than glucose. Its sweetness corresponds to about 75 to 80% of that of sucrose. It tastes sweet like sucrose but its aftertaste is not so strong as that left by sucrose. Since crystals of meso-erythritol are hard and brittle, the crystals or edges thereof are easily destroyed during transportation, resulting in deteriorated appearance, which means significant impairment of its commercial value . Meso-erythritol had been isolated from naturally occurring products in a small quantity, but a production process by fermentation has recently been established as disclosed in JP-B-63-9831, JP-A-60-110295 to 110297. Further studies on the mass production of meso-erythritol are currently being made. EP 0 009 325 discloses a method of inducing cariostasis. In this method a cariostatic amount of erythritol is administered in the form of chewing gum, tooth paste, candy, ice cream, a carbonated beverage or a mouthwash to a person susceptible to dental caries. An object of this invention is to provide meso-erythritol molded products in the same form as the commercially available sucrose preparations. More specifically, the object of this invention is to provide meso-erythritol molded products in the form of a compression-molded product. It has now been found that the object of this invention can be accomplished by molding meso-erythritol powder containing a definite amount of water. In one embodiment of the present invention, the meso-erythritol molded product in the form of a compression molding can be obtained by compression-molding powder and/or granules of meso-erythritol having a water content of from 0.5 to 5% by weight and drying the molded product. If desired, the powder and/or granules of meso-erythritol may further contain relatively small amounts of other components as hereinafter described. The meso-erythritol powder to be used may either be crystallized powder or crushed powder of a fused solid and has a particle size of a 500 µm sieve off JIS Standard. The meso-erythritol granules to be used have a particle size of smaller than 100 µm. The granules can be prepared by fluidized bed granulation, extrusion granulation and compression granulation, and preferably fluidized bed granulation. The water content of the powder or granules to be compression-molded should be adjusted to a range of from 0.5 to 5% by weight, preferably from 1 to 2% by weight. If it is too small, the resulting molded products have insufficient hardness to retain their shape. A water content exceeding 5% by weight not only causes oozing of the excess water during drying, which leads to disintegration of the molded products, but also requires a long time for drying. Adjustment of the water content is conveniently effected by spraying the water. The method of compression molding is not particularly limited. Usual methods of compression molding are preferably employed. The drying of the molded products is preferably done at a temperature of from 60° to 100°C. There is no fear as to browning of meso-erythritol during drying as in the case of sucrose. In order to examine the mold parting properties, shape-retention before and after the drying, and hardness of meso-erythritol molded products according to this embodiment, meso-erythritol powder having a particle size of a 149 µm sieve of JIS Standard was subjected to compression molding with the water content thereof being varied and then dried in hot air of 80°C. The results obtained are shown in Table 1. If desired, the meso-erythritol powder or granules to be compression molded may contain other components in relatively small amounts. Such optional components include non-saccharide sweetening agents, extracted coffee liquid, extracted coffee powder , tea powder , fruit juice powder , flavors, souring agents; eutrophics, medical supplies, surface active agents for foodstuff. In particular, incorporation of a non-saccharide sweetening agent markedly improves the sweet nature of meso-erythritol. For example, a molded product comprising meso-erythritol and a small amount of a non-saccharide sweetening agent, such as Aspartame, Stevioside, saccharin sodium, glycryrrhizin, which leaves a sweet aftertaste in the mouth has a sweetness similar to sucrose. Combinations of sugar alcohols, e.g., maltitol, sorbitol, xylitol, mannitol, and these non-saccharide sweetening agents have hitherto been known, but it was unknown that the sweetness of meso-erythritol can be improved by adding non-saccharide sweetening agents. From the standpoint of improvement of the sweet nature of meso-erythritol, preferred and more preferred weight ratios of the non-saccharide sweetening agents to the meso-erythritol are shown in Table 2. The degrees of sweetness of the resulting combinations are also shown in Table 2, setting that of sucrose equal to 1. Therefore, for use in coffee, tea, etc., meso-erythritol can be molded into lumps each having the same degree of sweetness as a commercially available lump of sugar. If desired, the amount of the above-described non-saccharide sweetening agent can be increased to obtain molded products each exhibiting sweetness two or three times that of a commercially available sugar lump. The meso-erythritol molded products according to this embodiment are also characterized by considerably reduced hygroscopicity. This property was proven by determining the water content of the molded meso-erythritol after it was allowed to stand in air at 20°C and 84% RH for 10 days in comparison with that of a commercially available lump of sugar, a maltitol molded product, or a sorbitol molded product, each having a size of 10 x 10 x 10 mm. The results of the determination are shown in Table 3. Molded Sugar Water Content (20°C, 84% RH, 10 Days) (wt%) commercially available sugar lump 0.02 meso-erythritol molded product of the invention 0.00 maltitol molded product 6.0 sorbitol molded product 20.0 The meso-erythritol molded products according to the present invention can also be prepared by compression molding a mixture of meso-erythritol crystal grains and meso-erythritol powder at a mixing weight ratio off from 97/3 to 80/20 having a water content of from 2 to 6% by weight and drying. The meso-erythritol crystal grains to be used usually have a grain size of from 0.5 to 1.5 mm, preferably from 0.5 to 1.0 mm, and the meso-erythritol powder to be used usually has a particle size of not more than 280 µm, preferably not more than 200 µm. When the above-described mixture of meso-erythritol crystal grains and powder at the specific weight ratio is kneaded in the presence of an appropriate amount of water to have a water content off from 2 to 6% by weight based on the total materials to be molded and then subjected to compression molding, the meso-erythritol powder is filled into gaps among the meso-erythritol crystal grains, and part of the powder dissolved in water serves as a binder to tightly bind the crystal grains together. If the weight ratio of the powder to the crystal grains is too small, the strength of the resulting molded sugar will be reduced. If it is too large, the appearance of the molded sugar will be deteriorated due to a small proportion of crystal grains on the surface of the molded products. If desired, the mixture of the meso-erythritol powder and crystal grains may further contain small amounts of other components. Examples of such optional components include polysaccharides, gum arabic, tragacanth gum, locust bean gum, guar gum, tamarind gum, pectin, carrageenan xanthane gum, alginic acid, starch, pullulane, dextrin, gelatin, casein sodium, and fatty acid esters of sucrose. The mixture may furthermore contain, if desired, coffee powder , fruit juice powder , flavors, souring agents and surface active agents. In addition, the mixture can contain a non-saccharide sweetening agent to control the degree or nature of sweetness. The non-saccharide sweetening agent includes Aspartame, Stevioside, Saccharine sodium, glycyrrhizin, Acesulfame potassium and Alitame. Although these non-saccharide sweetening agents per se are inferior in the nature of sweetness such that the sweet taste remains in the mouth when taken alone, they are effective in making the taste of the meso-erythritol similar to sucrose when combined therewith. The shape or the molded products according to the present invention is not particularly limited and includes not only a cubic form as is usual but any other shape , e.g., a spherical form, a tetrahedral form. Drying of the molded sugar can be carried out by various techniques, such as air drying and vacuum drying. The drying temperature is preferably from 60° to 100°C. In the preparation of conventional sugar lumps, a blend of granulated sugar (sucrose) and a small amount of a sucrose aqueous solution is molded and dried. Meso-erythritol molded products may be obtained by following this conventional method. That is, meso-erythritol crystal grains are blended with a viscous aqueous solution of various sugars, e.g., sorbitol, maltitol, sucrose, oligosaccharide alcohols,coupling sugar, molded, and dried. However, molded products obtained by such a method are so hygroscopic that they absorb water on standing in air at room temperature, ultimately resulting in the failure of shape retention. Therefore, any means should be taken to prevent water absorption during preservation, for example, by special packaging. To the contrary, since the meso-erythritol molded preparations obtained by the above-described methods do not substantially absorb water, such a special means for protection against water absorption is not required. The present invention will be illustrated in greater detail by way of the following Examples. In these examples, all the percents are by weight unless otherwise indicated. EXAMPLE 1 One gram of water was sprayed onto 99 g of meso-erythritol powder having a particle size through 125 µm of JIS Standard. After kneading well, the blend was placed in a mold of 10 x 10 x 10 mm and molded under a pressure of 20 kg/cm², followed by drying at 80°C for 10 hours. The resulting molded sugar and a commercially available lump of sugar of the same size (10 x 10 x 10 mm) were allowed to stand in air at 30°C and 79% RH, and the water absorption was determined with time. The results obtained are shown in Table 5. Water Content (wt%) 7 Days 14 Days 30 Days Molded sugar of Example 1 0.01 0.01 0.02 Commercially available sugar lump 0.55 0.56 0.57 It can be seen that the molded sugar according to the present invention does not substantially absorb water even under high temperature and humidity conditions. EXAMPLE 2 A hundred grams of meso-erythritol powder having a particle size through 149 µm sieve of JIS Standard were mixed well with 0.8 g of Aspartame, and 1.0 g of water was sprayed onto the mixture, followed by kneading well. The blend was press-molded under the same conditions as in Example 1 and dried at 60°C for 10 hours in vacuo. When the resulting molded sugar was allowed to stand in air at 30°C and 79% RH for 30 days, the water absorption was found to be 0.03%. The degree of sweetness of the molded sugar was about 1.5 times that of commercially available sugar. EXAMPLE 3 Fifty grams of meso-erythritol powder having a particle size through 149 µm sieve of JIS Standard and 50 g of a 5% carrageenan aqueous solution were mixed well, and 950 g of meso-erythritol crystal grains (particle size: 0.5 to 1.0 mm) was added thereto, followed by kneading well. The resulting blend was placed in a mold of 8 x 8 x 8 mm and press-molded under a pressure of 5 kg/cm², followed by vacuum-drying at 80°C for 12 hours. The resulting molded sugar had a beautiful appearance like a sugar lump. When it was allowed to stand in air at 30°C and 79% RH for 10 days, it absorbed substantially no water. Further, moldability of the above-described blend was proved more satisfactory than in the case of using 50 g of water in place of the carrageenan aqueous solution with the other conditions being the same.

Claims: A meso-erythritol molded product, which is obtainable by compression-molding of meso-erythritol powder having a particle size of not more than 500 µm and/or meso-erythritol granules having a particle size of not more than 100 µm, wherein the water content of the powder and/or granules is 0,5 to 5 % by weight, and drying the resulting molded product. The meso-erythritol molded product according to claim 1, wherein said meso-erythritol powder and/or granules contain small amounts of at least one of non-saccharide sweetening agents, extracted coffee liquid, extracted coffee powder, tea powder, fruit juice powder, flavors, souring agents, eutrophics, medical supplies and surface active agents for foodstuff. The meso-erythritol molded product according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said meso-erythritol powder and/or granules contain a non-saccharide sweetening agent. The meso-erythritol molded product according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said meso-erythritol powder and/or granules have a water content of 1 to 2 % by weight. A meso-erythritol molded product, which is obtainable by mixing meso-erythritol crystal grains having a grain size of about 0,5 to about 1,5 mm and meso-erythritol powder having a particle size of not more than 500 µm at a weight ratio of 97/3 to 80/20, adding water to the resulting mixture so as to adjust to a water content of 2 to 6 % by weight, kneading the mixture, compression-molding the mixture, and drying the resulting molded product. The meso-erythritol molded product according to claim 5, wherein said mixture of meso-erythritol crystal grains and meso-erythritol powder further contains small amounts of at least one of coffee powder, fruit juice powder, flavors, souring agents and surface active agents. The meso-erythritol molded product according to claim 5, wherein said meso-erythritol grains have a grain size of 0,5 to 1,5 mm, and said meso-erythritol powder has a particle size of not more than 280 µm.

Inventors: KONDOU TSUTOMU, KONDOU, TSUTOMU
Applicants: MITSUBISHI CHEM IND, MITSUBISHI KASEI CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A23L1
IPC codes: A23L1, C07C31