EMULSIFIERS FOR FLAVOR PROLONGATION IN CHEWING GUM

Abstract: A chewing gum having prolonged flavor yield and better texture. The chewing gum contains a flavor enchancing amount and preferably from about 0.1 weight percent to about 0.7 weight percent of any emulsifier having Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) value of greater than about 7.

Description: EMULSIFIERS FOR FLAVOR PROLONGATION IN CHEWING GUM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to chewing gums yielding an extended flavor perception and better texture quality, and their method of manufacture. To impart flavor to gum, the manufacturing process may utilize essential oils, synthetic flavors, or mixtures thereof including oils derived from plants and fruits, such as citrus oils, peppermint oil, spear¬ mint oil, fruit essences, and the like. Unfortunately, flavor oils have a strong affinity for the chewing gum base causing the flavor oils to become inextricably bound within the gum base. Accordingly, the flavor oils do not completely release from the chewing gum base during chewing. Chewing gums containing flavor oils which have reduced tendencies to bind with the chewing gum base would therefore constitute an advance in the art. Such chewing gums would be readily accepted by those skilled in the art and meet with commercial success. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide chewing gums containing flavor oils having improved flavor release characteristics. This and other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the following specification. It is to be understood, however, that the above-mentioned objectives are not to be considered a limitation of the present invention, the scope of which is delineated in the appended claims. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a chewing gum and a method of manu¬ facturing a chewing gum comprising a flavor enhancing amount of emulsifier. The emulsifier has an HLB value greater than about 7 and preferably between about 10 and 14. The method comprises mixing a flavor enhancing amount of the contemplated emulsifier with other chewing gum ingredients. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It has now been discovered that when emulsi- fiers of the type and quantity contemplated by the pres¬ ent invention are added to chewing gum ingredients, the chewing gum's flavor yield is prolonged. Other advan¬ tages contemplated by the present invention include a quicker flavor release. Also, when appropriate, the flavor quality of mint chewing gum is improved in that the "cooling" sensation associated with the mint flavor is increased. The chewing gum of the present invention also manifests improved texture quality. In particular, the gum is softer and maintains a larger cud size. These and other advantages will become apparent in light of the following disclosure. It is to be under¬ stood, however, that the present invention is not intended to be limited by the advantages and embodiments discussed or contemplated. The appended claims and their equiva¬ lents have defined the scope of the invention. In accordance with the present invention, the flavor enhancing emulsifiers contemplated are mixed into the chewing gum mass at any time during the manu¬ facturing process. But it is preferred that the emul¬ sifier be thoroughly mixed into the molten base early in the gum manuf cturing process. Another preferred method is to premix the emulsifier into the flavor. Emulsifiers contemplated by the present inven¬ tion include certain modified phosphatide/phospholipid combinations such as modified lecithin; fatty acid esters of polyglycerol and other sucrose fatty acid esters, polysorbates, or similar compounds. The con¬ templated emulsifiers will have HLB values greater than about 7. Phosphatide/phospholipid emulsifiers typically have HLB values below 7. However, they can be modified for example by acetylation or hydroxylation to increase the HLB value. Two or more emulsifiers may also be blended to produce an emulsifier combination having its own HLB. Such combinations may include emulsifiers with HLB values less than 7 so long as the HLB of the combination is above 7. Preferably, the emulsifier added to the chewing gum ingredients will be determined by the flavor and base composition of the particular chewing gum. The Hydrophile-Lipophile Balance (HLB) number is an expression of the emulsifiers hydrophilic-lipo- phile balance, i.e. the balance of the size and strength of the hydrophilic and the lipophilic groups of the emulsifier. The HLB system which has been known to those skilled in the art since the late 1940' s is use¬ ful in choosing an appropriate emulsifier. In accord¬ ance with one embodiment of the present invention, emul¬ sifiers with HLB values greater than about 7 are added to the chewing gum ingredients.. The exact HLB value will depend on the flavor and base composition of the chewing gum. However, the emulsifiers used will have an HLB value greater than about 7, preferably above 9 and most preferably above 12. In accordance with the present invention, a flavor enhancing amount of emulsifier is added. Pre¬ ferably, the quantity of emulsifier added to the chewing gum ingredients will range from about 0.1 weight percent to about 0.7 weight percent of the chewing gum. The exact quantity of the emulsifier added will depend on the chewing gum's particular flavor and base composition. Most preferably, the quantity of emulsifier added will be about 0.2 weight percent to about 0.3 weight percent of the chewing gum. In general, a chewing gum composition com¬ prises a water soluble bulk portion, a water insoluble chewable gum base portion, and, typically, water insol¬ uble flavors. The water soluble portion dissipates with the portion of the flavor over a period of time during chewing. The gum base portion is retained in the mouth throughout the chew. The insoluble gum base generally comprises elastomers, resins, fats and oils, waxes, softeners and inorganic fillers. Elastomers may include polyisobuty- lene, isobutylene-isoprene, copolymer, styrene butadiene rubber as well as natural latexes such as chicle. Resins include polyvinyl-acetate, estergums and terpene resins. Fats and oils may also be included in the gum including tallow, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vege¬ table oils and cocoa butter. Commonly employed waxes include paraffin, macrocrystalline and natural waxes such as beeswax and carnauba and have melting points in the range of 110 to 180°F. The insoluble gum base con¬ stitutes between approximately 5 to 95 percent of the gum. Preferably the insoluble gum base comprises about 10 to approximately 50 weight percent of the gum and more preferably about 20 to approximately 30 weight percen . The gum base typically also includes a filler component. The filler component such as calcium car¬ bonate, magnesium carbonate, talc, dicalcium phosphate and the like. The filler may constitute between about 5 to approximately 60 weight percent of the gum. Pre¬ ferably, the filler comprises about 5 to 50 weight per¬ cent of the chewing gum base. The gum base typically also contains softeners, including glycerol monostearate and glycerol triacetate. Further, gum bases may also contain optional ingredients such as antioxidants, colors and emulsifiers. The water soluble portion of chewing gum may further comprise softeners, sweeteners and combinations thereof. The softeners are added to the chewing gum in order to optimize chewability and mouthfeel of the gum. Softeners, also known in the art as plasticizers or plasticizing agents, generally constitute between approx¬ imately 0.5 to approximately 15 weight percent of the chewing gum. Softeners contemplated by the present invention include glycerin, lecithin and combinations thereof. Further, aqueous sweetener solutions such as those containing sorbitol, hydrogenated starch hydrol- ysates, corn syrup and combinations thereof may be used as softeners and binding agents in gum. Chewing gum may also contain high intensity sweeteners. Such sweeteners are also contemplated by the present invention for addition to the chewing gum. These sweeteners include both sugar and sugarless com¬ ponents. Sugar sweeteners generally include saccharide containing components commonly known in the chewing gum art which comprise but are not limited to sucrose, dex¬ trose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, fructose, levulose, galactose, corn syrup solids, and the like, alone or in any combination. Sugarless sweeteners include components with sweetening characteristics but are devoid of the commonly known sugars and comprise but are not limited to sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, maltitol, and the like, alone or in any combination. Also contemplated for addition to the chewing gum are high intensity sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose, acesulfame-K and saccharin. Those skilled in the art will recognize that any combination of sugar and/or sugarless sweeteners may be incorporated into the chewing gum formula. Fur¬ ther, those skilled in the art will recognize a sweet¬ ener may be present in a chewing gum in whole or in part as a water soluble bulking agent. In addition, the softener may be combined with a sweetener such as an aqueous sweetener solution. A flavor may be present in a chewing gum in an amount from approximately 0.1 to about 10 weight percent and preferably from about 0.5 to approximately 3.0 weight percent of the gum. Flavors contemplated by the present invention include any food acceptable liquid flavoring. The flavor may comprise essential oils, synthetic flavors, or mixtures thereof, including but not limited to oils derived from plants and fruits such as citrus oils, fruit essences, peppermint oil, spear¬ mint oil, clove oil, oil of wintergreen, anise, and the like. Artificial flavoring components are also contem¬ plated by the present invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the natural and artificial flavors may be combined in any manner. All such flavors and blends are contemplated by the present invention. Additional ingredients such as colors and pharmaceutical agents may be added to the chewing gum. In general, chewing gum is manufactured by sequentially adding the various chewing gum ingredients to any commercially available mixer known in the art. After the ingredients have been thoroughly mixed, the gum mass is discharged from the mixer and shaped into the desired forms such as by rolling into sheets and cutting into sticks, extuding into chunks, or casting into pellets. Generally, the ingredients are mixed by first melting the gum base and adding it to the running mixer. The base may also be melted in the mixer itself. Color may also be also be added at this time. A softener such as glycerin may then be added next along with syrup and a portion of bulking agent. Further portions of the bulking agents may be added to the mixer. It should be understood, that in proper conditions, the emulsifiers of the present invention may be added at any time during the gum manufacturing process. They may also be added to the gum base at any time prior to gum manufacture, particularly during base manufacture. The entire mixing procedure typically takes from 5 to 15 minutes, but longer mixing times may some¬ times may be required. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations to the above-described pro¬ cedure may be employed. It is to be nderstood that an equivalent of changes and modifications of the embodi¬ ments described above are also contemplated by the pres¬ ent invention. The following examples are not to be construed as limitations upon the present invention, but are included merely as an illustration of various embodiments. EXAMPLE 1 The chewing gum was prepared by adding molten base to a sigma blade mixer, then adding corn syrup and glycerin to the running mixer. Dextrose and sugar were added gradually with flavor addition occurring with the last of the sugar. All other examples were prepared in a similar manner. Where emulsifiers were used, they were added to the molten base before the corn syrup and glycerin. Chewing gum Sample 1 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under "Sample 1" in Table 1. Chewing gum Sample 2 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under "Sample 2" in Table 1. Chewing gum Sample 3 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under "Sample 3" in Table 1. In chewing tests comparing Sample 1 and Sample 2, Sample 2 was found to have a quicker flavor release and a slightly extended flavor duration. In chewing tests comparing Sample 1 and Sample 3, Sample 3 was found to have an extended flavor dura¬ tion as well as a greater flavor intensity. TABLE 1 Base Sugar Corn Syrup Dextrose Glycerin Spearmint Oil Santone 3-1-S (HLB 7) 1 Santone 8-1-0 (HLB 13) 2 Santone emulsifiers are fatty acid esters of polyglycerol. 1. 3-1-S is Triglycerol Monostearate 2. 8-1-0 is Octaglycerol Monoleate EXAMPLE 2 Chewing gum Sample 4 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under "Sample 4" in Table 2. Chewing gum Sample 5 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under "Sample 5" in Table 2. In chewing tests Sample 4 was compared with Sample 5, Sample 5 was found to have longer lasting flavor yield as well as a greater maximum flavor dura¬ tion and a slower flavor decline. Chewing gum Sample 6 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under Sample 6 in Table 3. Chewing gum Sample 7 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under Sample 7 in Table 3. In chewing tests comparing Sample 6 and Sample 7, Sample 7 was found to have longer lasting flavor yield. Base Sugar Corn Syrup Dextrose Glycerin Centromix CPS 1 (HLB 12) 100.00 100.00 1. Centromix is a blend of lecithin and polysorbate 80. EXAMPLE 4 Chewing gum Sample 8 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under Sample 8 in Table 4. Chewing gum Sample 9 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the ingredients listed under Sample 9 in Table 4. Chewing gum Sample 10 was prepared in accord¬ ance with the Ingredients listed under Sample 10 in Table 4. In chewing tests Samples 8, 9 and Sample 10 were compared. Sample 9 was found to have a slightly reduced duration of flavor yield, and undesirable flavor attributes and mouth coating. Accordingly, Sample 9 is believed to have an excessive amount of this type of emulsifier for the particular chewing gum composition. Sample 10 had the quickest flavor release, the broadest flavor peak and greatest flavor intensity as well as the greatest flavor duration and the best flavor. TABLE 4

Claims: WE CLAIM: 1. A chewing gum comprising a chewing gum base, flavor and a flavor enhancing amount of emulsifier wherein said emulsifier has an HLB value greater than about 7. 2. The chewing gum of Claim 1 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a sucrose fatty acid ester. 3. The chewing gum of Claim 1 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a polysorbate. 4. The chewing gum of Claim 1 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a modified phosphatide/phospholipid combination. 5. The chewing gum of Claim 1 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a fatty acid ester of polyglycerol. 6. The chewing gum of Claim 1 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is modified lecithin. 7. The chewing gum of Claim 1 wherein said emulsi¬ fier comprises a combination of emulsifiers. 8. The chewing gum of Claim 1 comprising between about 0.1 weight percent and about 0.7 weight percent of emulsifier. 9. A chewing gum comprising a chewing gum base, flavor and a flavor enhancing amount of emulsifier wherein said emulsifier has an HLB value between about 10 and about 1 . 10. The chewing gum of Claim 9 wherein said emulsi¬ fiers is a sucrose fatty acid ester. 11. The chewing gum of Claim 9 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a polysorbate. 12. The chewing gum of Claim 9 wherein said emulsifier is a modified phosphatide/phospholipid combination. 13. The chewing gum of Claim 9 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a fatty acid ester of polyglycerol. 14. The chewing gum of Claim 9 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is modified lecithin. 15. The chewing gum of Claim 9 wherein said emulsi¬ fier is a combination of emulsifiers. 16. The chewing gum of Claim 9 comprising between about 0.1 weight percent and about 0.7 weight percent of emulsifier. 17. A method of manufacturing chewing gum comprising mixing a chewing gum base, flavor and a flavor enhancing amount of emulsifier, said emulsifier-having an HLB value greater than about 7. 18. The method of Claim 17 wherein the emulsifier comprises between about 0.1 weight percent and about 0.7 weight percent of the chewing gum. 19. A method of manufacturing chewing gum comprising mixing a chewing gum base, flavor and a flavor enhancing amount of emulsifier, said emulsifier having an HLB value of about 10 to about 14. 20. The method of Claim 19 wherein the emulsifier comprises between about 0.1 weight percent and about 0.7 weight percent of the chewing gum.

Inventors: BARRETT KEVIN F, CHAPDELAINE ALBERT H, REED MICHAEL A, BARRETT, KEVIN, F., CHAPDELAINE, ALBERT, H., REED, MICHAEL, A.
Applicants: WRIGLEY W M JUN CO, WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A23G3
IPC codes: A23G4