Process for the preparation of hard candy containing enzyme

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a hard candy containing an enzyme is disclosed, which comprises steps of preparing a usual hard candy containing no enzyme, crushing the same into par­ ticles, mixing the enzyme with the candy particles, press treat­ ing the mixture to form a shaped mass, puttng the mass into a pressure vessel, heating the vessel under pressurized inert gas to cause a partial melt of the mass, cooling the vessel to make the mass into the hard candy product, and releasing the pressure in the vessel.

Description: The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a hard candy which contains an enzyme and more particularly, to a hard candy, in which the enzyme is uniformly dispersed therein and which is excellent in mouth feel. An enzymatic preparation in the form of tablet, powder, capsule or the like may be given to a person who often causes a bradypepsia due to a remarkable reduction of food masticating ability or who has a constitutional predisposition to issue an ozostomy due to a food residue in mouth. In order to make easy an administration or intake of the enzyme, a hard candy containing the enzyme has been developed, in lieu of the drug type preparations. In general, the hard candy containing the enzyme has been prepared by preparing a usual candy mass with use of mainly saccharide materials such as sucrose, corn syrup and the like, crushing the candy mass to prepare granules, mixing the granules with an enzyme, and press shaping the mixture into a desired form (JP-34-2838(B); JP-49-20358(A); US-A-3985909). This conventional process has a disadvantage that the saccharide material exists in the form of granule in the resulting candy product to give a rough mouth feel which is quite different from a usual hard candy product to be prepared through a melting and solidifying steps. Therefore, another process, wherein the enzyme is added directly to the saccharide material, has been proposed. However, this process has a disadvantage that the enzyme may be inactivated by a thermal denaturation in the step for concentrating the saccharide material containing solution into a candy base. A basic object of the invention is to provide a process for the preparation of a hard candy which contains an enzyme therein and shows an excellent mouth feel. Another object of the invention is to provide a process for the preparation of a hard candy containing an enzyme therein, which inhibits a reduction of enzymatic activity in both of its preparation steps and during a time of reservation under room temperature. A still other object of the invention is to provide a process for the preparation of a hard candy containing an enzyme, in which pressurized gas is entrapped in the form of fine bubbles to issue pleasant sounds, as it dissolves in mouth, so that a consumer can intake the enzyme with a certain pleasure and without any feel of drug dosage. According to the invention, the objects can be attained by a process for the preparation of a hard candy containing an enzyme, which comprises steps of mixing a saccharide materials with water, concentrating the same to make its moisture content of not higher than 3.0% by weight, cooling the concentrate to cause solidification thereof, crushing the resulting candy mass to make into candy particles having a size passing through 0,149 mm² (100 mesh standard sieve by the Japanese Industrial Standards), adding and mixing about 1 part by weight of an enzyme with 100 parts by weight of the candy particles to uniformly disperse the enzyme in a mass of the candy particles, press shaping the particle mixture into a candy mass, putting the mass in a pressure vessel, charging an inert gas into the pressure vessel to set an inner pressure of the vessel at a pressurized state, heating the vessel to cause a partial melt of the candy mass cooling the vessel to solidify the partially melt candy mass and to convert the same into the desired candy product in the vessel, and then releasing the pressure in the vessel to take out the candy product. As the raw material of saccharides, conventionally employed materials such as sugar, corn syrup, lactose and the like may be listed. There is no specific limitation on composing ratio of the saccharides, but in general such a ratio of 60 - 30 parts by weight of sugar, 30 - 40 parts by weight of millet jelly and not higher than 30 carts by weight of lactose is suitable. For carrying out the process of the invention, in the first place, the saccharides are mixed and dissolved in water and the resulting mixture is concentrated, so as to make a moisture content thereof not higher than 3.0% by weight, with use of a steam kettle, vacuum kettle or continuous steam cooker to obtain a candy melt. The ground to specify the moisture content in such a level lies in that a hard candy prepared with use of a candy melt having a moisture content higher than 3.0% by weight may cause a deformation due to softening thereof, under room temperature. To the candy melt or concentrated a flavour, coloring agent and the like additives may be added and then the candy melt is cooled to cause a solidification thereof. The resulting hard candy mass is then crushed with use of a disc-type mill or the like to obtain fine particles passing through 0,149 mm² (100 mesh JIS standard sieve). The ground to specify the particle size lies in making possible a uniform dispersion of the enzyme in the final candy product. Then, the enzyme is added to the mass of candy particles to mix the same. As the enzyme, at least one of those selected from the group consisting of cellulase, amylase, protease, lipase, lisozyme, and dextranase is employed; depending on the purpose of accelerating digestion, preventing an issuance of ozostomy, cleaning in oral or the like. It is preferable to add the enzyme in the form of powder for attaining a uniform dispersion, and in the amount of about 1 part by weight to 100 parts by weight of the candy particles, so as to avoid a rough feel when the final candy product dissolves in mouth. The mixture consisting of the candy particles and enzyme powder is charged into a die for a pressure shaping machine for making the same into a mass or a piece with a desired form, under pressure of 4900 kPa - 49000 kPa (50 - 500 kg/cm²). If the pressure is less than 4900 kPa (50 kg/cm²), it may be difficult to maintain its form of the shaped mass. It is unnecessary to set the pressure higher than 49000 kPa (500 kg/cm²), although there is no specific upper limitation. The resulting shaped mass is put into the pressure vessel, and the inert gas of carbon dioxide gas, nitrogen gas or the like is charged in the pressure vessel to set the inner pressure of 98 - 4900 kPa (1 - 50 kg/cm²) and more preferably of 490 - 4900 kPa (5 - 50 kg/cm²). The pressure vessel is heated from its outside to raise temperature of the shaded mass to 100 - 140°C and to cause a partial melt thereof. If the pressure is less than 98 kPa (1 kg/cm²), an inactivation of the enzyme due to the heat cannot sufficiently be prevented. There is no upper limitation on the setting pressure, but it is unnecessary to set the pressure higher than 4900 kPa (50 kg/cm²), in view of cost therefor. If the temperature of shaped mass is less than 100°C, the desired partial melt thereof will not occur and it is not preferable to set the temperature higher than 140°C, since the desired partial melt can be attained at a temperature lower than such temperature, and for preventing a possible inactivation of the enzyme. After the pressure vessel is cooled from outside to room temperature for causing a solidification of the partial melt candy mass containing the enzyme therein, the inert gas in the vessel is reliesed (recovered) to take out the desired candy product containing the enzyme therein. The resulting candy product entraps therein the enzyme in the states of uniform dispersion and while maintaining its activity in a high level, even though the candy product has been prepared through the step of thermal treatment. Further, the candy product also entraps therein the highly pressurized inert gas in the form of fine bubbles, so that pleasant sounds will issue, as it dissolves in mouth, to give a nice or pleasant feel for the consumer. The invention will now be explained in more detail, with reference to Examples. Example 1 A mixture of sugar (30 parts by weight), corn syrup (40 parts by weight), lactose (30 parts by weight) and water (30 parts by weight) was charged in a kettle with a jacket for steam heating to concentrate the mixture until its temperature become 150°C, so that a concentrate with a moisture content of less than 3.0% by weight was obtained. The concentrate was poured into a cooling pan to obtain a mass of hard candy which was crushed with use of disc-type mill to obtain candy particles having a size passing through 0,149 mm² (JIS 100 mesh standard sieve). To 100 parts by weight of the resulting hard candy particles, 0.5 parts by weight of cellulase powder were and mixed. The powdery mixture was charged in a cylindrical receptacle having inner diameter of 10cm and shaped under pressure of 24500 kPa (250 kg/cm²). The resulting shaped mass was put into a pressure vessel with a jacket. After having sealed the vessel and charged carbon dioxide gas to increase an inner pressure thereof to 3430 kPa (35 kg/cm²), over-heated water steam was fed into the jacket to heat the shaped mass at 125°C , so as to cause a partial melt of the candy particle of the shaped mass. Thereafter, water of room temperature was fed into the jacket, in lieu of the steam, until temperature of a candy piece converted from the shaded mass becomes 25°C . Then, the pressure in the vessel was reliesed by recovering carbon dioxide gas therefrom to take out the candy piece containing enzyme therein and entrapping carbon dioxide gas in pressurized state in the form of fine bubbles. A remaining activity of cellulase in the resulting candy product was checked to find as 100% which numeral value is designated in comparison value in an amount of glucose to be formed as decomposition product of carboxymethycellulose. Almost no reduction in enzymatic activity was recognized, even if the candy product has been reserved for 1 month at 25 and 35°C, respectively. The candy product gives a smooth feel to tongue, issues pleasant sounds in mouth, as it dissolves therein, and has a function for assisting a digest of fibrous foods. Example 2 An enzyme containing hard candy was prepared in the manner similar to Example 1, excepting that amylase powder was employed, in lieu of cellulase powder and that nitrogen gas was selected as the inert gas to set inner pressure of the vessel at 490 kPa (5 kg/cm²). A remaining enzymatic activity of the candy product was 80% which value is designated in comparison value in an amount of glucose to be formed as decomposition product of soluble starch. Almost no reduction in enzymatic activity was recognized, even if the candy product has been reserved for 1 month at 35°C . The candy product gives a smooth feel to tongue, issues pleasant sounds in mouth, as it dissolves therein, and has a function for assisting a digest of starch foods. Example 3 An enzyme containing candy was prepared in the manner similar to Example 1, excepting that amylase powder was employed, in lieu of cellulase powder. A remaining enzymatic activity of the candy product was 80% which was measured as in Example 2. Almost no reduction in enzymatic activity was recognized, even if the candy product has been reserved for 2 month at 35°C and for 1 month at 40°C . The candy product gives a smooth feel to tongue, issues pleasant sounds in mouth, as it dissolves therein, and has a function for assisting a digest of starch foods. From the results shown in Examples 1 to 3, it can be said that the candy product to be obtained by the process according to the invention does not show any noticeable reduction in its enzymatic activity, even when it will be reserved under the condition of relatively high temperature, as in summer season. Example 4 Three kinds of enzyme containing hard candies here prepared in the manner similar to Example 1, excepting that protease, lipase or lisozyme powder is employed, in lieu of the cellulase powder. A remaining enzymatic activity of each candy product is shown in following Table 1. In the Table, the remaining enzymatic activity is designated by % which was given as comparison value in an amount of the substance dissolved by trichloroacetic acid to be formed by decomposition of casein (for protease), comparison value in an amount of fatty acids to be formed as decomposition product of triglyceride (for lipase), and comparison value of bacteriolytic ability of Micrococcus lisodeikticus (for lysozyme). Enzyme Remaining enzymatic activity in product Protease 95% Lipase 85% Lysozyme 98% Example 5 Hard candies containing an enzyme were prepared as in Example 1, excepting that various gases were employed in various pressure, as shown in following Table 2. A remaining enzymatic activity of each candy product is shown in Table 2, the activity being measured as in Example 1. Gas used Pressure (98⁻¹, kPa (kg/cm²) Remaining activity (%) Carbon dioxide 35 100 ditto 5 90 ditto 1 50 Nitrogen 35 95 ditto 5 85 ditto 3 40 Air 35 25 ditto 1 30 Apparently seen from Table 2, a remarkable reduction in enzymatic activity will occur, when air is employed as the pressurizing gas. On contrary thereto, the enzymatic activity will be reserved at 85% or more by using carbon dioxide gas or nitrogen gas at pressure of 490 kPa (5 kg/cm²) or more. When carbon dioxide gas is selected, the enzymatic activity was reserved in the level of 50%, even though pressure is set to only 98 kPa (1 kg/cm²).

Claims: A process for the preparation of a hard candy containing an enzyme, which comprises steps of mixing a saccharide materials with water, concentrating the same to make its moisture content of not higher than 3.0% by weight, cooling the concentrate to cause solidification thereof, crushing the resulting candy mass to make into candy particles having a size passing through 0,149 mm² (100 mesh), adding and mixing 1 part by weight of the enzyme with 100 parts by weight of the candy particles to uniformly disperse the enzyme in a mass of the candy particles, press shaping the particle mixture into a candy mass, putting the mass in a pressure vessel, charging an inert gas into the pressure vessel to set an inner pressure of 98 - 4900 kPa (1 - 50 kg/cm²), heating the vessel to cause a partial melt of the candy mass, cooling the vessel to solidify the partially melt candy mass and to convert the same into the desired candy product in the vessel, and then releasing the pressure in the vessel to take out the candy product. A process as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said enzyme is at least one of those selected from the group consisting of cellulase, amylase, protease, lipase, lisozyme, and dextranase. A process as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the inert gas is selected from the group consisting of carbon dioxide gas and nitrogen gas.

Inventors: MOCHIZUKI KEIZO C O MEIJI SEIK, SUMI NAOKI C O MEIJI SEIKA KAI, MOCHIZUKI, KEIZO C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD., SUMI, NAOKI C/O MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, LTD.
Applicants: MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA, MEIJI SEIKA KAISHA LTD.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: A23G3
IPC codes: A23G3