IMPROVED WAX-FREE CHEWING GUM BASE

Abstract: A chewing gum base is provided which is free of wax as well as a method for producing same. In an embodiment, a wax-free gum base is provided having flavor release characteristics at least as good as similar bases including wax comprising an elastomer, polyvinyl acetate, an elastomer plasticizer, and a sufficient amount of oil to achieve flavor release characteristics that are at least as good as a similar gum base including wax.

Description: S P E C I F I C A T I O N TITLE "IMPROVED WAX-FREE CHEWING GUM BASE" This is a continuation-in-part of PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US92/01686 filed on March 3, 1992, in the U.S. Receiving Office under the Patent Cooperation Treaty entitled: "IMPROVED WAX-FREE CHEWING GUM BASE" and naming Steven Synosky as the inventor. FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improved chewing gum bases of the type which do not contain wax, and to methods of preparing chewing gum bases which do not contain wax. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Recently, in the United Kingdom, the use of wax, especially mineral hydrocarbon wax, in gum bases, has come under scrutiny. There is a perception in the United Kingdom that it may not be desirable to use wax in gum bases. This perception could result in possible regulatory issues, in the United Kingdom, concerning the use of wax in gum base. Unfortunately, one cannot merely remove wax from a gum base without possibly compromising certain desirable characteristics of the resulting chewing gum product. Wax provides a number of functions in the gum base. For example, wax can influence the release of flavor from the gum product. Furthermore, wax aids in the curing of the finished gum product that is made from the gum base. Additionally, wax contributes to the shelf-life of the finished gum and its texture. Although some gum bases are known that do not contain wax, they, the inventor believes, typically do not have the chew characteristics, in addition to other characteristics, of typical chewing gums that are created from wax containing gum bases. Heretofore, gum bases without wax were not created in response to any regulatory concerns, but rather, were merely created as part of bases to achieve other ends, for example, a non-tack gum. Therefore, in certain instances, compromises with respect to certain characteristics may have been made to achieve other results, e.g., non-tack, reduced calories, etc. U.S. Patent 3,984,574, issued to Comollo, discloses an abhesive chewing gum base in which the non-tack properties were achieved by eliminating conventional chewing gum base ingredients which were found to contribute to chewing gum tackiness, and by substituting non-tacky ingredients in place of the conventional ingredients. Specifically, it was discovered that three classes of materials account for conventional chewing gum tackiness. These materials are elastomers, resins, and waxes. Comollo eliminated natural and some synthetic elastomer from the chewing gum base, and substituted in their place one or more non-tacky synthetic elastomers such as polyisobutylene, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer and butadiene-styrene copolymer. Comollo also eliminated the tack-producing natural resins and modified natural resins and used instead relatively high amounts of hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils or animal fats. Finally, Comollo completely excluded waxes from the gum base, but included polyvinyl acetate, fatty acids, and mono and diglycerides of fatty acids. There is therefore a need for a method for removing wax from gum bases without compromising the characteristics of the resultant gum. Likewise, there is a need for a gum base not having wax, but exhibiting the characteristics of gum bases that do include wax. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to a wax-free chewing gum base and method of making same. The gum base of the invention includes quantities of elastomer (synthetic, natural, or both), elastomer plasticizer, filler and softener, and is substantially free of wax. The gum base of the invention may also contain optional quantities of minor ingredients such as color and antioxidant. In an embodiment, the use of natural elastomers in the gum base compliments certain ' chewing gum flavors, such as mint oil, by rounding out the otherwise harsh or grassy notes in the flavor. The presence of natural elastomers and natural resins in the gum base also contributes to improved chewing gum texture and flavor retention. There is currently a need or desire in at least part of the chewing gum industry for gum bases which are devoid of wax and which when used to make chewing gum, exhibit the chew characteristics of a chewing gum made from a wax containing base. Additionally, the present invention provides a method for eliminating wax from a gum base while retaining the desirable characteristic of a chewing gum having wax. Pursuant to the present invention, a method is provided for eliminating wax from a gum base that includes quantities of an elastomer, elastomer plasticizer, and softener. Pursuant to an embodiment of the method of the present invention, the wax is eliminated from the gum base formula and the oils, that comprise, at least in part, the softener, are increased sufficiently to compensate for the removal of the wax and thereby achieve a gum base that can create a chewing gum having chew properties, including release of flavor, at least as good as gums based on wax bases. It has been found that by selecting the oil content so as to create a gum base that has a lower softening point than a similar gum base containing wax, improved flavor release can be achieve . In an embodiment, the selection of the elastomer plasticizer, and specifically the melting point of same, is used, at least in part, to compensate for the removal of the wax. In an embodiment, the oil substantially comprises hydrogenated oils. In an embodiment, a wax free gum base is provided comprising: an elastomer; polyvinyl acetate; an elastomer plasticizer; and a sufficient amount of oils having melting points between 40°C to about 70 C C to enhance the flavor release of a gum product made from the base. In an embodiment, the oils comprise principally hydrogenated oils having melting points of 60-70°C. It is an advantage of the invention to provide a substantially wax-free chewing gum base. It is also an advantage of the invention to provide a suitably soft gum base in which wax is not needed to soften the gum base. It is also an advantage of the invention to improve the compatibility of gum base ingredients during the blending process, since no wax is present to cause incompatibility. It is an advantage of the invention to provide an improved chewing gum which contains the wax-free chewing gum base of the invention. It is also an advantage of the invention to provide an improved chewing gum made from the wax- . free base which does not retain the amount of flavor typical sugarless gums retain after chewing. It is also an advantage of the invention to provide an improved chewing gum that hydrates better during about one to three minutes of chewing. It is a further advantage of the present invention to provide a method for eliminating wax from a gum base and still provide a gum base that can create a resultant gum product having the characteristics of a gum product that includes wax. It iε an advantage of the present invention to provide a wax free gum base that can be used to create a chewing gum that has chew characteristics at least as good as chewing gum created from wax containing gum bases. It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a gum base that is free of wax but when used to create a chewing gum has improved flavor release. The foregoing and other features and advantages will become further apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying examples. It should be understood that the detailed description and examples are illustrative rather than limitative, the scope of the present invention being defined by the appended claims and equivalents thereof. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF TEE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In accordance with the invention, a chewing gum base is provided for use in either non-tack or conventional chewing gum, which may be either bubble gum or regular chewing gum. In an embodiment, the" chewing gum base of the invention contains about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 4 to about 35 weight percent filler, about 5 to about 35 weight percent softener, and optional minor amounts (about one percent or less) of miscellaneous ingredients such as colorants, antioxidants, etc. Synthetic elastomers may include, but are not limited to, polyisobutylene with GPC weight average molecular weight of about 10,000 to about 95,000, iεobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl elastomer) , styrene-butadiene copolymers having styrene-butadiene ratios of about 1:3 to about 3:1, polyvinyl acetate having GPC weight average molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 90,000, polyisoprene, polyethylene, vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate copolymer having vinyl laurate content of about 5 to about 50 percent by weight of the copolymer, and combinations thereof. Preferred ranges are, for polyisobutylene, 50,000 to 80,000 GPC weight average molecular weight, for styrene-butadiene, 1:1 to 1:3 bound styrene-butadiene, for polyvinyl acetate, 10,000 to 65,000 GPC weight average molecular weight with the higher molecular weight polyvinyl acetates typically used in bubble gum base, and for vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate, vinyl laurate content of 10-45 percent. Natural elastomers may include natural rubber such as smoked or liquid latex and guayule as well as natural gums such as jelutong, lechi caspi, perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, massaranduba chocolate, niεpero, rosindinha, chicle, gutta hang kang, and combinations thereof. The preferred synthetic elastomer and natural elastomer concentrations vary depending on whether the chewing gum in which the base is used iε abheεive or conventional, bubble gum or regular gum, as discusεed below. The preferred natural elaεtomers are jelutong, chicle, sorva and masεaranduba balata. Elaεtomer plaεticizers may include, but are not limited to, natural rosin esters such as glycerol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters polymerized rosin, glycerol esters of partially dimerized rosin, glycerol esterε of roεin, pentaerythritol esters of partially hydrogenated rosin, methyl and partially hydrogenated methyl .esterε of roεin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin; synthetics such aε terpene reεinε derived from alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, and/or d-limonene; and any suitable combinations of the foregoing. The preferred elastomer plasticizers will also vary depending on the specific application, and on the type of elastomer which is used. Fillers/texturizers may include magnesium and calcium carbonate, ground limestone, silicate types such as magnesium and aluminum silicate, clay, alumina, talc, titanium oxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphate, cellulose polymers, such as wood, and combinations thereof. Softeners/emulsifiers may include tallow, hydrogenated tallow, hydrogenated and partially hydrogenated vegetable oils, cocoa butter, glycerol monostearate, glycerol triacetate, lecithin, mono-, di- and triglycerides, acetylated monoglycerideε, fatty acidε (e.g. εtearic, palmitic, oleic and linoleic acids) , and combinations thereof. Hydrogenated vegetable oils are generally preferred, either alone or in combination with other softeners. As discusεed in detail below, the selection and amount of oils haε been determined to, at leaεt with respect to certain bases and at least in part, compensate for the removal of wax. Colorantε and whiteners may include FD&C-type dyes and lakes, fruit and vegetable extractε, titanium dioxide, and combinations thereof. When the wax-free gum base of the invention iε to be used in a regular (non-bubble) gum which has at leaεt εo e abheεive (reduced tack) characteriεticε, the baεe εhould preferably contain about 10 to about 40 weight percent εynthetic elaεtomer, about 15 to about 30 weight percent elaεtomer plasticizer, about 5 to about 30 weight percent filler, about 15 to about 35 weight percent softener, 0 to about 1 weight percent colorant and 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. By way of example, specific embodiments of the wax-free gum base are provided in Examples 1- 30 below. TABLE 1: WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN CHEWING GUM HAVING SOME REDUCED TACK CHARACTERISΗCS (EXAMPLES 1-30) EXAMPLES 1-4 EXAMPLES 5-8 EXAMPLES 9-12 EXAMPLES 13-16 EXAMPLES 17-20 EXAMPLES 21-24 EXAMPLES 25-28 EXAMPLES 29-30 When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a regular (non-bubble) gum which does not have abhesive characteristics, the base should preferably contain about 12 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer, about 20 to about 40 weight percent synthetic elastomer, about 4 to about 25 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 5 to about 25 weight percent filler, about 15 to about 30 weight percent εoftener, 0 to about 0.1 weight percent colorant and 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. By way of example, specific embodiments of the wax-free gum base fitting this description are provided in Exampleε 31-55 below: TABLE 2: WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN CHEWING GUM HAVING SOME REDUCED TACK CHARACTERISTICS (EXAMPLES 31-55) EXAMPLES 31-34 EXAMPLES 35-38 EXAMPLES 39-42 EXAMPLES 43-46 EXAMPLES 47-50 EXAMPLES 51-54 EXAMPLE55 When the wax-free gum base of the invention is to be used in a bubble gum, the base should preferably contain about 30 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer, about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer, about 10 to about 35 weight percent filler, about 5 to about 25 weight percent softener, 0 to about 1 weight percent colorant and 0 to about 0.1 weight percent antioxidant. By way of examples, specific embodiments of the wax-free base for use in bubble gum are provided in Exampleε 56-74 below. TABLE 3: WAX-FREE GUM BASES FOR USE IN BUBBLE GUM (EXAMPLES 56-74) EXAMPLES 56-59 EXAMPLES 60-63 EXAMPLES 64-67 EXAMPLES 68-71 EXAMPLES 72-74 IDENTIFICATION - EXAMPLES #: 72 73 74 GENERIC INGREDIENTS TOTAL PERCENT 100.0 1 0.0 100.0 The wax-free gum base of the invention constitutes about 5-95 weight percent of the chewing gum, more typically 10-50 weight percent of the chewing gum, and most commonly 20-35 weight percent of the chewing gum. The gum base is typically prepared by adding an amount of the elastomer, elastomer plasticizers and filler to a heated sigma blade mixer with a front to rear blade speed ratio of typically 2:1. The initial amounts of ingredientε are determined by the working capacity of the mixing kettle in order to attain a proper conεistency. After the initial ingredients have maεεed homogeneouεly, the balance of the elaεtomer plasticizer, filler, softeners, etc. are added in a sequential manner until a completely homogeneous molten masε iε attained. This can usually be achieved in one to four hours, depending on the formulation. The final maεε temperature can be between 60»C and 150 ° C, more preferably between 80 ° C and 120»C. The completed molten maεε iε emptied from the mixing kettle into coated or lined pans, extruded or cast into any desirable εhape and allowed to cool and εolidify. Although the above method for making baεe iε typical and applieε to both chewing and bubble bases, it has been found that there is a preferred method for making the bubble baεeε deεcribed in thiε invention. First, all of the polyvinyl acetate and portions of the polyisobutylene and filler are added and blended in a heated sigma blade mixer. Softeners such as glyceryl triacetate and/or acetylated monoglyceride are then added along with a second portion of each of polyisobutylene and filler. The acetylated monoglyceride may be added at the end of the process if desired and still not alter the chewing texture of the gum made from the base. Next, the rest of the polyisobutylene and filler are added along with the elastomer plasticizer. Finally, the remaining ingredients such as glycerol monostearate and antioxidants may be added. Colorant may be added at any time during the mixing procesε and is preferably added at the start. There are some variations to the above described preferred method which in no way limit the method as described. Thoεe εkilled in the art of gum base manufacture may be able to appreciate any minor variations. In producing wax-containing gum baεeε high in polyvinyl acetate, and particularly those high in high molecular weight polyvinyl acetate, it is necessary to improve blending of the ingredients by removing the heat applied to the sigma blade mixer at εome point in the process. This reduceε the temperature of the gum baεe and cauεeε greater compatibility of itε ingredientε. In the inventive gum base procesε for making the inventive gum baεe free of wax, there is no need to remove the heat applied. The degree of incompatibility iε greatly reduced εince there is no wax present. In addition to the water-insoluble gum base, a typical chewing gum composition includes a water soluble bulk portion and one or more flavoring agents. The wax-free gum base of the invention can be used with any typical chewing gum composition. The water soluble portion of the chewing gum may include εoftenerε, bulk εweetenerε, high intenεity εweetenerε, flavoring agentε and combinationε thereof. Softenerε are added to the chewing gum in order to optimize the chewability and mouth feel of the gum. The softeners, which are also known as plasticizers or plasticizing agentε, generally constitute between about .5-15% by weight of the chewing gum. The softenerε may include glycerin, lecithin, and combinationε thereof. Aqueous sweetener solutions such as thoεe containing sorbitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolyεates, corn syrup and combinations thereof, may also be used as softenerε and binding agents in chewing gum. Bulk sweetenerε conεtitute between 5-95% by weight of the chewing gum, more typically 20-80% by weight of the chewing gum and moεt commonly 30-60% by weight of the chewing gum. Bulk sweetenerε may include both εugar and εugarleεε εweetenerε and componentε. Sugar εweetenerε may include εaccharide containing components including but not limited to sucrose, dextrose, maltose, dextrin, dried invert sugar, fructose, levulose, galactose, corn εyrup solids, and the like, alone or in combination. Sugarlesε εweetenerε include componentε with sweetening characteriεticε but are devoid of the commonly known sugars. Sugarless sweeteners include but are not limited to sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, maltitol, and the like, alone or in combination. High intenεity sweeteners may also be present and are commonly used with εugarleεε sweeteners. When used, high intenεity sweeteners typically constitute between .001-5% by weight of the chewing gum, prefer¬ ably between .01-1% by weight of the chewing gum. Typically, high intensity sweetenerε are at leaεt 20 - timeε sweeter than sucrose. These may include but are not limited to sucralose, aspartame, salts of acesulfame, alitame, saccharin and its salts, cyclamic acid and its salts, glycyrrhizin, dihydrochalcones, thaumatin, monellin, and the like, alone or in combination. Combinationε of sugar and/or sugarless sweeteners may be used in chewing gum. The sweetener may also function in the chewing gum in whole or in part as a water soluble bulking agent. Additionally, the softener may alεo provide additional sweetness such as with aqueous sugar or alditol solutionε. Flavoring agents should generally be present in the chewing gum in an amount within the range of about 0.1-15% by weight of the chewing gum, preferably between about 0.2-5% by weight of the chewing gum, most preferably between about 0.5-3% by weight of the chewing gum. Flavoring agents may include esεential oilε, εynthetic flavors or mixtures thereof including but not limited to oils derived from plants and fruits such as citrus oils, fruit eεεenceε, peppermint oil, εpearmint oil, other mint oilε, clove oil, oil of wintergreen, aniεe and the like. Artificial flavoring agentε and componentε may alεo be used. Natural and artificial flavoring agents may be combined in any sensorially acceptable fashion. Optional ingredients such aε colors, emulsifierε, pharmaceutical agents and additional flavoring agentε may also be included in chewing gum. Chewing gum is generally 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 form such as by rolling into sheets and cutting into sticks, extruding 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 gum base may alternatively be melted in the mixer. Color and emulsifierε can be added at thiε time. A εoftener such as glycerin can be added next along with syrup and part of the bulk portion. Further parts of the bulk portion may then be added to the mixer. Flavoring agents are typically added with the final part of the bulk portion. The entire mixing procesε typically takeε from five to fifteen minutes, although longer mixing times are εometimeε required. Thoεe skilled in the art will recognize that variations of this mixing procedure, or other mixing procedures, may be followed. Purεuant to the present invention, methods are provided for eliminating the wax from a gum base yet still providing a gum base that yields a gum having desirable characteriεtics. Of course, a great number of gum baseε are known, many of which have been, or are, commercial productε. The inventor believeε that the great majority of theεe baεeε are wax containing. Indeed, it iε further believed that there are only a few εpecialized formulaε that do not contain wax; theεe formulaε having been modified to achieve certain propertieε at the expense of certain desirable properties that are typically present in a wax containing gum and therefore do not provide a wax- free gum base that can be used to create a gum having characteriεticε as good as or better than a gum including wax. It would therefore be desirable to provide a method for creating a wax free product in those situations where public perception or regulatory requirements make a wax-free baεe necessary and/or desirable. The inventor has found that one method for eliminating wax from a gum base iε to eliminate the wax from the typical formula and increaεe the proportion of at least select oils in the base sufficiently to compensate for the removal of the wax. It is not necesεary for a one to one correspondence to be made with reεpect to the amount of wax deleted and the proportion of oil increaεed. Rather, in order to afford the neceεεary characteristics to the resultant gum, the amount and type of oils chosen are selected to create a composition that has chew characteristics, including flavor release, as good aε a wax baεed gum. More εpecifically, in an embodiment of the method and compoεition of the preεent invention, the amount of and the capillary melting point (CMP) of the oil component are choεen εo that the reεultant no wax gum baεe haε a εoftening point lower- than that of a correεponding wax containing gum baεe. The softening point of the base is determined by using ASTM method E28-58T modified whereby the gum base sample is softened in an oven and molded into a shouldered brass ring and trimmed. The sample iε placed in a water and glycerine bath and adjuεted to a temperature riεe of 1°C +0.25°C per minute. By so choosing the oils and reducing the softening point of the base, this provides for a better releaεe of the flavorε. It haε been found that preferably the oils have a CMP of approximately 40°C to about 70°C. Preferably, the oilε comprise substantially hydrogenated oils. Preferred hydrogenated oils include cottonseed oil (60-65 e C) and soybean oil (65- 70°C) . However, other oils can also be used such as canola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut. It has been found that preferably when hydrogenated oilε are used, the oils comprise at least 12% by weight of the gum base. Partially hydrogenated oilε can be used in conjunction with the hydrogenated oils. Preferably, the partially hydrogenated oils have melting points of 45-50°C. In an embodiment, preferably the partially hydrogenated oilε are used at 10% or less with respect to the total content of the base. As uεed herein, the term "oil" iε used broadly and includes hydrogenated oils and those productε that technically may be claεsified aε fatε. Additionally, it haε been found that the selection of the elastomer plasticizer can contribute and improve the characteristicε of a gum baεe product when the wax iε removed. In thiε regard, the ring and ball εoftening points (R&B SP) of the elastomer plasticizer may also be important with respect to a no wax product. Preferably, in an embodiment of the no wax gum base of the present invention, the elastomer plasticizer has a R&B SP of about 60°C to about 135°C. Such elastomer plasticizerε include: dimerized roεin eεter (80-130°C) ; glycerol ester of rosin (80-90°C) ; glycerol ester of partially hydrogenated rosin (75- 90°C) ; and terpene resin (80-130°C) . Pursuant to the present invention, a method is provided for removing the wax from a typical wax containing gum base formula. To this end, in an embodiment, when the gum base from which the wax is to be removed originally contains approximately 5% or less wax, in the initial step in the process, the wax is removed from the formula and the other components are increased proportionately. It is not necessary that each component be increased, or that each component be increased to the exact same extent. Rather, at least the majority of the components are increased, and preferably proportionately. After the reformulation of the gum baεe, the reεultant gum baεe iε then teεted. To thiε end, the gum baεe can be tested to determine its physical properties, e.g., rheology, to determine if those properties are at least substantially εimilar to the original wax containing gum baεe. If deεired, the gum baεe can be uεed to create a chewing gum. The chewing gum can then be teεted to determine if it haε chew characteriεtics that are sufficiently close to, if not better, than a control (a gum created from the original gum base containing wax) . If it is found that the resultant gum does not have sufficiently good chew characteristicε, or if the phyεical propertieε of the gum base are not satiεfactory, then the percent of oil in the gum baεe is modified. In an embodiment, the percent of oil is not initially modified, but rather, the melting point of the oil is modified. For example, the melting point iε increaεed by adding oilε that have a higher melting point and reducing the oilε that have a lower melting point. Again, the reεultant gum baεe is tested or a chewing gum is created from the baεe and the chew characteriεticε of the gum are teεted. If the gum base, or the chew characteristics of the gum, are still not satisfactory, then further modifications can be made to the percent of oil and/or the melting point of the oil in the gum base. As a further step, the melting point of the elastomer plasticizer in the wax-free base can be modified. It has been found that the melting point of the elastomer plasticizer in the gum base contributes to the chew characteriεticε. Utilizing theεe steps, one should be able to eliminate the wax from a gum base without compromiεing the chew characteristics. If the gum base originally contains approximately 5% or greater wax content, then the initial step in the process is preferably to eliminate the wax and to increase the oil content proportionately. As previously stated, it iε not neceεεary that the oilε be increaεed in a proportion that correεpondε exactly to the original wax content. Rather, the oilε are at leaεt increased so as to substantially make up for the elimination of the wax portion. The reεultant gum baεe is then either tested or can then be used to create a chewing gum that iε then compared to the control to determine itε chew characteristics. If the characteristics of the reεultant gum base are not satisfactory, then the melting point of the oil is modified slightly. Again, to achieve an increase in the melting point in the oil, the oils having a higher melting point, for example, soybean, are increased and the oils having a lower melting point, for example, cotton-seed oil, are reduced. The gum base iε again tested. If it iε found that the gum base does not provide satisfactory characteristics, then the melting point of the oil can be further modified. As an alternative, the proportion of the oil contained in the base can be modified. If a satisfactory chewing gum base is not created through the step of modifying the melting point of the oil, then the melting point of the elastomer plasticizer is modified. By uεing this method, wax can be removed from a gum base that originally containε approximately 5% or greater wax and a wax free gum baεe can be created that can be uεed to make a chewing gum having chew characteriεtics as good as, if not better than, a gum created from a gum base containing wax. By way of example, and not limitation, examples of wax containing gum bases (controls) are compared to no wax baseε that were reformulated from the control formulaε purεuant to the preεent invention will now be given: EXAMPLES75-90 Type: Elastomer PVAc Elastomer Plasticizer Hyd. Veg. Oil Wax Softening Point Type Elastomer PVAc Elastomer Plasticizer Hyd. Veg. Oil Wax Softening Point Type: Elastomer PVAc Elastomer Plasticizer Wax Hyd. Veg. Oil Softening Point Type: Elastomer PVAc Elastomer Plasticizer Hyd. Veg. Oil Wax Softening Point It haε been found that with at leaεt some current commercial bases, the wax can be removed without compromising the chew characteristics of a resultant gum product by, at least in part, increasing the oils and creating a base having a εoftening point that iε lower than the εoftening point of a correεponding wax containing gum baεe. Preferably, the no wax gum baεe haε a εoftening point that iε at leaεt 5°C lower than the gum base if it had included wax. In a preferred embodiment, the softening point is 10°C lower. By way of example, and not limitation, taste results of gum created from commercial gum bases that have wax vis-a-vis chewing gum, created from gum bases that do not include wax pursuant to the present invention will now be given. The testing was performed using a blind study protocol. One hundred fifty participants were used in each of the three studies. Fifty percent of the participants in each study had chewed the commercial (control) product as their regular preferred gum before the study and 50% of the participants had chewed the control gum at least once during the preceding week before the study. During the study, each participant was given one of the two gum productε to chew for 12 minuteε. This was followed by a cleansing period of 6 minuteε. The second product was then chewed for 12 minuteε. During the εtudy, half of the participants were given the control first and half the new product. The participants were aεked for their preferences based on a number of criteria. The resultε were aε follows: EXAMPLE NO. IA In this example, the control chewing gum comprised: 25.2% of a gum base with wax; 48.45% sorbitol; 16.80% glycerine; 8.01 mannitol; 1.33% flavor; and .21% encapsulated aspartame. The no wax chewing gum comprised: 25.2% of the gum base of the control modified pursuant to the present invention; 48.45% sorbitol; 16.80% glycerine; 8.01% mannitol; 1.33% flavor; and .21% encapsulated aspartame. PREFERENCES Overall Preference Tasteε Beεt More Refreεhing Chewing Texture Refreεhing Breath Long Laεting Taεte Better Spearmint Flavor Better Appearance Sweeter Less Bitter Softer Better Smell Stronger Flavor Stuck More To Teeth Rather Buy FLAVOR OVERALL (1 MINUTE) No Wax Wax "Excellent" 23% 21% STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (1 MINUTE) No Wax Wax "About Right" 70% 70% FLAVOR OVERALL (12 MINUTES) No Wax Wax "Excellent" 9% 7% STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (12 MINUTES) No Wax Wax "About Right" 51% 56% EXAMPLE NO. 2 In this example, the control chewing gum comprised: 25.16% base with wax; 48.38% sorbitol; 8.00% mannitol; 16.66% glycerine; 1.55% flavor; and 0.25% encapsulated aspartame. The no wax chewing gum comprised: 25.16% of the base of the control modified pursuant to the present invention; 48.28% sorbitol; 8.00% mannitol; 16.66% glycerine; 1.65% flavor; and 0.25% encapsulated aspartame. PREFERENCES "Excellent" STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (1 MINUTE) No Wax Wax "About Right" 64% 65% FLAVOR OVERALL (12 MINUTES) No Wax Wax "Excellent" 11% 7% STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (12 MINUTES) No Wax Wax "About Right" 48% 47% EXAMPLE NO. 3A In thiε example, the control compriεed: 20.6% base with wax; 57.63% sugar; 20.39% corn syrup; 0.83% glycerine; and 0.55% flavor. The no wax chewing gum comprised: 20.6% of the base of the control modified pursuant to the invention; 59.49% sugar; 18.5% corn εyrup; 0.83% glycerine; and 0.58% flavor. PREFERENCES Stronger Flavor 46 52 Stuck More to Teeth 26 32 Rather Buy 51 45 EXAMPLE NO. 3A FLAVOR OVERALL (1 MINUTE) No Wax Wax "Excellent" 21% 21% STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (1 MINUTE) No Wax Wax "About Right" 71% 68% FLAVOR OVERALL (12 MINUTES) No Wax Wax "Excellent" 7% 6% STRENGTH OF FLAVOR (12 MINUTES) No Wax Wax "About Right" 45% 38% While the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are presently considered to be preferred, various modificationε and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is indicated in the appended claimε, and all changeε that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claimε are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims: I CLAIM: 1. A wax-free chewing gum base having flavor release characteristics at least as good as similar bases including wax comprising: an elastomer; polyvinyl acetate; an elastomer plasticizer; and a sufficient amount of oil having a capillary melting point between 40 C C and 70°C to achieve flavor release characteristicε that are at leaεt as good as a similar gum baεe that includeε wax. 2. The wax-free chewing gum baεe of Claim 1 wherein at leaεt a majority of the oil iε hydrogenated. 3. The wax-free chewing baεe of Claim 1 wherein the oil haε a capillary melting point between approximately 60°C and 70°C. 4. The wax-free chewing gum baεe of Claim 1 compriεing at leaεt 12% oil. 5. The wax-free chewing gum baεe of Claim 1 compriεing: about 20 to about 60 weight percent synthetic elastomer; 0 to about 30 weight percent natural elastomer; about 5 to about 55 weight percent elastomer plasticizer; about 4 to about 35 weight percent filler; about 12 to about 35 weight percent softener. 6. The wax-free chewing gum base of Claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes at least one natural elaεtomer selected from the group consiεting of jelutong, lechi caεpi, perillo, sorva, massaranduba balata, asεaranduba chocolate, niεpero, roεindinha, chicle, gutta hang kang, smoked or liquid latex, guayule, and combinations thereof. 7. The wax-free chewing gum base of Claim 1 wherein the elastomer includes at least one synthetic elastomer selected from the group consisting of polyisobutylene, butadiene-styrene copolymer, vinyl acetate-vinyl laurate copolymer, polyisoprene, isobutylene-isoprene copolymer, and combinations thereof. 8. The wax-free chewing gum base of Claim 1 wherein the elastomer plasticizer is selected from the group consiεting of glycerol eεterε of rosin, glycerol esterε of partially hydrogenated rosin, glycerol esters of polymerized roεin, glycerol esters of partially dimerized rosin, partially hydrogenated methyl esterε of roεin, pentaerythritol esters of rosin, methyl esterε of roεin, pentaerythritol eεterε of partially hydrogenated roεin, terpene reεin, and combinationε thereof. 9. The wax-free chewing gum base of Claim 1 including a filler selected from the group consiεting of calcium carbonate, magnesium carbonate, talc, ground limestone, magnesium silicate, aluminum silicate, clay, alumina, titanium dioxide, mono-, di- and tri-calcium phosphateε, celluloεe, and combinationε thereof. 10. A wax-free chewing gum having chew characteristics at least subεtantially aε good aε a εimilar chewing gum including wax comprising: a water soluble bulk agent; one or more flavoring agents; a water insoluble gum base comprising: an elastomer; an elaεtomer plaεticizer; polyvinyl acetate; and a softener wherein the softening point of the gum base is at least 5°C less than a similar gum base having wax. 11. The chewing gum of Claim 10 wherein the softener is chosen from the group consisting of cottonseed, soybean, canola, safflower, sunflower, palm, and coconut oil. 12. The chewing gum of Claim 10 wherein the elastomer includes natural rubber. 13. The chewing gum of Claim 10 wherein the softener includes a hydrogenated oil having a capillary melting point between approximately 60 β C and 70°C. 14. The chewing gum of Claim 10 wherein the base includes a sufficient amount of a hydrogenated oil to reduce the softening point by at least 5°C as compared to a similar gum base having wax. 15. The chewing gum of Claim 10 wherein the base includes, at most, approximately 10% by weight, with respect to the entire base, a partially hydrogenated oil. 16. A method for creating a wax-free gum base for creating a gum having chew characteristics at least substantially similar to a gum created from a wax containing gum base compriεing the steps of: creating a gum base from at leaεt an elastomer, an elastomer plasticizer, polyvinyl acetate, and oil; and choosing the percent and type of oil so- as to create a gum baεe having a softening point that is lower than the softening point of the gum base had wax been present. 17. The method of Claim 16 wherein the softening point of the no-wax base iε at leaεt 5°C lower. 18. A method for creating a wax-free gum base for creating a gum having chew characteristics at least substantially similar to a gum created from a wax containing gum base comprising the steps of: creating a gum base from at least an elastomer, an elastomer plasticizer, polyvinyl acetate, and a softener; and choosing the percent and type of at least the softener or the elastomer plasticizer to create a gum base having characteriεticε substantially similar to a similar gum baεe including wax. 19. A method for eliminating wax from a gum base formula that initially uses approximately 5% or less by weight wax and includes at least an elastomer, polyvinyl acetate, an elastomer solvent, and oil comprising the steps of: a) eliminating wax from the formula and increaεing at leaεt a majority of the remaining componentε approximately proportionately; b) teεting a reεultant gum baεe; and c) if the characteriεtics of the resultant gum base are not satiεfactory, modifying the oil ratioε or content of the gum base. 20. The method of Claim 19 wherein the oil content is modified by increasing the oil content in the gum base. 21. The method of Claim 19 wherein the oil ratios in the gum base are modified by εelecting oilε of different capillary melting pointε. 22. The method of Claim 19 wherein the gum baεe iε teεted by formulating a chewing gum and teεting εame to determine if the chew characteriεticε are εatiεfactory. 23. The method of Claim 19 including the steps of: testing a resultant gum base from step c) and if the characteristics are not satisfactory, modifying the elastomer plaεticizer ratioε or content of the gum base. 24. The method of Claim 23 wherein the elastomer plasticizer ratios are modified by εelecting elastomer plasticizerε of different ring and ball εoftening ' points. 25. A method for eliminating wax from a gum base formula comprising approximately 5% or more wax by weight and including at least an elastomer polyvinyl acetate, elastomer solvent, and an oil compriεing the εtepε of: a) eliminating wax from the formula and increaεing approximately proportionately the content of the oil in the baεe; b) teεting a reεultant baεe; and c) if the characteristics of the resultant base are not satisfactory, modifying the oil content of the resultant gum base. 26. The method of Claim 25 wherein the oil content is modified by changing the oil content in the gum base. 27. The method of Claim 25 wherein the oil ratios in the gum baεe are modified by εelecting oilε of different capillary melting pointε. 28. The method of Claim 25 wherein the gum baεe is tested by formulating a chewing gum and testing same to determine if the chew characteristicε are εatiεfactory. 29. The method of Claim 25 including the steps of: testing a resultant base of step c) and if the characteristics are not satisfactory, modifying the elastomer plasticizer content or ratios of the gum base. 30. The method of Claim 29 wherein the elastomer plasticizer ratioε are modified by selecting elastomer plasticizers of different ring and ball softening pointε.

Inventors: REED MICHAEL A, SYNOSKY STEVEN, REED, MICHAEL, A., SYNOSKY, STEVEN
Applicants: WRIGLEY W M JUN CO, WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A23G3
IPC codes: A23G4