Patent EA-004371-B1 (EA)
Title: Chewing gum coating comprising use of natural vegetable components with intact seeds as flavouring agents, method for preparing a chewing gum and use of said natural vegetable components in chewing gum coating
Inventor: STAHL BRONISLAW-JAN
IPC: C07C209/70
Filed: 1999-11-23
Abstract: 1. A chewing gum comprising a) an insoluble gum base; b) a water soluble portion; c) a coating comprising a flavouring agent wherein at least 10 % by weight of the flavouring agent is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 2. A chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in the form of a powder. 3. A chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein at least 20% by weight such as at least 30 % by weight preferable as at least 40%, more preferred at least 50%, still more preferred at least 60% by weight of the flavouring agent in the coating is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 4. A chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein at least 70 % by weight such as at least 80%, preferable at least 90%, more preferred at least 95% by weight of the flavouring agent in the coating is natural vegetable flavouring agent. 5. A chewing gum according to claim 1 or 2 wherein at least 95 % by weight such as at least 98%, preferable about 100% by weight of the flavouring agent in the coating is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 6. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the natural vegetable flavouring agent in the coating in the coating is selected from fruit and herbs. 7. A chewing gum according to any of claims 1-6 wherein the natural vegetable flavouring agent in the coating is the is selected from coconut, grape fruit, orange, lime, lemon, mandarin, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry, mango, passion fruit, kiwi, apple, pear, peach, strawberry, apricot, raspberry, cherry, pineapple, grapes, banana, cranberry, blueberry, black current, red current, gooseberry, and lingon berries, thyme, basil, camille, valerian, fennel, parsley, camomile, tarragon, lavender, dill, cumin, bergamot, salvia, aloe vera balsam, spearmint, peppermint, eucalyptus and mixtures thereof. 8. A chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein the water content of the natural flavouring agent in the coating is less than 75% by weight, such as less than 60%, preferable less than 40%, more preferred less than 30%, such as less than 25%. 9. A chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein the water content of the natural flavouring agent in the coating is less than 20% by weight, such as less than 15%, more preferred less than 10% such as between 1.5-7%, more preferred between 2 to 6%. 10. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is freeze-dried. 11. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in the form of a powder, slices or pieces of combinations thereof. 12. A chewing gum according to claim 10 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in a form where the particle size is less than 3 mm, such as less than 2 mm, more preferred less than 1 mm, calculated as the longest dimension of the particle. 13. A chewing gum according to claim 11 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in a form where the particle size is from about 3 mum to 2 mm, such as from 4 mum to 1 mm. 14. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 9 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating comprises seeds which are substantially intact. 15. A chewing gum according to claim 13 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating comprises seeds from a fruit e. g. from strawberry, blackberry and raspberry. 16. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the natural vegetable flavouring agent in the coating also provides the chewing gum with natural colour. 17. A chewing gum according to any of the proceeding claims wherein the natural flavouring agent is used in the coating of the gum and in the chewing gum formulation. 18. A chewing gum according to claim 16 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating and in the chewing gum formulation provides natural colour to the chewing gum. 19. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating provides the chewing gum with a basic colour. 20. A chewing gum according to claim 18 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating provides the chewing gum with a basic colour as well as more intense colour spots. 21. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims comprising from 5% to 95% by weight of a gum base material. 22. A chewing gum according to any of the preceding claims comprising one or more of the following: at least one softener; a bulk sweetener; a high intensity sweetener; an emulsifier; an elastomer plasticizer; an elastomer; a mono-diglyceride; a sucrose fatty acid ester. 23. A method for preparing a chewing gum composition comprising - providing a mixture of an insoluble gum base and a water soluble portion; - forming chewing gum pieces and - coating the chewing gum pieces with a coating comprising a flavouring agent wherein at least 10 % by weight of the flavouring agent is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 24. A method according to claim 23 wherein at least 10 % by weight such as at least 20%, preferable at least 30%, more preferred at least 40% by weight, such as about 50% of the flavouring agent in the coating is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 25. A method according to claim 23 wherein at least 60 % by weight, such as at least 70%, preferable at least 80%, more preferred at least 90% by weight of the flavouring agent in the coating is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 26. A method according to claim 23 wherein at least 95 % by weight, preferable at least 98%, such as about 100% by weight of the flavouring agent in the coating is a natural vegetable flavouring agent. 27. A method according to any of claims 23 to 26 wherein the natural vegetable flavouring agent in the coating is selected from fruits and herbs. 28. A method according to claim any of claims 23-27 wherein the natural vegetable flavouring agent in the coating is the is selected from coconut, grape fruit, orange, lime, lemon, mandarin, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry, mango, passionfruit, kiwi, apple, pear, peach, strawberry, apricot, raspberry, cherry, pineapple, grapes, banana, cranberry, blueberry, blackcurrent, redcurrent, gooseberry, and lingonberries, thyme, basil, camille, valerian, fennel, parsly, camomille, tarragon, lavender, dild, cumin, bargamot, salvie, aloe vera balsam, spearmint, peppermint, eucalyptus and mixtures thereof. 29. A method according to any of claims 23 to 28 wherein the water content of the natural flavouring agent in the coating is less than 75% by weight, such as less than 60%, preferable less than 40%, more preferred less than 30%, such as less than 25%. 30. A method according to any of claims 23 to 29 wherein the water content of the natural flavouring agent in the coating is less than 20% by weight, such as less than 15%, more preferred less than 10% such as between 1.5-7%, more preferred between 2-6%. 31. A method according to any of claims 23 to 30 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is freeze-dried. 32. A method according to any of claims 23 to 31 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in the form of a powder, slices or pieces or combinations thereof. 33. A method according to claim 32 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in a form where the particle size is less than 3 mm, such as less than 2 mm, more preferred less than 1 mm, calculated as the longest dimension of the particle. 34. A chewing gum according to claim 33 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating is in a form where the particle size is from about 3 mum to 2 mm, such as from 4 mum to 1 mm. 35. A chewing gum according to any one of claims 23-32 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating comprises seeds which are substantially intact. 36. A chewing gum according to claim 35 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating comprises seeds from a fruit e. g. from strawberry, blackberry and raspberry. 37. A chewing gum according to any one of claims 23-36 wherein the natural vegetable flavouring agent in the coating also provides the chewing gum with natural colour. 38. A chewing gum according to any of claims 23-37 wherein the natural flavouring agent is used in the coating of the gum and in the chewing gum formulation. 39. A chewing gum according to claim 37 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating and in the chewing gum formulation provides natural colour to the chewing gum. 40. A chewing gum according to any one of claims 23-36 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating provides the chewing gum with a basic colour. 41. A chewing gum according to claim 39 wherein the natural flavouring agent in the coating provides the chewing gum as well as more intense colour spots. 42. A chewing gum according to claim 39 comprising from 5% to 95% by weight of a gum base material. 43. A chewing gum according to any one of claims 23-42 comprising one or more of the following: at least one softener; a bulk sweetener; a high intensity sweetener; an emulsifier; an elastomer plasticizer; an elastomer; a mono-diglyceride; a sucrose fatty acid ester. 44. Use of a natural vegetable component comprising seeds which are substantially intact as flavouring agent in the coating in a chewing gum according to any one of claims 1-22.