Abstract:
Fats that consist predominantly of triglycerides, capable of crystallization in the β-crystal form can be stabilized in their β 1  -crystal form by the external addition of an effective amount of SSO and/or S 3  -triglycerides (S=sat. fatty acids C 10  -C 24  ; O=oleic acid). This way tempering of the fats is no longer required.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     Several types of confectionery fats are known. The most sophisticated cocoa butter like of those are triglyceride compositions that require tempering when used in confectionery products. This tempering is meant to transfer the crystal form of the fat components from unstable (α or β 1 ) to stable (β) forms. When tempering and cooling, carried out to solidify the confectionery product is not performed this change in crystal form will proceed in the confectionery product, albeit slowly leading to undesirable phenomena, such as so called blooming of the confectionery product. 
     Although fats are known that do not need tempering, because the triglycerides easily crystallize directly into their most stable crystal form (usually β 1 ), those fats have other disadvantages. Examples of such fats are triglyceride compositions high in trans fatty acids and triglycerides compositions high in lauric fatty acids. The trans acids however are considered as rather unhealthy, whereas the laurics are easily hydrolyzed, resulting in the development of an undesirable taste. Therefore the confectionery industry has already been looking for a long time for confectionery fats that do not need to be tempered, and that do not display the disadvantages of trans and/or lauric fats. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     We have found a solution for the above problem. We have found new fat compositions, that do not need to be tempered and, that do not contain trans acids or lauric fats. Those new fat compositions consist predominantly of triglycerides with more than 50 wt % SOS-type triglycerides that are capable of crystallization in the β crystal form, and contain an externally added, minimal working amount of a fat component, capable itself of stabilizing β 1  crystals, wherein the fat component capable of stabilizing the β 1  crystals at least comprises a vegetable triglyceride of the SSO-type and/or a triglyceride of the S 3  -type, also containing an SOO-type triglyceride in such an amount that the weight ratio SSO:SOO is at least 3.0, preferably at least 5.0, while the St:P weight ratio of the total fat composition is less than 1.0, wherein S=saturated fatty acid C 10  -C 24  ; O=oleic acid; St=stearic acid; P=palmitic acid and U=unsaturated fatty acid C 18  -C 22 . Any combination of saturated fatty acids can be used for SSO, and similarly for S 3 . 
     The main component of those compositions, capable of crystallization in the β crystal form is preferably a fat high in POP, in particular more than 50 wt % of POP, more preferably more than 70 wt % of POP is present in this fat (P=palmitic acid). Suitable fats are palm mid fractions, as obtainable from dry- or wet fractionation of palm oil. The most preferred fat is obtained from a double wet fractionation of palm oil. 
     However, also fats, high in StOSt, in particular more than 50 wt % of StOSt can be stabilized in this way. Examples thereof are cocoa butter, shea and illipe and fractions thereof. Of course also mixtures of fats high in POP and high in StOSt can be stabilized. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     From U.S. Pat. No. 3,492,130 compositions are known that are temperable to stable triple chain length beta-crystalline forms. These compositions consist of 60-95 wt % of SUS-triglycerides and 40-5 wt % of an equimolecular proportion of triglycerides of the type SUU and SSU (S=sat. C 16  -C 18 , U=unsat. C 16  -C 18 ). It is further stated (column 3, lines 28-40) that temperable compositions cannot be obtained, if SUU or SSU are omitted or when small amounts of S 3  are added. We have aimed for triglyceride-compositions, capable of crystallisation in the β-crystal form, that contain small amounts of SSU and/or S 3  in order to stabilize them in the β 1  -crystal form. These compositions must have the triglyceride composition according to our invention. 
     According to EP 23 062 triglycerides compositions are aimed for, which can be used as cocoa butter replacers in amounts up to 100% of the added cocoa butter in chocolate. These compositions should temper under the same conditions as cocoa butter to β-3 crystals. The triglycerides comprise a blend of 75-99 wt % of SUS 1 , and less than 13 wt % of a mixture of SUU and SSU which blend displays an St:P weight ratio of 1.2 to 2. The compositions according to our invention are meant to stabilize the β 1  -crystal form. Herefore, SSU and/or S 3  is added, the St:P weight ratio of this additive being less than 1.0. 
     Structural margarine fats with the composition: 
     3-9% S 3   
     32-50% SOS 
     5-12% SSO and 
     20-32% SSO/SLS are disclosed in EP 78 568. 
     Our invention does not concern margarine fats. Therefore, our basic triglycerides must contain more than 50 wt % SOS. 
     In FR 2 334 747 it is disclosed that the solidification rate of fats, e.g. cocoa butter, can be increased by addition of a small amount of a trisaturated triglyceride (tri-stearin according to the examples). Nothing is disclosed about the stabilisation of β 1  -crystals in fats capable of crystallisation in β-crystal form. 
     Although the triglyceride, capable of crystallization in the β crystal form in general will contain some SSO and/or S 3 , the amount of SSO and/or S 3  is insufficient to stabilize the β 1  crystal form. Therefore it is necessary to add externally an effective (=minimum working) amount of SSO, S3, or a mixture thereof. The amount of SSO in the total fat composition, so including the naturally occurring SSO-fat, should be at least 8 and at most 40 wt %, preferably 10-20 wt %. The SSO component is preferably derived from palmitic and/or stearic as saturated fatty acids. Useful fats are PPO, as obtainable according to our enzymic process as described in our European patent applications EP 209 327 and EP 496 456 and StStO, as disclosed in our European patent application 91305516. The addition of S 3  to amounts from 2 up to 20 wt %, preferably 3-15 wt % based on the total fat composition leads also to improved fats. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     In fact we have found that filling fats are in particular improved by the addition of SSO-fats; coating fats are in particular improved by the addition of S 3  /SSO-combinations. However, this does not mean that incorporation of other fats, within the scope of our invention, does not lead to improvement. 
     The best results are obtained when in combination with the SSO component also an S 3  fat is added to the composition. However the amount of S 3  that can be added is limited to maximum 20 wt % (preferably less than 15%); using more than 20 wt % of S 3  would lead to unacceptable waxy products. The S 3  -fat might contain one type of fatty acid, however it is preferred to use S 3  of the type S&#39;S&#34;S&#39;, wherein S&#39; and S&#34; are both saturated fatty acid with C 10  -C 24 , however the carbon numbers of S&#39; and S&#34; differ by at least two. An example of such a fat, that can be obtained from the hardening of a palm mid fraction, is PStP. A preferred amount of S&#39;S&#34;S&#39; is 2-10 wt % on total fat (so including any natural occurring S 3  as well). 
     In order to obtain the desired properties of our fat compositions we found that it is advantageous when the POP/SSO--weight ratio of the fat is kept below 6. Very good fat compositions were obtained, when the amounts of SSO and S 3  that are added to the basic fat are such, that the N-30-values of the total fat composition, when measured after stabilization and when measured without stabilization meet the requirements of: ##EQU1## Unstabilized fats were measured after the following regime: melt at 80°C.; 5 mins. at 60°C.; 1 hr at 0°C.; 30 mins at 30°C. Stabilized fats were measured after the following regime: melt at 80°C.; 5 mins at 60°C.; 90 mins at 0°C.; 40 hrs at 26°C.; 90 mins at 0°C.; 60 mins at 30°C. 
     It is preferred when this ratio is less than 3.0. 
     The invention also concerns the use of the fat compositions according to the invention as β 1  -stabilized triglyceride compositions. 
     Also the use of our fat compositions as β 1  -stabilized triglyceride compositions in confectionery filling fat or in confectionery coating fat is part of the invention. 
     Further non-tempered chocolate compositions, and products made thereof, that contain our new fat compositions are part of our invention. In those chocolate compositions the SSU-content of the fat phase should be more than 12 wt %, preferably more than 15 wt %. 
     For completeness sake it is disclosed that the product PStP and its use for β 1  stabilization are known from EP 369 516. The use of this fat for stabilization of β 1  fat crystals in confectionery fats, i.e. fats with more than 50 wt % of SOS-triglycerides is, however, not disclosed therein. From EP 354.025 it is known that addition of SSU-containing fat compositions (U=unsaturated fatty acid) to hardbutters can improve the bloom behaviour of the hardbutter. However in this last EP-document nothing is disclosed about the addition of the SSU-component to triglycerides that crystallize in the β 1  crystal form. The SSU is added to e.g. cocoa butter, whereupon the blend is tempered, or to a tempering type hardbutter (New SS-7) or Melano-STS (=trans containing fat), which do not crystallize in the β 1  crystal form. Moreover, nothing is disclosed about the use of combinations of SSO and S 3 . 
    
    
     EXAMPLE I 
     The following fatblends were made: 
     1. Palm mid fraction (=PMF) 
     2. PMF+6 wt % P 3   
     3. PMF+6 wt % PStP 
     4. PMF+9 wt % PStP 
     5. PMF+6 wt % PStP+12 wt % PPO 
     The particulars of the fats, mentioned above are: 
     PMF: contains 2% S 3  and 70% SOS its FAME being: 55% C 16  ; 6% C 18:0  33% C 18:1  ; 4% C 18:2  ; 0.5% C 20:0  So it consists for about 85% of POP. 
     PStP: contains 20% S 3  other than PStP 80% PStP 
     PPO: contains 6.7% S 3  ; 2% SOS; 77% SSO; 4.5% SSLn; 1% SOO; 8% OSO; 0.5% SOLn SSO consists for 85% of PPO FAME: 0.5% C 14  ; 54.8% C 16  ; 7.5% C 18:0  ; 33.7% C 18:1  ; 2C 18:2   
     P 3  was a palm top fraction, containing more than 90 wt % P 3  (P=palmitic acid). 
     Those fat blends were used for the preparation of coatings with the following basic composition: 
     
         ______________________________________             wt %______________________________________CP 10/12            14Fatblends*          31SMP                  7Sugar               48Lecithin            0.4Total fat content   32.5ratio cocoabutter: fatblend               5:95______________________________________ 
    
     For evaluation purposes corks were hand enrobed and bars were moulded with the different coating-compositions. The enrobed corks were passed down a cooling tunnel, using a T-regime of 15° C./10° C./15° C.; total residence time 5 minutes. 
     The bars were cooled at 13° C. in a static cooling tunnel. N 30  -values, stabilized and unstabilized were measured of the fatblends 1-5 using the standard NMR-technique. 
     The results mentioned in tables I (=for the Corks) and II (=for the bars) were obtained. 
     EXAMPLE II 
     The following fat blends were made: 
     6. PMF+12 wt % PPO 
     7. PMF+18 wt % PPO+3 wt % PStP 
     8. PMF+12 wt % PPO+6 wt % PStP 
     9. PMF+18 wt % PPO+3 wt % hard stock 
     10. PMF+18 wt % PPO+3 wt % P 3   
     The same fat components were used as mentioned in Example I. 
     The hard stock fat, so an S 3  type fat, had the following composition: 20% C 12  ; 8% C 14  ; 24% C 16  ; 44% C 18:0  ; 0.5% C 18:1  and 0.5% C 18:2 . Carbon nos.: 4.1% C 30-C   38  ; 4.1% C 40  ; 9.8% C 42  ; 12.5% C 44  ; 21.4% C 46  ; 23% C 48  ; 10.6% C 50  ; 9% C 52  and 5.3% C 54 . 
     Those blends were used in the same way for the preparation of coatings and bars with the same basic composition as given in Example I. 
     The corks were subjected to the same regime as described in example I. 
     The products were stored at 20°C., 25° C. and 30° C. and were evaluated. The results are mentioned in tables V-VIII. The bars and corks were also evaluated by subjecting them to a severe T-cycling regime (20°→32° C. every 12 hrs). The results are mentioned in Tables III and IV. 
     
                       TABLE I______________________________________EVALUATION OF CORKS          condi-  Bloom   Gloss          tion at at 20° C.                          at 20° C.Fat-  N.sub.30 (S)          tunnel       eval-     eval-blend N.sub.30 (US)          end     days uat. days uat.______________________________________1.    6.5      not      0   5     0   3    Criteria:          dry      5   5     5   2    bloom                  12   4    12   1    5 =                                      no bloom                  19   3    19   1    4 =                                      sligth bl.                  35   2    35   1    3 =                                      bloom                  55   1    55   1    2 =                                      strong bl.                                      1 =                                      intensive                                      bl.2.    3.2      not      0   5     0   3    gloss          dry      5   5     5   2    5 =                                      very good                  12   4    12   2    4 = good                  19   3    19   1    3 =                                      average                  35   2    35   1    2 = poor                  55   1    55   1    1 =                                      very poor3.    2.1      dry      0   5     0   3                   5   5     5   3                  12   5    12   2                  19   4    19   2                  35   3    35   1                  55   1    55   14.    1.7      dry      0   4     0   2                   5   4     5   2                  12   4    12   2                  19   4    19   2                  35   3-4  35   1                  55   2    55   15.    1.9      dry      0   5     0   3                   5   5     5   3                  12   5    12   3                  19   5    19   3                  35   5    35   3                  55   5    55   3______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE II______________________________________EVALUATION OF BARSFat-   N.sub.30 (S)            Bloom at 20° C.                          Gloss at 20° C.blend  N.sub.30 (US)            days    evaluat.                            days  evaluat.______________________________________1.     6.5        0      5        0    5             7      5        7    1            12      4       12    1            19      3       19    1            35      2       35    1            55      1       55    12.     3.2        0      5        0    5             7      5        7    2            12      4       12    1            19      3       19    1            35      3       35    1            55      1       55    13.     2.1        0      5        0    5             7      5        7    5            12      5       12    5            19      5       19    5            35      5       35    5            55      5       55    54.     1.7        0      5        0    5             7      5        7    5            12      5       12    5            19      5       19    5            35      5       35    4            55      5       55    45.     1.9        0      5        0    5             7      5        7    5            12      5       12    5            19      5       19    5            35      5       35    5            55      5       55    5______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE III______________________________________Evaluation of bars under severe T-cycling regime                     loss of glossFat blend    bloom after days                     after days______________________________________6             6           27            22           68            &gt;179            13           110            7           4______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE IV______________________________________Evaluation of corks under severe T-cycling regime                     loss of glossFat blend    bloom after days                     after days______________________________________6            --           --7            22           28            --           --9            12           310            6           3______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE V______________________________________BARSBloom20° C.   25° C.                       30° C.Day     6     7     9   10  6   7   9   10  6   7    9                        10______________________________________0       5     5     5   5   5   5   5   5   5   5    5                        5                        1 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        3 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        6 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        7 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        8 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        9 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        13  5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        20  5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        1 month 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        2 months 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 4 4                        3 months 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 1 4/5 4 4                        4 months 5 5 3/4 5 4 5 4 4 1 4 4 4______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE VI______________________________________BARSGloss20° C.   25° C.                       30° C.day     6     7     9   10  6   7   9   10  6   7    9                        10______________________________________0       5     5     5   5   5   5   5   5   5   5    5                        5                        1 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5                        2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 3 5 5 5                        3 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 2 5 4 5                        4 5 5 5 5 4 5 4 5 2 5 3/4 5                        5 5 5 5 5 4 5 4 5 2 5 3/4 5                        6 5 5 5 5 3 5 3/4 5 1 5 3/4 5                        7 5 5 5 5 3 5 3 5 1 5 3 3                        8 5 5 5 5 3 5 3 5 1 5 3 3                        9 5 5 5 5 3 5 3 5 1 5 3 3                        13  5 5 5 5 2 5 3 5 1 5 3 3                        20  5 5 5 5 2 5 3 5 1 5 3 3                        1 month 4 4 5 4 2 4 2 4 1 3 2 2                        2 months 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 4 1 3 1 2                        3 months 3/4 4 3/4 4 1 3 1 3 1 1 1 1                        4 months 3/4 4 3/4 4 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE VII______________________________________CORKSBloom20° C.  25° C.                       30° C.Day   6     7     9   10   6    7   9   10  6    7   9                        10______________________________________0     5     5     5   5    5    5   5   5   5    5   5                        5                        1 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        2 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5                        3 5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5                        4 5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5                        5 5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5                        6 5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5 4/5 5 5 5                        7 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5                        8 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5                        9 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5                        13  5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5                        20  5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5                        1 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 5 4 5 5 5                        month                        2 5 5 5 5 4 4 4 5 4 4 4 5                        months                        3 4 5 4 4/5 3 4 4 4 1 4 1 1                        months                        4 4 5 3/4 4 3 4 4 4 1 4 1 1                        months______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE VIII______________________________________CORKSGloss20° C.   25° C.                       30° C.day     6     7     9   10  6   7   9   10  6   7    9                        10______________________________________0       4     4     3   4   4   4   3   4   4   4    3                        4                        1 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4                        2 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 4 3 3 3 4                        3 3 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1/2 3 2 4                        4 3 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        5 3 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        6 3 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        7 3/4 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        8 2/3 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        9 2/3 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        13  2 4 3 4 1 4 2 4 1 3 2 4                        20  2 4 3 4 1 3 2 3 1 3 2 3                        1 month 2 4 2 4 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2                        2 months 2 3 2 3 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 2                        3 months 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2                        4 months 1 2 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1______________________________________