Method and composition for masking mineral taste

Abstract

The invention relates to methods and compositions for masking the taste of minerals in ingestible products. In particular, tannic acid, glycyrrhizin and acesulfame potassium are added to compositions comprising minerals such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, copper, chromium, zinc, and mixtures in order to reduce or eliminate the unpleasant taste or aftertaste associated with these minerals.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for reducing unpleasant taste or aftertaste caused by the presence of a mineral in an ingestible product, comprising adding to said ingestible product an amount of a flavor masking agent selected from the group consisting of tannic acid, glycyrrhizin, acesulfame potassium and mixtures thereof sufficient to reduce the unpleasant taste or aftertaste caused by the mineral.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mineral is potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, chromium, copper, zinc or a mixture of two or more of said minerals.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ingestible product is a beverage.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the beverage is ingested with a medication which depletes the mineral.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the medication is a diuretic.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of flavor masking agent added to the ingestible product is 0.0001-0.5% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of flavor masking agent added to the ingestible product is 0.0005-0.25% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the amount of flavor masking agent added to the ingestible product is 0.001-0.05% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein tannic acid is added to the ingestible product.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the amount of tannic acid added to the ingestible product is at least 0.004% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein glycyrrhizin is added to the ingestible product.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the amount of glycyrrhizin added to the ingestible product is at least 0.008% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein acesulfame potassium is added to the ingestible product.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the amount of acesulfame potassium added to the ingestible product is at least 0.001% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         15 . A composition comprising a mineral which produces an unpleasant taste or aftertaste and an amount of a flavor masking agent selected from the group consisting of tannic acid, glycyrrhizin, acesulfame potassium and mixtures thereof sufficient to reduce an unpleasant taste caused by the mineral.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the mineral is potassium, magnesium, iron, copper, chromium, zinc or a mixture of two or more of said minerals.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition is a beverage.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , further comprising a medication which depletes the mineral.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the medication is a diuretic.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of flavor masking agent in the composition is 0.0001-0.5% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of flavor masking agent in the composition is 0.0005-0.25% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         22 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the amount of flavor masking agent in the composition is 0.001-0.05% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         23 . The composition of  claim 15 , comprising tannic acid.  
     
     
         24 . The composition of  claim 23 , wherein the amount of tannic acid in the composition is at least 0.004% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         25 . The composition of  claim 15 , comprising glycyrrhizin.  
     
     
         26 . The composition of  claim 25 , wherein the amount of glycyrrhizin in the composition is at least 0.008% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).  
     
     
         27 . The composition of  claim 26 , comprising acesulfame potassium.  
     
     
         28 . The composition of  claim 27 , wherein the amount of acesulfame potassium in the composition is at least 0.001% (W/V) per 1% mineral (W/V).