Chewing gum containing controlled release acyclic carboxamides

Abstract

A method for producing a chewing gum, as well as the chewing gum so produced, includes incorporating a modified release acyclic carboxamide into the gum composition. In one embodiment an acyclic carboxamide is made in a modified release structure and formed into particles. The modified release acyclic carboxamide is preferably obtained by physically modifying the properties of the acyclic carboxamide by coating and drying. When incorporated into gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf stability of the flavor and/or produce a modified release when the gum is chewed.

1 . A method of producing a chewing gum product containing a physically-modified acyclic carboxamide in order to control the release rate of the acyclic carboxamide comprising the steps of: 
 a) mixing a quantity of an acyclic carboxamide with a modifying agent;    b) adding a quantity of the mixture to a chewing gum formulation to provide an acyclic carboxamide level in the chewing gum formulation of from about 0.001% to about 2.0%.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said modifying agent is an encapsulating agent.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acyclic carboxamide and encapsulating agent are also mixed with a solvent and the resulting mixture is dried prior to being added to the chewing gum.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of maltodextrin and gum arabic.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the mixture is spray dried and the solvent is selected from the group consisting of alcohol and water.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein a high-potency sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, cyclamate and its salts, saccharine and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, dihydrochalcones and combinations thereof is mixed in combination with the acyclic carboxamide and modifying agent.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is fluid-bed coated with a solution of encapsulating agent and solvent in order to decrease the rate of release of the acyclic carboxamide in the chewing gum.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of alcohol and water.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the encapsulating material is selected from the group consisting of shellac and Zein.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8  wherein an additional high-potency sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, cyclamate and its salts, saccharin and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, dihydrochalcones and combinations thereof is mixed in the mixture in combination with the acyclic carboxamide.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is encapsulated by coacervation in order to decrease the rate of release of acyclic carboxamide in chewing gum.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is mixed with a molten encapsulating agent and the acyclic carboxamide is encapsulated by spray chilling in order to decrease the rate of release of the acyclic carboxamide in the chewing gum.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the encapsulating agent comprises wax.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is mixed with a polymer as the encapsulating agent and the resulting mixture is extruded into fibers in such a way as to encapsulate the acyclic carboxamide in order to decrease the rate of release of the acyclic carboxamide in the chewing gum.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of PVAC, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyethylene and plastic polymers.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein a high-potency sweetener selected from the group consisting of aspartame, alitame, salts of acesulfame, cyclamate and its salts, saccharine and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, dihydrochalcones and combinations thereof is mixed in combination with the acyclic carboxamide and polymer prior to said extrusion.  
     
     
         19 . A method of producing a chewing gum containing physically-modified acyclic carboxamide in order to control the release rate of the acyclic carboxamide comprising the steps of: 
 a) mixing a quantity of the acyclic carboxamide with an agglomerating agent and a solvent to partially coat the acyclic carboxamide;    b) removing the solvent from the mixture of acyclic carboxamide and agglomerating agent to form a dried material; and    c) adding a quantity of the dried material to a chewing gum formulation to provide an acyclic carboxamide level in gum of from about 0.001% to about 2%.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the level of coating on the agglomerated acyclic carboxamide is at least about 5%.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the level of coating on the agglomerated acyclic carboxamide is at least about 15%.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the level of coating on the agglomerated acyclic carboxamide is at least about 20%.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the dried material is ground to a powder prior to adding the dried material to the chewing gum.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is mixed with an absorbent as the modifying agent.  
     
     
         25 . A chewing gum product made according to the method of any one of claims  1 - 24 .