Gum base

Abstract

The invention relates to chewable gum base compositions, to chewing gums containing them, and to processes for preparing them. The gum base compositions comprise (a) a polyvinyl acetate matrix, in which the polyvinyl acetate is in the form of a continuous phase, and (b) casein, a modified casein, or both casein and a modified casein, wherein particles of casein and/or modified casein are dispersed throughout the polyvinyl acetate matrix. In preferred embodiments the gum base composition also contain polyglycerol polyricinoleate, mono- and di-gylcerides esterified with mono-acetyl and di-acetyl tartaric acid, acetylated monoglycerieds, lecithin and sodium or calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate. Chewing gums of the present invention contain a chewable gum base as described above, in combination with one or more sweeteners and/or flavouring agents, and preferably also glycerol triacetate and stearic acid.

1 . A chewable gum base composition comprising (a) a polyvinyl acetate matrix, wherein the polyvinyl acetate is in the form of a continuous phase, and (b) casein, a modified casein, or both casein and a modified casein, wherein particles of casein and/or modified casein are dispersed throughout the polyvinyl acetate matrix.  
   
   
       2 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which contains acid casein.  
   
   
       3 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which contains acid casein and fine ground acid casein.  
   
   
       4 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which contains acid casein and a modified casein, wherein the modified casein is selected from casein polymerised using transglutaminase and hydrolysed casein polymerised using transglutaminase.  
   
   
       5 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the casein, the modified casein, or both, are present in a combined amount of about 5 to about 30% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       6 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the polyvinyl acetate comprises a blend of polyvinyl acetates having differing molecular weights.  
   
   
       7 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the polyvinyl acetate comprises a blend of four polyvinyl acetates having molecular weights of approximately 12,900, 14,000, 25,000 and 40,000 respectively.  
   
   
       8 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the polyvinyl acetate or a blend of polyvinyl acetates is present in the composition in an amount of from about 20% to about 65% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       9 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1 , which further includes a filler in an amount of up to about 25% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       10 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which further includes talc as a filler, and is present in an amount of about 7% to about 13% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       11 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which further includes one or more components selected from plasticizers and emulsifiers.  
   
   
       12 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which includes mono- and di-glycerides esterified with mono-acetyl and di-acetyl tartaric acid, in an amount of about 1 to about 24% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       13 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which includes acetylated mono- and/or di-glycerides, in an amount of up to about 24% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       14 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which includes polyglycerol polyricinoleate, in an amount of about 4.4% to about 20% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       15 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which includes lecithin, in an amount of up to about 6% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       16 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which includes sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate or calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate, in an amount of up to about 5% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       17 . A chewable gum composition as claimed in  claim 1  which includes a calcium salt, in an amount of up to about 1.5% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       18 . A chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1  which further includes a protein-containing whey derivative.  
   
   
       19 . A confectionery product comprising a chewable gum base composition as claimed in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       20 . A chewing gum comprising a chewable gum base composition and comprising 
 a) a polyvinyl acetate matrix,    b) casein, a modified casein or both casein and a modified casein dispersed throughout the matrix    c) one or more components selected from sweeteners and flavouring agents.    
   
   
       21 . A chewing gum as claimed in  claim 20 , further including glycerol triacetate, in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 4% by weight of the chewing gum.  
   
   
       22 . A chewing gum as claimed in  claim 20 , further including stearic acid, in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 1.5% by weight of the chewing gum.  
   
   
       23 . A chewing gum as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the gum base composition is present in an amount of about 20% to 50% by weight of the chewing gum.  
   
   
       24 . The composition of  claim 5 , wherein the casein, the modified casein, or both, are present in a combined amount of about 12 to about 16.5% by weight of the composition.  
   
   
       25 . The composition of  claim 8 , wherein the polyvinyl acetate or blend of polyvinyl acetates is present in the composition in an amount of from about 35% to about 56% by weight of the composition.