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 delay the release rate of the acyclic carboxamide from the chewing gum comprising the steps of: 
 a) mixing a quantity of an acyclic carboxamide with an encapsulating agent 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; and    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 . A method of producing a chewing gum product containing a physically-modified acyclic carboxamide in order to delay the release rate of the acyclic carboxamide from the chewing gum comprising the steps of: 
 a) encapsulating an acyclic carboxamide with a first encapsulating agent to form a first encapsulated acyclic carboxamide;    b) encapsulating the first encapsulated acyclic carboxamide with a second encapsulating agent which is different from said first encapsulating agent to form a twice encapsulated acyclic carboxamide; and    c) adding a quantity of the twice encapsulated acyclic carboxamide 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%.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is encapsulated by spray drying in the first encapsulation step.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is fluid-bed coated with a solution of encapsulating agent and solvent in the second encapsulation step.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the solvent comprises alcohol.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first encapsulating agent is selected from the group consisting of shellac, polyvinyl acetate and Zein.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 2  wherein a 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 combination with the acyclic carboxamide and the first encapsulating agent.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide.  
   
   
       10 . 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 the first encapsulation step.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the first encapsulating agent comprises wax.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl acetate, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyethylene and plastic polymers.  
   
   
       13 . 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, saccharin and its salts, thaumatin, monellin, dihydrochalcones and combinations thereof is mixed in combination with the acyclic carboxamide and polymer prior to said extrusion.  
   
   
       14 . A method of producing a chewing gum containing physically-modified acyclic carboxamide in order to delay the release rate of the acyclic carboxamide from the chewing gum 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;    c) encapsulating the dried material using fluid-bed coating; and    d) adding a quantity of the fluid-bed coated material to a chewing gum formulation to provide an acyclic carboxamide level in gum of from about 0.001% to about 2%.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the level of coating on the agglomerated acyclic carboxamide after step b) is at least about 5%.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the level of coating on the agglomerated acyclic carboxamide after step b) is at least about 15%.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the level of coating on the agglomerated acyclic carboxamide after step b) is at least about 20%.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the twice encapsulated acyclic carboxamide is ground to a powder prior to being added to the chewing gum.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the acyclic carboxamide is mixed with a carrier prior to said extrusion.  
   
   
       20 . A chewing gum product made according to the method of  claim 1 .  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first and second encapsulating agents are both water-insoluble.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the first and second encapsulation steps are each selected from the group consisting of spray drying, spray chilling, fluid-bed coating and agglomeration.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 2  wherein first and second encapsulants together comprise at least about 20% of the twice encapsulated acyclic carboxamide.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 2  wherein first and second encapsulants together comprise at least about 30% of the twice encapsulated acyclic carboxamide.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 2  wherein first and second encapsulants together comprise at least about 40% of the twice encapsulated acyclic carboxamide.