Liquid-filled chewing gum composition

Abstract

Some embodiments provide a chewing or bubble gum composition which includes a liquid fill composition and a gum region which includes a gum base surrounding the liquid fill which may include a modified release component, wherein the gum region includes a polyol composition including at least one polyol and having a water solubility of less than 72% by weight at 25° C. The composition may also include a coating region which surrounds the gum region.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product having modified release characteristics comprising:
 a. a liquid-filled composition;   b. a chewing gum composition surrounding said liquid-filled composition, wherein said chewing gum composition comprises maltitol in the amount from about 30% to about 80% by weight of the chewing gum composition; and   c. a coating composition surrounding said chewing gum composition,   wherein each of said liquid-filled composition, said chewing gum composition and said coating composition comprise one or more modified release component.   
     
     
         23 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said modified release component in said liquid-filled composition is different from said modified release component in said chewing gum composition. 
     
     
         24 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said modified release component in said liquid-filled composition is different from said modified release component in said coating composition. 
     
     
         25 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said modified release component in said chewing gum composition is different from said modified release component in said coating composition. 
     
     
         26 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said modified release component in each of said liquid-filled composition, said chewing gum composition and said coating composition is the same. 
     
     
         27 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said modified release component in each of said liquid-filled composition, said chewing gum composition and said coating composition is different. 
     
     
         28 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said liquid-fill composition comprises a modified release sweetener and a modified release cooling agent. 
     
     
         29 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said chewing gum composition comprises a modified release sweetener and a modified release cooling agent. 
     
     
         30 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said coating composition comprises a modified release sweetener and a modified release cooling agent. 
     
     
         31 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein each of said liquid-fill composition, chewing gum composition and coating composition comprises an encapsulated flavor and an unencapsulated flavor. 
     
     
         32 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said liquid-fill composition comprises an encapsulated flavor and said chewing gum composition comprises an unencapsulated flavor. 
     
     
         33 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein each of said one or more modified release components are unencapsulated. 
     
     
         34 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein each of said one or more modified release components are encapsulated. 
     
     
         35 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein each of said one or more modified release components may be unencapsulated, encapsulated or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         36 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said chewing gum product is greater than about 1.5 grams and less than about 3.0 grams. 
     
     
         37 . The multi-layered center-fill chewing gum product of  claim 22 , wherein said chewing gum product does not exhibit a noticeable loss of liquidity of the liquid-fill composition after accelerated aging at 37° C. for a three-week period. 
     
     
         38 . A center-fill chewing gum product having modified release characteristics comprising:
 a. a liquid-filled composition comprising a modified release component comprising an encapsulated component;   b. a chewing gum composition surrounding said liquid-filled composition, wherein said chewing gum composition comprises a modified release component comprising an unencapsulated component and maltitol in the amount from about 30% to about 80% by weight of the gum layer; and   c. a coating composition surrounding said chewing gum composition,   wherein said chewing gum product is greater than about 1.5 grams and less than about 3.0 grams.   
     
     
         39 . A method of preparing a center-fill chewing gum product having modified release characteristics comprising the steps of:
 (a) extruding a liquid-filled rope of chewing gum layer comprising a liquid-filled composition and a chewing gum composition, wherein said chewing gum composition comprises maltitol in the amount from about 30% to about 80% by weight of said chewing gum component;   (b) sizing said rope;   (c) feeding said rope into a tablet-forming mechanism;   (d) cooling said rope;   (e) forming individual pieces of said liquid-filled rope;   (f) cooling said individual pieces; and   (g) coating said individual pieces with a hard coating,   wherein each of said liquid-filled composition, chewing gum composition and coating composition comprise one or more modified release component and each of said coated individual pieces is greater than 1.5 grams and less than 3.0 grams.