Smokeless tobacco product comprising pectin component

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material and pectin as a binder component. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is also provided. The method involves extracting pectin from a first tobacco material and incorporating it into a formulation comprising a second tobacco material to form a smokeless tobacco product comprising tobacco-derived pectin.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A smokeless tobacco product configured for insertion into the mouth of a user, the smokeless tobacco product comprising a tobacco material and a binder component, the binder component comprising a tobacco-derived pectin material in an amount of at least about 2% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product. 
     
     
         2 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco-derived pectin material is the only binder component therein. 
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product is extruded. 
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product is in the form of a pill, pellet, tablet, coin, bead, ovoid, obloid, cube, film, flake, stick, foam, or gel. 
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product is dissolvable. 
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises greater than about 3% by weight of the tobacco-derived pectin material. 
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 7 , wherein the smokeless tobacco product comprises greater than about 4% by weight of tobacco-derived pectin material. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of flavorants, sweeteners, salts, fillers, fats, emulsifiers, gelling agents, disintegration aids, compressability aids, colorants, humectants, pH adjusters, buffering agents, oral care additives, preservatives, syrups, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco material is in particulate form with an average particle size of less than about 50 microns. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a tobacco material in an amount of about 20 to about 50 dry weight percent;   a tobacco-derived pectin material in an amount of about 2 to about 10 dry weight percent;   one or more fillers in an amount of about 10 to about 40 dry weight percent;   one or more sweeteners in any amount of about 5 to about 15 dry weight percent;   and at least one flavorant in an amount up to about 5 dry weight percent.   
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the tobacco material is a milled tobacco material or an aqueous tobacco extract. 
     
     
         12 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more fillers comprise at least one rice-derived filler material. 
     
     
         13 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more sweeteners comprises at least one sugar alcohol. 
     
     
         14 . The smokeless tobacco product of  claim 10 , further comprising a binder in the form of a natural gum. 
     
     
         15 . A method of preparing a smokeless tobacco product, comprising:
 extracting pectin from a tobacco material to form a tobacco-derived pectin material; and   combining the tobacco-derived pectin material with a second tobacco material to form a smokeless tobacco composition; and   incorporating the resulting composition into a smokeless tobacco product, wherein the tobacco-derived pectin material is present in an amount of at least about 2% by dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the pectin material is present in an amount of at least about 3% by dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the pectin material is present in an amount of at least about 4% by dry weight of the smokeless tobacco product.