Melt extrusion encapsulation of flavors and other encapsulates in a carrier containing spices and herbs

Abstract

Active encapsulation compositions which are stable in the glassy state at ambient temperatures are prepared by melt extrusion of a ternary carrier blend comprising of 1) a food polymer, 2) a spice or herb, and 3) a low molecular weight sugar or polyol. Such glassy matrices are useful for the encapsulation of encapsulates, in particular, flavors and medications.

1 . An extrusion encapsulation composition, comprising:
 (A) an encapsulate, encapsulated in (B) a glassy matrix,   wherein:   said glassy matrix (B) is a composition, comprising: 5 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of said matrix (B), of at least one spice or herb; 5 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of said matrix (B), of at least one component selected from the group consisting of a low molecular weight sugar, a low molecular weight polyol, and a corn syrup solid; and 40 to 90% by weight, based on the total weight of said matrix (B), of at least one component selected from the group consisting of an n-octenylsuccinic acid anhydride-modified starch, maltodextrin, larch gum, gum Arabic, inulin, cyclodextrin, polydextrose, and hydrolyzed gelatin,   wherein said extrusion encapsulation composition is prepared by a process comprising:   (i) blending the components of said matrix composition (B) as a dry powder;   (ii) mixing the dry blend of said components of said matrix composition (B) with water as a plasticizer and said encapsulate (A) in an extruder, to obtain a melted mixture comprising said encapsulate (A) and said components of said matrix composition (B); and   (iii) extruding said melted mixture, to obtain said extrusion encapsulation composition, wherein said encapsulate (A) is encapsulated in a glassy matrix of said matrix composition (B), and   said extrusion encapsulation composition comprises less than 10% water and an encapsulate (A) in the range from 0.1% to 20% by weight, based on the total weight of the extrusion encapsulation composition.