Smokeless tobacco composition

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco composition that contains bleached tobacco material in which at least 50% by weight of the bleached tobacco material has a particle size of from about 1 mm to about 50 mm.

1 . A smokeless tobacco composition comprising bleached tobacco material, wherein at least 50% by weight of the bleached tobacco material has a particle size of from about 1 mm to about 50 mm. 
     
     
         2 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% by weight of the bleached tobacco material has a particle size of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 90% by weight of the bleached tobacco material has a particle size of from about 1 mm to about 10 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the bleached tobacco material is present in an amount of from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of the smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the bleached tobacco material comprises fermentable carbohydrates in an amount of less than about 4% by weight of the bleached tobacco material. 
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising an alginate composition distributed in the smokeless tobacco composition, wherein the alginate composition comprises water and a salt of alginic acid. 
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the salt of alginic acid is selected from the group consisting of sodium alginate, calcium alginate, potassium alginate, magnesium alginate, ammonium alginate, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 6 , wherein the alginate composition contains an alginate matrix that retains at least a major proportion of an added substance so long as the matrix is intact, and wherein the alginate matrix is formed so as to disintegrate and/or dissolve in the chemical and physical environment that exists in a user's mouth. 
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 8 , wherein the added substance is an active ingredient comprising nicotine. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , further comprising guar gum. 
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the guar gum is present in an amount of from about 1% to about 15% by weight of the smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         12 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 10 , wherein the guar gum is present in an amount of from about 2% to about 10% by weight of the smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         13 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition comprises water in an amount of from about 40% to about 60% by weight of the smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         14 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition comprises nicotine in addition to any nicotine naturally present in the bleached tobacco material. 
     
     
         15 . The smokeless tobacco composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition is an oral smokeless tobacco composition. 
     
     
         16 . A process for the production of a smokeless tobacco composition as defined in  claim 1 , the process comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing an unbleached tobacco material;   (b) bleaching the unbleached tobacco material to form the bleached tobacco material; and   (c) recovering the bleached tobacco material, such that the at least 50% by weight of the bleached tobacco material has the particle size of from about 1 mm to about 50 mm.   
     
     
         17 . The process according to  claim 16 , wherein the step (b) of bleaching the unbleached tobacco material comprises the step of treating the unbleached tobacco material with an effective amount of a bleaching agent. 
     
     
         18 . The process according to  claim 17 , wherein the step (b) of bleaching the unbleached tobacco material comprises the steps of:
 (i) treating the unbleached tobacco material at an acidic pH with an acid; and   (ii) contacting the unbleached tobacco material with the bleaching agent at a temperature range of from about 50° C. to about 95° C.   
     
     
         19 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein at least 50% by weight of the unbleached tobacco material has a particle size of at least about 1 mm. 
     
     
         20 . A smokeless tobacco composition obtained or obtainable by the process according to  claim 16 .