Production of sorbitol coated comestible

Claim 2

A process for producing a sorbitol coated comestible, comprising applying to a substantially anhydrous edible core first and second coating solutions to coat the edible core; wherein the first coating solution comprises: (a) from 50 to 85 wt % of sorbitol solution comprising from 65 to 75 wt % of sorbitol; (b) from 3 to 20 wt % of crystalline sorbitol powder; (c) from 0.10 to 10 wt % of at least one film forming agent; (d) from 0.10 to 15 wt % of at least one crystallization retardant including powdered gum arabic; and (e) water; and wherein said second coating solution comprises: (a) from 50 to 90 wt % of sorbitol solution comprising from 65 to 75 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder; (b) from 5 to 20 wt % of crystalline sorbitol powder; (c) from 0.5 to 10 wt % of at least one crystallization retardant including powdered gum arabic; and (d) water; and after application of each coating solution, drying the solution to prepare a final comestible.

Claim 3

A process according to claim 1, which also includes applying a sealing coating solution to the coated comestible after the second sorbitol coating solution has been applied and dried.

Claim 4

. A process according to claim 1 or 2, in which more than one layer of first coating solution is applied, after which more than one layer of second coating solution is applied.

Claim 5

A process according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the first coating is built up by application of the first coating solution until it constitutes from 28 to 32%, preferably from 30 to 32%, by weight of the coated comestible.

Claim 6

A process according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the second coating solution is applied until there is built up a shell coating constituted by the first and second coatings and equivalent to from 30 to 40%, preferably from 33 to 37%, by weight of the coated comestible.

Claim 7

A process according to any preceding claim, which also includes applying a solution comprising an additive selected from water soluble FD&C dyes and lakes, flavouring agents and mixtures thereof to the comestible after the first sorbitol coating solution has been applied and before the second sorbitol coating solution is applied.

Claim 8

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the first solution also contains an ingredient selected from plasticizers, moisture absorbents and mixtures thereof, and the second solution also contains an ingredient selected from plasticizers, film-forming agents, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 9

A process according to claim 7, wherein the film-forming agent of the first and second coating solutions, is independently selected from hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, gelatin and mixtures thereof; and the crystallization retardant of the first and second coating solutions is independently selected from calcium carbonate, powdered gum arabic, talc, magnesium trisilicate and mixtures thereof.

Claim 10

A process according to claim 8, wherein the film-forming agent of the first and second solutions comprises hydroxypropyl cellulose and methyl cellulose and the crystallization retardant of the first and second solutions comprises powdered gum arabic and calcium carbonate.

Claim 11

A process according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the plasticizer of the first and second solutions is independently selected from polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, oligomers of polypropylene glycol, water soluble natural gums, and mixtures thereof; and the moisture absorbent is selected from mannitol, dicalcium phosphate, talc, magnesium stearate, calcium phosphate, calcium sulphate, silicas, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 12

A process according to any preceding claim, wherein the edible core comprises chewing gum, candy, or a pill or tablet for medicinal or therapeutic purposes.

Claim 13

A process according to claim 3 or to any one of claims 4 to 11 when appendant to claim 3, wherein after an 18 to 30 wt %, preferably 28 to 32%, shell coating has been built up with the first coating solution, a solution comprising a water soluble FD&C dye is applied to said comestible, the dye preferably being FD&C Green No. 1.

Claim 14

A process for producing a sorbitol coated comestible, comprising applying to a substantially anhydrous edible core first and second coating solutions to coat the edible core, which process comprises: (A) repeatedly coating the core with the first coating solution until a shell coating is built up which constitutes from 28 to 32%, preferably from 30 to 32 wt %, of the total coated comestible weight, which first solution comprises (a) from 25 to 85 wt % sorbitol solution comprising from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 3 to 20 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder, (c) from 0.10 to 10 wt % of at least one film-­forming agent, selected from hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, gelatin and mixtures thereof, (d) from 0.10 to 15 wt % of a crystallization retardant comprising powdered gum arabic and calcium carbonate, and (e) water; (B) applying to the coated core from 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of a flavouring agent selected from peppermint oil, spearmint oil, oil of wintergreen, fruit flavours and mixtures thereof; (C) applying to the coated core from 0.01 to 0.05 wt % of a water soluble FD&C dye; (D) subsequently repeatedly coating said core with the second coating solution until a total shell coating is built up which constitutes from 30 to 40%, preferably from 33 to 37 wt % of the total coated comestible weight, which second solution comprises (a) from 50 to 90 wt % sorbitol solution comprising from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 5 to 20 wt crystalline sorbitol powder, (c) from 0.5 to 10 wt % of a crystallization retardant comprising powdered gum arabic and calcium carbonate, and (d) water; and (E) after application of each coating solution, drying of the comestible to prepare a final comestible.

Claim 15

A process for producing a sorbitol coated comestible, comprising applying to a substantially anhydrous edible core first and second coating solutions to coat the edible core, which process comprises: (A) repeatedly coating the core with the first coating solution until a shell coating is built up which constitutes from 28 to 32%, preferably from 30 to 32 wt %, of the total coated comestible weight, which first solution comprises (a) from 25 to 85 wt % sorbitol solution comprising from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 3 to 20 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder, (c) from 0.10 to 10 wt % of at least one film-­forming agent, selected from hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, gelatin and mixtures thereof, (d) from 0.10 to 15 wt % of a crystallization retardant comprising powdered gum arabic and calcium carbonate, and (e) water; (B) applying to the coated core from 0.01 to 0.2 wt % of a flavouring agent selected from peppermint oil, spearmint oil, oil of wintergreen, fruit flavours and mixtures thereof; (C) applying to the coated core from 0.01 to 0.05 wt % of a water soluble FD&C dye; (D) subsequently repeatedly coating said core with the second coating solution until a total shell coating is built up which constitutes from 30 to 40%, preferably from 33 to 37 wt % of the total coated comestible weight, which second solution comprises (a) from 50 to 90 wt % sorbitol solution comprising from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 5 to 20 wt crystalline sorbitol powder, (c) from 0.5 to 10 wt % of a crystallization retardant comprising powdered gum arabic and calcium carbonate, and (d) water; and (E) after application of each coating solution, drying of the comestible to prepare a final comestible.

Claim 16

A process according to claim 13, further including applying a sealing coating to the coated comestible after the second coating solution has been applied.

Claim 17

A process according to claim 14, wherein the sealing coating comprises a sealant selected from a blend of natural and artificial food grade waxes, candelilla wax and shellac.

Claim 18

A process according to claim 13, 14 or 15, wherein the water soluble FD&C dye is FD&C Green No. 1.

Claim 19

A process according to any one of claims 13 to 16, wherein the first coating solution contains a plasticizer in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.0 wt %, the second coating solution contains a plasticizer in an amount of from 0.1 to 1.0 wt %, the plasticizer for the first and second solution being selected from polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, oligomers of polypropylene glycol, water soluble natural gums and mixtures thereof.

Claim 20

A process according to any one of claim 13 to 17, wherein the film forming agent comprises a mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose and methyl cellulose.

Claim 21

A process according to any one of claims 13 to 18, wherein the crystallization retardant further includes one or more ingredient selected from talc and magnesium trisilicate.

Claim 22

A process according to any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein the first coating solution contains a moisture absorbent selected from mannitol, dicalcium phosphate, talc, magnesium stearate, calcium phosphate, calcium sulphate, silicas and mixtures thereof.

Claim 23

A process according to claim 20, wherein the plasticizer comprises polyethylene glycol, the film forming agent comprises a mixture of hydroxypropyl cellulose and methyl cellulose, the crystallization retardant comprises a mixture of calcium carbonate and powdered gum arabic, and the moisture absorbent is mannitol.

Claim 24

A sorbitol coated comestible product comprising: an anhydrous edible core; at least one first coating comprising (a) from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 3 to 30 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder, (c) from 0.10 to 10 wt % of at least one film forming agent, and (d) from 0.10 to 15 wt % of at least one crystallization retardant including powdered gum arabic; and at least one second coating comprising (a) from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 5 to 20 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder, and (c) from 0.5 to 10 wt % of at least one crystallization retardant including powdered gum arabic.

Claim 25

A sorbitol coated comestible product comprising: an anhydrous edible core; at least one first coating comprising (a) from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 3 to 30 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder, (c) from 0.10 to 10 wt % of at least one film forming agent, and (d) from 0.10 to 15 wt % of at least one crystallization retardant including powdered gum arabic; and at least one second coating comprising (a) from 65 to 75 wt % sorbitol, (b) from 5 to 20 wt % crystalline sorbitol powder, and (c) from 0.5 to 10 wt % of at least one crystallization retardant including powdered gum arabic.