Comestible containing moisture and shelf storage stabilized L-aspartic acid derivative

Claim 2

A comestible composition comprising an admixture of at least 1.0% moisture, a formulated amount of unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent and an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, wherein the aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolyssate is in amounts effective to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetener when said comestible composition is stored at 30° relative humidity and 105° F. for at least 24 days so that at least 70% of the original formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is recoverable, said formulated amount of said L-aspartic sweetening agent being about 20 to 50% less than the amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent which would have been needed to recover an equal percentage of L-aspartic acid sweetener in the absence of the aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate stabilizer, and said percents being weight percents based on the total weight percent of said comestible composition.

Claim 3

A comestible composition as in claim 1 which is a chewing gum composition.

Claim 4

A comestible composition as in claim 2 in which said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is aspartame.

Claim 5

A comestible composition as in claim 3 further having a heat history of at least 115° F. for at least 10 minutes, and a moisture content of about 2 to 8%, an aspartame content of about 0.1 to 0.3%, and a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate solution content of >0 to about 30%.

Claim 6

A comestible composition as in claim 4 further comprising ≧0 to 30% of glycerine.

Claim 7

A comestible composition as in claim 5 further comprising the following additional components, ______________________________________ 15 to 35% gum base 0 to 5.0% gum base modifier 0 to 90% additional sweetening agent 0.1 to 0.5% coloring agent 0.5 to 2.5% flavoring agent 2 to 35% filler. ______________________________________

Claim 8

A comestible composition having a heat history of at least 115° F. for at least 10 minutes and comprising an admixture of a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, moisture in an amount of at least 1.0%, which amount of moisture is such as to deleteriously effect said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent during the normal storage of said comestible composition in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, and as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, >0 to about 30 weight % of an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, which amount of said stabilizer is effective to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent when said comestible composition is stored for at least 24 days at 30° relative humidity and 105° F. so as to retard or prevent the decomposition of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics to such extent as to allow for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent after said storage.

Claim 9

A comestible composition having a heat history of at least 115° F. for at least 10 minutes and comprising an admixture of a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, moisture in an amount of at least 1.0%, which amount of moisture is such as to deleteriously effect said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent during the normal storage of said comestible composition in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, and as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, >0 to about 30 weight % of an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, which amount of said stabilizer is effective to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent when said comestible composition is stored for at least 24 days at 30° relative humidity and 105° F. so as to retard or prevent the decomposition of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics to such extent as to allow for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent after said storage.

Claim 10

A comestible composition as in claim 7 comprising at least 2 weight % moisture.

Claim 11

A comestible composition as in claim 8 in which said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent comprises aspartame.

Claim 12

A comestible composition as in claim 9 in which said composition further comprises ≧0 to 30 weight % glycerine.

Claim 13

A comestible composition as in claim 10 in which said stabilizer comprises about 5 to 25 weight % of said hydrogenated starch hydrolysate.

Claim 14

A comestible composition as in claim 8 which is a chewing gum composition.

Claim 15

A comestible composition comprising an admixture of a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, moisture in such amounts as to cause or accelerate the decomposition of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics during the normal storage of said comestible composition for at least six months in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, and as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, stabilizingly effective amounts of an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, said amounts of said stabilizer being effective to such extent as to allow for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent after said storage.

Claim 16

A comestible composition comprising an admixture of a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, moisture in such amounts as to cause or accelerate the decomposition of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics during the normal storage of said comestible composition for at least six months in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, and as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, stabilizingly effective amounts of an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, said amounts of said stabilizer being effective to such extent as to allow for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent after said storage.

Claim 17

A comestible composition as in claim 13 comprising at least 1.0 weight % moisture.

Claim 18

A comestible composition as in claim 14 in which said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent comprises aspartame.

Claim 19

A comestible composition as in claim 15 which is a chewing gum composition.

Claim 20

A comestible composition as in claim 16 in which said stabilizer comprises, on a wet basis, >0 to 30 weight % glycerine and >0 to 30 weght % of said hydrogenated starch hydrolysate.

Claim 21

In a process for preparing and storing a comestible composition which is an admixture comprising a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unecapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent said composition further having a moisture content and/or a heat history which, upon the normal commercial storage of said composition in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, would cause or accelerate the decomposition of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics, the improvement which comprises further admixing into and formulating said comestible composition with, as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, on a wet basis, >0 to about 30% of an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent being 20 to 50% or less than the amount thereof which would have been needed to recover an equal percentage of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent in the absence of said aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate stabilizer, said percents being weight percents based on the total weight percent of said comestible composition, and storing said comestible composition and recovering at least 70% of said formulated amount of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent after storage for at least six months.

Claim 22

In a process for preparing and storing a comestible composition which is an admixture comprising a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unecapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent said composition further having a moisture content and/or a heat history which, upon the normal commercial storage of said composition in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, would cause or accelerate the decomposition of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics, the improvement which comprises further admixing into and formulating said comestible composition with, as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, on a wet basis, >0 to about 30% of an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate, said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent being 20 to 50% or less than the amount thereof which would have been needed to recover an equal percentage of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent in the absence of said aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate stabilizer, said percents being weight percents based on the total weight percent of said comestible composition, and storing said comestible composition and recovering at least 70% of said formulated amount of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent after storage for at least six months.

Claim 23

A process as in claim 18 in which said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is aspartame.

Claim 24

A process as in claim 19 in which ≧0 to 30 weight % of glycerine is employed in said composition.

Claim 25

A process as in claim 20 in which about 5 to 15 weight % of said hydrogenated starch hydrolysate is employed.

Claim 26

A process as in claim 21 in which said comestible composition is a chewing gum composition.

Claim 27

In a process for preparing and storing a comestible composition which is an admixture comprising a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent said composition further having a moisture content and/or a heat history which, upon the normal commercial storage of said composition in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, would cause or accelerate the decomposition of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics, the improvement which comprises further admixing into and formulating said comestible composition with, as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in such amounts as to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent so as to allow for the recovery from said comestible composition of at least 70% of said formulated amount of L-aspartic sacid sweetening agent after the normal commercial storage of said comestible composition for at least six months.

Claim 28

In a process for preparing and storing a comestible composition which is an admixture comprising a formulated, and at least partially sweetening, amount of at least one unencapsulated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent said composition further having a moisture content and/or a heat history which, upon the normal commercial storage of said composition in the absence of a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, would cause or accelerate the decomposition of said formulated amount of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent into decomposition products which are devoid of sweetening characteristics, the improvement which comprises further admixing into and formulating said comestible composition with, as a stabilizer for said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in such amounts as to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent so as to allow for the recovery from said comestible composition of at least 70% of said formulated amount of L-aspartic sacid sweetening agent after the normal commercial storage of said comestible composition for at least six months.

Claim 29

A process as in claim 23 in which said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is aspartame.

Claim 30

A process as in claim 24 in which the formulated amount of said aspartame is about 0.05 to 1.5 weight %.

Claim 31

A comestible composition as in claim 1 which has been stored for at least 35 days.

Claim 32

A comestible composition as in claim 2 which has been stored for at least 35 days.

Claim 33

In a process for sweetening a comestible product having a moisture content of ≧1.0% with, at least in part, unencapsulated aspartame at a formulated level of >0 to 1.5% of said aspartame while stabilizing said aspartame against the destabilizing effects of said moisture during the normal commercial storage of said comestible composition, the improvement which comprises further admixing into and formulating said comestible product with aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in such amounts as to stabilize said aspartame against said destabilizing effects of said moisture so as to provide for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of aspartame after said comestible product has been subject to ambient commercial storage conditions for at least six months, said formulated amount of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent being 20 to 50% less than the amount thereof which would have been needed to recover an equal percentage of said L-aspartic acid sweetener agent in the absence of said aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate stabilizer, all of said percents being weight percents based on the total weight percent of said comestible composition.

Claim 34

In a process for sweetening a comestible product having a moisture content of ≧1.0% with, at least in part, unencapsulated aspartame at a formulated level of >0 to 1.5% of said aspartame while stabilizing said aspartame against the destabilizing effects of said moisture during the normal commercial storage of said comestible composition, the improvement which comprises further admixing into and formulating said comestible product with aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in such amounts as to stabilize said aspartame against said destabilizing effects of said moisture so as to provide for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of aspartame after said comestible product has been subject to ambient commercial storage conditions for at least six months, said formulated amount of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent being 20 to 50% less than the amount thereof which would have been needed to recover an equal percentage of said L-aspartic acid sweetener agent in the absence of said aqueous hydrogenated starch hydrolysate stabilizer, all of said percents being weight percents based on the total weight percent of said comestible composition.

Claim 35

A process as in claim 28 in which said aspartame is stabilized so as to allow for the recovery of at least 80% of said formulated amount of aspartame after said 6 months of ambient commercial storage.

Claim 36

A process as in claim 28 in which said aspartame is stabilized so as to allow for the recovery of at least 70% of said formulated amount of aspartame after at least 9 months of ambient commercial storage.

Claim 37

A process as in claim 28 in which said comestible product contains more than 2% water and the formulated amount of aspartame is 0.20±0.05%.

Claim 38

A process as in claim 31 in which said comestible product is chewing gum.

Claim 39

A process for reducing the amount of unencapsulated aspartame needed to be formulated into a comestible product which is at least partially sweetened therewith and which also contains aspartame destabilizing amounts of water and is devoid of a stabilizer for said aspartame, and while still providing for a recoverable aspartame content of X% after the ambient commercial storage of said comestible product for at least six months, said X% being at least 70% of the reduced amount of said aspartame to be formulated into said comestible product, which comprises formulating said comestible product with an amount of aspartame which is about 20 to 50% less than the amount of aspartame which would have been needed in said comestible product, in the absence of a stabilizer for said aspartame, to provide for a recoverable level of ≧X% of aspartame after said storage period, and with, as a stabilizer for such reduced amount of aspartame, an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in such amounts as to effectively stabilize said aspartame and provide for a recoverable aspartame content of ≧X% after said storage period, said percents being weight percents based on the total weight of said comestible product.

Claim 40

A process for reducing the amount of unencapsulated aspartame needed to be formulated into a comestible product which is at least partially sweetened therewith and which also contains aspartame destabilizing amounts of water and is devoid of a stabilizer for said aspartame, and while still providing for a recoverable aspartame content of X% after the ambient commercial storage of said comestible product for at least six months, said X% being at least 70% of the reduced amount of said aspartame to be formulated into said comestible product, which comprises formulating said comestible product with an amount of aspartame which is about 20 to 50% less than the amount of aspartame which would have been needed in said comestible product, in the absence of a stabilizer for said aspartame, to provide for a recoverable level of ≧X% of aspartame after said storage period, and with, as a stabilizer for such reduced amount of aspartame, an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in such amounts as to effectively stabilize said aspartame and provide for a recoverable aspartame content of ≧X% after said storage period, said percents being weight percents based on the total weight of said comestible product.

Claim 41

A process as in claim 33 in which said comestible product contains at least 1.0% water and 0.05 to 1.5% aspartame.

Claim 42

A process as in claim 34 in which said comestible product is chewing gum.

Claim 43

A comestible product which has been subjected to at least six months ambient commercial storage conditions and which when formulated comprised an admixture of more than 2% moisture, a sweetening amount of unencapsulsated aspartame, and an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in an amount effective to stabilize said sweetening amount of aspartame so as to provide for the recovery of at least 70% of said sweetening amount of aspartame under said storage conditions.

Claim 44

A comestible product which has been subjected to at least six months ambient commercial storage conditions and which when formulated comprised an admixture of more than 2% moisture, a sweetening amount of unencapsulsated aspartame, and an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate in an amount effective to stabilize said sweetening amount of aspartame so as to provide for the recovery of at least 70% of said sweetening amount of aspartame under said storage conditions.

Claim 45

A comestible product as in claim 36 which has a recoverable aspartame content which is at least 80% of said sweetening amount.

Claim 46

A comestible product as in claim 36 which has been subjected to at least 9 months ambient commercial storage conditions.

Claim 47

A comestible product as in claim 36 which is chewing gum.

Claim 48

A comestible composition comprising an admixture of (i) at least 1.0 weight % moisture, (ii) about 0.05 to 1.0 weight % of unencapsulsated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, and (iii) an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and wherein the aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate is in amounts effective to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent when said comestible composition is stored at 30° relative humidity and 105° F. for at least 24 days so that at least 70% of said (ii) amount of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is then recoverable.

Claim 49

A comestible composition comprising an admixture of (i) at least 1.0 weight % moisture, (ii) about 0.05 to 1.0 weight % of unencapsulsated L-aspartic acid sweetening agent, and (iii) an aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate and wherein the aqueous solution of hydrogenated starch hydrolysate is in amounts effective to stabilize said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent when said comestible composition is stored at 30° relative humidity and 105° F. for at least 24 days so that at least 70% of said (ii) amount of L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is then recoverable.

Claim 50

A comestible composition as in claim 40 which is a chewing gum composition.

Claim 51

A comestible composition as in claim 41 in which said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent is aspartame.

Claim 52

A comestible composition as in claim 42 having a moisture content of about 2 to 8%, an aspartame content of about 0.2±0.05%, and a hydrogenated starch hydrolysate content of ≧0 to about 30 weight %.

Claim 53

A comestible composition as in claim 43 further comprising ≧0 to 30 weight % glycerine.

Claim 54

A comestible composition as in claim 43 further having a manufacturing heat history of at least 115° F. for at least 10 to 20 minutes.

Claim 55

A comestible composition as in claim 43 further comprising the following additional components, ______________________________________ 15 to 35% gum base 0 to 5.0% gum base modifier 0 to 90% additional sweetening agent 0.1 to 0.5% coloring agent 0.5 to 2.5% flavoring agent 2 to 35% filler ______________________________________

Claim 56

A comestible composition as in claim 46 capable of retaining at least 60% of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent therein for at least 35 days.

Claim 57

A comestible composition as in claim 46 capable of retaining at least 80% of said L-aspartic acid sweetening agent therein for at least 35 days.