Method of improving chewing gum to reduce alditol bulking agent spots using gum rework material

Claim 1

In a process of manufacturing chewing gum, of a composition comprising at least one chewing gum base; at least one sugar alcohol bulking agent; at least one non-aqueous liquid softener selected from the group consisting of glycerin, propylene glycol, lecithin, oils, fats, acetylated monoglycerides and mono- , di- , and tri-fatty acid esters of glycerin; the improvement which comprises: (a) adding trim material, having essentially the same composition as the other ingredients of the gum, and at least one non-aqueous liquid softener to gum base; (b) premixing the trim material, liquid softener and gum base before the addition of bulking agents; (c) adding alditol bulking agents and other desired ingredients to the premixed trim material, liquid softener and gum base; (d) mixing the trim material, liquid softener, gum base, bulking agents and other desired ingredients until a suitable homogenous gum mass is achieved; and (e) forming and cutting the mixed ingredients into the desired chewing gum shape.