Multiple encapsulated sweetener delivery system

Claim 1

A chewing gum composition capable of releasing increased amounts of sweetness evenly over a prolonged release time comprising a gum base and a sweetener delivery system capable of modulating sweetener release and providing greater protection for the sweetener, said sweetener delivery system comprising: A. at least one solid natural or artificial high intensity sweetener selected from the group consisting of amino acid-based sweeteners, chloro derivatives of sucrose, dihydroflavinol, hydroxyguaiacol esters, L-aminodicarboxylic acid gem-diamines, L-aminodicarboxylic acid aminoalkenoic acid ester amides, dipeptide sweeteners, glycyrrhizin, saccharin and its salts, acesulfame salts, cyclamates, steviosides, talin, dihydrochalcone compounds and mixtures thereof; B. an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of lecithin, stearates, ester derivatives of stearates, palmitates, ester derivatives of palmitates, oleates, ester derivatives of oleates, glycerides, ester derivatives of glycerides, sucrose polyesters, polyglycerolesters, and animal waxes, vegetable waxes, synthetic waxes, petroleum wax and mixtures thereof; C. a first inner coating of polyvinyl acetate present in amounts of about 20% to about 93% by weight of the total composition and having a molecular weight of about 2,000 to about 14,000; and D. a second outer coating of a hydrophilic polymer in an amount of from about 5% to about 50% by weight of said first coating.

Claim 19

A method of preparing a chewing gum composition having improved sustained sweetener release properties which comprises: (1) preparing a sweetener delivery system wherein the sweetener is protected by an encapsulation prepared by the process comprising: (a) entrapping a sweetener in a polyvinyl acetate coating comprising the steps of melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with an emulsifier and dispersing the sweetener uniformly therein; cooling the mixture at ambient temperature while continuing to mix; (b) grinding the resultant mixture to the desired particle size; (c) coating the resulting particles with a second coating material by a fluidized bed process; and (d) recovering the final plural coated particles; and (2) adding the resultant delivery system to a homogeneous mixture of a gum base and remaining chewing gum ingredients; and (3) forming the resultant mixture into suitable chewing gum shapes.

Claim 20

A method of preparing a chewing gum composition having improved sustained sweetener release properties which comprises: (1) preparing a sweetener delivery system wherein the sweetener is protected by an encapsulation prepared by the process comprising: (a) entrapping a sweetener in a polyvinyl acetate coating comprising the steps of melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with an emulsifier and dispersing the sweetener uniformly therein; cooling the mixture at ambient temperature while continuing to mix; (b) grinding the resultant mixture to the desired particle size; (c) coating the resulting particles with a second coating material by a fluidized bed process; and (d) recovering the final plural coated particles; and (2) adding the resultant delivery system to a homogeneous mixture of a gum base and remaining chewing gum ingredients; and (3) forming the resultant mixture into suitable chewing gum shapes.

Claim 21

A method for preparing a delivery system for sweeteners, comprising: (1) preparing a sweetener delivery system wherein the sweetener is protected by an encapsulation prepared by the process comprising: (a) entrapping a sweetener in a polyvinyl acetate coating comprising the steps of melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with an emulsifier and dispersing the sweetener uniformly therein; cooling the mixture at ambient temperature while continuing to mix; (b) grinding the resultant mixture to the desired particle size; (c) coating the resulting particles with a second coating material by a fluidized bed process; and (d) recovering the final plural coated particles; and (2) adding the resultant delivery system to a homogeneous mixture of a gum base and remaining chewing gum ingredients; and (3) forming the resultant mixture into suitable chewing gum shapes.

Claim 22

A method for preparing a delivery system for sweeteners, comprising: (1) preparing a sweetener delivery system wherein the sweetener is protected by an encapsulation prepared by the process comprising: (a) entrapping a sweetener in a polyvinyl acetate coating comprising the steps of melting and blending the polyvinyl acetate with an emulsifier and dispersing the sweetener uniformly therein; cooling the mixture at ambient temperature while continuing to mix; (b) grinding the resultant mixture to the desired particle size; (c) coating the resulting particles with a second coating material by a fluidized bed process; and (d) recovering the final plural coated particles; and (2) adding the resultant delivery system to a homogeneous mixture of a gum base and remaining chewing gum ingredients; and (3) forming the resultant mixture into suitable chewing gum shapes.