Carbohydrate syrups and methods of preparation

A method of preparing a carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum comprising the steps of:

• (a) combining a carbohydrate syrup comprising water and carbohydrate solids with a plasticizer selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixture thereof at a weight ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizer of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1
• (b) said carbohydrate solids comprising less than about 20% by weight carbohydrates with a DP of 1 and at least about 20% carbohydrates with a DP of 4 or greater;
• and
• (c) evaporating moisture from the carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer mixture to reduce its moisture content to less than about 20% by weight of the mixture.

A method of preparing a carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum formulation comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a carbohydrate syrup selected from the group of corn syrups, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrups and mixtures thereof wherein not greater than about 20% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1 and wherein at least about 24% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater;
• (b) combining said syrup with a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof at a weight ratio of total carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1;
• and
• (c) evaporating water from the resulting mixture until there is less than 14% water in the mixture.

A method of preparing a low water content carbohydrate syrup comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an aqueous carbohydrate syrup comprising water and carbohydrate solids wherein less than about 30% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1, and greater than about 20% of the carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater;
• (b) combining said syrup with a plasticizing agen selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixture thereof in a ratio of between about 0.75:1 and 40:1 carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent;
• and
• (c) evaporating water from the combined syrup-plasticizing agent mixture until the water content of the mixture is less than about 14% by weight.

A carbohydrate syrup-plasticizer composition for use in a chewing gum comprising:

• (a) a carbohydrate syrup selected from the group of corn syrups, hydrogenated starch hydrolysate syrups and mixtures thereof wherein not greater than about 30% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 1 and wherein at least about 20% of the total carbohydrate solids have a DP of 4 or greater;
• (b) a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, propylene glycol and mixtures thereof;
• (c) wherein the ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent is between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1;
• and
• (d) wherein the water content of the carbohydrate syrup plasticizer composition is less than 20%.

A carbohydrate syrup composition comprising:

• (a) carbohydrate solids wherein less than about 20% of said solids have a DP of 1 and greater than about 20% of said solids have a DP of 4 or greater,
• (b) a plasticizing agent selected from the group of glycerine, proplyene glycol and mixtures thereof at a ratio of carbohydrate solids to plasticizing agent of between about 0.5:1 and about 100:1;
• and
• (c) less than about 20% water.

A carbohydrate syrup mixture for use in a chewing gum composition to improve the flexibility and extend the shelf-life thereof, the syrup mixture comprising:

• (a) a high D.E. corn syrup constituting from about 25% to about 70% by weight of the mixture and having a D.E. of not less than about 40;
• (b) a low D.E. corn syrup constituting from about 25% to about 70% by weight of the mixture and having a D.E. of not greater than about 40;
• (c) not greater than 20% by weight water;
• and
• (d) a plasticizing agent selected from the group consisting of glycerol and propylene glycol and constituting from about 1% to about 5% by weight of the mixture.