Chewing gums containing hydrated emulsifier and methods of preparation
AssigneeWm. Wrigley Jr. Company
InventorsMansukh M. Patel, Jayant C. Dave
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Abstract
Methods of producing gum and the resulting compositions, containing a hydrated emulsifier, are disclosed. In the preferred embodiment, 2 parts water and 1 part lecithin are blended together to form a gel. The gel is added to the gum composition, preferably after the gum base and the majority of the bulking and sweetening agents are mixed together. The use of a hydrated emulsifier improves initial softness and results in an extended shelf life.
Claims13
In a method of producing a chewing gum composition comprising about 10% to about 50% gum base, about 30% to about 85% bulking and sweetening agents, about 0.1 to about 1.5% emulsifier and optional flavor and color, the improvement comprising:
- hydrating at least a portion of said emulsifier by mixing said portion of the emulsifier with water at a ratio of between about 3:1 and about 1:3 and forming a gel with the water prior to mixing said hydrated portion of the emulsifier with the remaining gum ingredients to thereby provide the gum with the water used to hydrate the emulsifier in a bound form to improve the shelf life softness of the gum.
A chewing gum composition comprising about:
- 10 to 50% gum base;
- 30 to 85% sweetening and bulking agents;
- 1 to 30% corn syrup;
- 0.5 to 15% glycerine;
- 0.1 to 10% flavor;
- and
- 0.1 to 2% of hydrated emulsifier, containing emulsifier and water in a ratio of between about 3:1 and 1:3.
The composition of claim 13 wherein the ratio of water to lecithin is about 2:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.