Claims
- 1. An edible chewing gum having a gum base comprising agar and one or more soluble ingredients mixed into the base.
- 2. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein the amount of agar used as the gum base may be from 0.1% to 5% by weight based on the weight of the edible chewing gum.
- 3. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein water is present in an amount of from 20 to 50% by weight based on the weight of the ingredients prior to cooking to form the gum.
- 4. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein the soluble non-masticatory active ingredients mixed into the base include one or more of sweeteners, flavors, acids, colors, humectants, fats, emulsifiers, flavor enhancers, breath fresheners, or medicinal or pharmaceutical agents.
- 5. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein when the edible chewing gum contains sweeteners, it contains from 30% to 90 by weight based on the weight of the edible chewing gum, of syrup or sugar.
- 6. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 wherein when the edible chewing gum is sugar-free it contains a bulk sweetener.
- 7. An edible chewing gum according to claim 6 wherein the bulk sweetener is isomalt, maltitol, sorbitol, mannitol, lactitol or erythritol.
- 8. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 having a moisture content of from 5-20% by weight.
- 9. An edible chewing gum according to claim 1 which is gluten-free.
- 10. A process for preparing an edible chewing gum which comprises blending agar with one or more soluble ingredients to form a syrup, then cooking the ingredients to form a gum base, shaping the base, and, if necessary, drying the cooked and shaped base to form the edible chewing gum.
- 11. A process for preparing an edible chewing gum according to claim 10 which comprises dispersing and hydrating the agar in water to form a dispersion, heating the dispersion up to just below the boiling point with agitation, holding the heated dispersion below the boiling point to ensure dissolution with continuous agitation, adding the other ingredients to the dispersion and blending the ingredients to form a homogenous dispersion.
- 12. A process for preparing an edible chewing gum according to claim 10 which comprises blending and cooking a syrup of sugars, agar, and water followed by the addition of the other ingredients to provide a syrup having a desired final solids content.
- 13. A process for preparing an edible chewing gum according to claim 12 in which the cooking is carried out by open pan boiling or continuous evaporation.
- 14. A process for preparing an edible chewing gum according to claim 11 wherein the heated dispersion is held for from 1-10 minutes until the agar is dissolved.
- 15. A process for preparing an edible chewing gum according to claim 10 wherein the edible gum product is formed with a moisture content of from 5-20% by weight.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
0006555.7 |
Mar 2000 |
GB |
|
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a continuation of the US national stage designation of International Application PCT/EP01/01551 filed Feb. 13, 2001, the content of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference thereto.
Continuations (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
PCT/EP01/01551 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
Child |
10236891 |
Sep 2002 |
US |