AU2003261521B2 - Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production - Google Patents
Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AU2003261521B2 AU2003261521B2 AU2003261521A AU2003261521A AU2003261521B2 AU 2003261521 B2 AU2003261521 B2 AU 2003261521B2 AU 2003261521 A AU2003261521 A AU 2003261521A AU 2003261521 A AU2003261521 A AU 2003261521A AU 2003261521 B2 AU2003261521 B2 AU 2003261521B2
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- AU
- Australia
- Prior art keywords
- confectionery
- product
- sour
- confectionery product
- accordance
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims description 12
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 title description 3
- 235000009508 confectionery Nutrition 0.000 claims description 156
- KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N citric acid Chemical compound OC(=O)CC(O)(C(O)=O)CC(O)=O KRKNYBCHXYNGOX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 84
- 235000007983 food acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 56
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 claims description 31
- 230000035807 sensation Effects 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000000126 substance Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Tartaric acid Natural products [H+].[H+].[O-]C(=O)C(O)C(O)C([O-])=O FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 230000004888 barrier function Effects 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000002826 coolant Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000000796 flavoring agent Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000011975 tartaric acid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000002906 tartaric acid Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- 235000013355 food flavoring agent Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000003599 food sweetener Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003765 sweetening agent Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 235000019615 sensations Nutrition 0.000 description 10
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 6
- FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-JCYAYHJZSA-N Dextrotartaric acid Chemical compound OC(=O)[C@H](O)[C@@H](O)C(O)=O FEWJPZIEWOKRBE-JCYAYHJZSA-N 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000002542 deteriorative effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000001125 extrusion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 235000019634 flavors Nutrition 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000021317 sensory perception Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004904 shortening Methods 0.000 description 1
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- Confectionery (AREA)
Description
S&F Ref: 550130D1
AUSTRALIA
PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company 410 North Michigan Avenue Chicago Illinois 60611 United States of America Christine L. Corriveau, Tim Guydan, Mike McHale, Kristine S. Cahill, Gregory J. Milosch Spruson Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- 5845c CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS HAVING IMPROVED SHELF LIFE AND METHODS FOR THEIR PRODUCTION Field of the Invention The present invention pertains to improved shelf life for confectionery products having a relatively high level of moisture absorbing ingredients, and more particularly pertains to sour confectionery products and methods for producing sour confectionery products to provide improved shelf life and consumer acceptance.
Background of the Invention A wide variety of sour confectionery products have gained increased preference among 0o consumers. In particular, there has been a recent trend toward increasingly sour tasting confectionery products, including gum products among others.
It is known to use citric acid, tartaric acid, and/or other food acids to provide confectionery products with a sour sensation. For imparting a conventional, low-level sourness to confectionery products, citric acid or other food acid is mixed in with the confectionery product. However, when attempting to provide high levels of sourness in confectionery products, e.g. when providing citric acid, tartaric acid, or other food acid in a ratio of approximately 3% food acid to confectionery by weight or greater, several shortcomings are realized. Principal amongst these shortcomings is that the hygroscopic characteristic of citric and other food acids results in an unacceptably large amount of water being absorbed by the product, thereby o shortening its shelf life to an unacceptable level. Also, direct contact of high concentrations of citric and/or other food acids with the internal mouth surfaces and/or the tongue of the consumer may result in discomfort to the consumer.
Hence, there is a need for confectionery products and methods for producing confectionery products which allows for high levels of citric and/or other food acids to be provided for imparting the desired high-level sourness, while preventing the water absorption problems currently encountered with high-level citric acid or other food acid confectionery products. There is also a need for such high-level citric and/or other food acid confectionery products and methods for producing such confectionery products which do not cause discomfort to the consumer.
Additionally, there is a trend toward stronger "bursts" of sensations in confectionery products such as flavours, cooling agents, sweetness, and the like. This may be achieved by providing relatively high concentrations of the ingredients or agents which produce these sensations. Many of these ingredients have relatively high moisture absorbing properties. Such high concentrations of relatively high moisture absorbing ingredients in typical confectionery products results in them having unacceptably short shelf lives due to moisture absorption deteriorating the quality of the product.
Summary of the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a confectionery product having citric acid in it in an amount of 2% or greater of citric acid to confectionery product is provided, in which the citric acid is at least substantially entrapped and encased by the confectionery product.
According to one embodiment of this invention there is provided a confectionery product having improved shelf life, comprising: one or more free-flowing sensation producing ingredients having relatively high moisture absorbing characteristics; confectionery having relatively low moisture absorbing properties wherein the one or more free-flowing sensation producing ingredients is at least substantially encased in the confectionery such that the confectionery serves as a moisture barrier to improve the shelf life of the confectionery product, and wherein the ratio of sensation producing ingredients to confectionery is 2% or greater.
According to another embodiment of this invention there is provided a sour confectionery product, comprising: an upper layer of confectionery; a lower layer of confectionery; and [R:\LBXX05555sP-ci.doc:NJC 2a free-flowing food acid disposed substantially between, and at least substantially encased by, the upper and lower layers of confectionery, wherein the ratio of the food acid to confectionery is 2% or greater.
According to a further embodiment of this invention there is provided a sour confectionery product, comprising: a quantity of confectionery substance; free-flowing food acid in an amount such that the ratio of food acid to confectionery product is 3% or greater; and the food acid being at least substantially encased by the confectionery substance.
According to yet a further embodiment of this invention there is provided a method for forming a sour confectionery product, comprising: providing a quantity of confectionery; extruding the confectionery to form an upper sheet of confectionery and a lower sheet of confectionery; applying free-flowing citric acid to at least one of said upper and lower sheets of confectionery; and pressing the upper and lower sheets of confectionery together to at least substantially encapsulate the citric acid within the confectionery, wherein the ratio of citric acid to confectionery is 2% or greater.
According to yet another embodiment of this invention there is provided a confectionery product, comprising: one or more confectionery substances having a relatively high degree of hygroscopicity and containing at least 2% food acid; and one or more confectionery substances having a relatively low degree of hygroscopicity; wherein said one or more confectionery substances having a relatively high degree of hygroscopicity is at least substantially encased in said one or more confectionery substances having relatively low degree of hygroscopicity to provide improved shelf life.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, an elongated strip of [R:\LIBXX1O5555spcci.doc:NJC confectionery product is provided having an upper layer of confectionery product, a lower layer of confectionery product, and a layer of citric and/or other food acid encased between the upper and lower confectionery product layers wherein the citric and/or other food acids are present in a ratio of greater than 3% by weight of the overall confectionery product.
S In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an elongated strand or strip of confectionery product is produced by extruding first and second sheets of confectionery, applying citric acid to one or more surfaces of the sheets of confectionery, and securing the first and second '1 sheets of confectionery to one another to at least substantially encase the citric acid internally of the sheets of confectionery.
In accordance with a still further aspect of the present invention, high concentrations of sensation producing ingredients having relatively high moisture absorbing properties are encased in confectionery product having significantly lower moisture absorbing properties, to provide reduced moisture absorption of the product and extended shelf life.
Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, wherein like elements are referenced alike: FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for producing confectionery products embodying various features of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the extruder of the apparatus of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a side, sectional view of the extruder of the apparatus of FIG. 2; and FIG. 4 is a representational view of a section of confectionery product embodying various features of the present invention.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment(s) A preferred confectionery product embodying various features of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 and referenced generally by numeral 20. The illustrated confectionery product 20 is in the form of an elongated strip or tape of gum, but it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that although the present invention is described primarily with reference to gum as the confectionery product, any of a wide variety of other confectionery products could be o utilized. Also, while the preferred and illustrated embodiment discussed herein is primarily with regard to elongated strips of confectionery, the invention lends itself to application in a wide variety of shapes and configurations, and is not limited to the specific shapes specifically discussed herein.
The illustrated confectionery product 20 embodying various features of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4 and has upper and lower surfaces 22 and 24 with respective layers of gum 26 and 28 adjacent each of the respective lower and upper surfaces 22 and 24. A layer of citric acid and/or other food acid 30 is disposed between the upper and lower layers of gum 26 and 28 so that the citric acid and/or other food acid 30 is at least substantially encased within the gum. The layer of citric acid and/or other food acid 30 is preferably provided in a 2o quantity such that there is 2% or greater food acid to gum ratio in the total mass of the confectionery product, and more preferably 3% or greater food acid to gum ratio, and still more preferably 3% to 10% food acid to gum ratio.
With the citric and/or other food acid encapsulated by the gum, the food acid is not exposed to atmospheric moisture, with the gum serving as a barrier to exposure of the food acid to atmospheric conditions such as moisture, whereby the undesirable hygroscopic characteristics of citric and/or other food acid are minimized. This allows for the confectionery product 20 to have significantly greater shelf life, particularly in moisture exposed conditions and higher heat conditions, than conventionally-made confectionery products of like food acid concentration.
Also, with the citric acid 30 encased by the gum 26 and 28, the mouth and tongue of the user are not exposed to direct contact with a substantial amount or concentration of food acid as would cause discomfort to the consumer.
to An apparatus for producing the confectionery product ofFIG. 4 is illustrated in FIG. 1 and referred to generally by reference numeral 40. A quantity of gum 42 (or other confectionery product) is passed through an extruder 44 which extrudes the gum as two separate sheets, upper sheet 46 and lower sheet 48. The sheets 46 and 48 pass around rollers 50 which maintain separation of the upper and lower sheets. A quantity of citric acid 52 is sprinkled or otherwise distributed onto the top surface 54 of the lower sheet of confectionery, such as by the hopper and auger arrangement in the illustrated embodiment. The upper and lower sheets 46 and 48 of confectionery are subsequently brought back together and pressed together such as by rollers 56 wherebythe upper-and lower sheets of confectionery 46 and 48 adhere together and encase the applied citric and/or other food acid between the upper and lower sheets of confectionery.
In this manner a continuous sheet of confectionery product having high level of citric and/or other food acid is produced. Thereafter, the sheet may be cut and/or formed into any desired configuration. For instance, with the upper and lower sheets of confectionery adhered back together, the continuously produced sheet may be subsequently cut or scored inao a desi: cd shape. In the apparatus of FIG. 1, the sheet is scored by scoring rollers 58, with tile irregularly shaped edges trimmed off by trim rollers 60, and the scored sheet rolled up and sliced by knife 62 after a selective length of rolled confectionery has been rolled up. The scored rolls of confectionery are then broken along their score lines 64 to produce a plurality of thin, elongated rolls of confectionery containing encased citric and/or other food acid.
The food acid is preferably coarse granular citric acid and/or other suitable food acid, having a granular size of approximately 840 microns to 2000 microns. More powdery food acid and encapsulated citric acid have been found to cause interference with the upper and lower io sheets 46 and 48 from properly adhering to one another, which problems were unexpectedly overcome using coarse food acid.
The citric acid and/or other food acid is preferably imparted to the confectionery shortly after extrusion of the confectionery, while the confectionery is still sufficiently warm so that the sheets of confectionery retain their tackiness andd stickiness to allow the food acid to adhere to the confectionery and the sheets of confectionery to adhere to one another to encase the citric acid, and maintain its encasement.
As will be appreciated to those skilled in the art, the invention is not limited to the elongated strip confectionery product in the preferred and illustrated embodiment but, rather, lends itself to employment in a wide variety of different shapes of confectionery products in 2o which citric acid and/or other suitable food acid can be at least substantially encased in confectionery. The layers of gum 26 and 28 may also themselves have low levels of food acid, such as less than 2% citric acid by weight.
The invention having thus far been described by way of examples referencing food acids as the hygroscopic ingredient, the invention is not limited in this regard, and the invention lends itself to confectionery products having any relatively high concentration of sensation producing ingredient(s) which is relatively hygroscopic. That is, to reduce the undesirable effects of moisture absorption, and thereby extend the shelf life, in confectionery products having relatively high levels of high moisture absorption ingredients low hygroscopicity), the high level moisture absorbing ingredients are encased in, or at least substantially encased in, relatively low moisture absorbing ingredient confectionery.
Further, as will be appreciated, the relatively high moisture absorbing ingredient(s) such It as food acid and/or flavoring agent and/or sweetener and/or cooling agent do not have to be completely encased in the confectionery portion having relatively low moisture absorption properties, but preferably a sufficient amount of such ingredient(s) is encased in the confectionery that the concentration of the relatively high moisture absorbing ingredient(s) exposed to atmospheric heat and moisture conditions is low enough that the product maintains its i- stability for an extended period. Also, preferably a sufficient amount of such ingredient is encased in the confectionery such that the concentration of the ingredient(s) impinging upon the mouth and tongue of the consumer is acceptably low to provide an acceptable sensory perception to the consumer.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, any confectionery product may be formed having relatively high moisture absorbing ingredients at least substantially encased in relatively low moisture absorbing ingredients to improve the shelf life of the confectionery product. More specifically, the high moisture absorbing ingredients may be sensation producing ingredients, and the entrapment of the such ingredients in the confectionery allows for higher concentrations of such sensation producing ingredients to be provided without significantly decreasing the shelf life of the product.
While in the preferred embodiment gum is used to encapsulate the food acid, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a wide variety of other suitable confectionery could be used instead. A wide variety of modifications to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments and examples cited herein, but rather encompasses all embodiments falling within the scope and spirit of the accompanying claims.
Claims (18)
1. A confectionery product having improved shelf life, comprising: one or more free-flowing sensation producing ingredients having relatively high moisture absorbing characteristics; confectionery having relatively low moisture absorbing properties wherein the one or more free-flowing sensation producing ingredients is at least substantially encased in the confectionery such that the confectionery serves as a moisture barrier to improve the shelf life of the confectionery product, and wherein the ratio of sensation producing ingredients to confectionery is 2% or greater.
2. A confectionery product in accordance with claim 1 wherein the one or more sensation producing ingredients is selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, flavouring agents, cooling agents, food acids and combinations thereof.
3. A confectionery product in accordance with claim 1 in which the sensation producing ingredient is a powder at least substantially encased between two layers of confectionery.
4. A confectionery product in accordance with claim 1 in which the centre portion of the confectionery product has a relatively high concentration of said sensation producing ingredient.
5. A confectionery product in accordance with claim 1 in which the ratio of sensation producing ingredients to confectionery is between 3% and
6. A sour confectionery product, comprising: an upper layer of confectionery; a lower layer of confectionery; and free-flowing food acid disposed substantially between, and at least substantially encased by, the upper and lower layers of confectionery, wherein the ratio of the food acid to confectionery is 2% or greater.
7. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the food acid is citric acid.
8. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the food acid is tartaric acid.
9. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the upper and lower layers of confectionery are narrow strips of elongated confectionery. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the ratio of food acid to confectionery is selected from 2% and 3%. [R:\LIBXXO05555spci.doc:NJC tn lu
11. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the ratio of food acid to confectionery is 3% or greater.
12. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the ratio of \O food acid to confectionery is between 3% and
13. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 which the food acid _is coarse granular citric acid.
14. A sour confectionery product in accordance with claim 6 in which the thickness of the confectionery product is less than 0.01 thick. A sour confectionery product, comprising: a quantity of confectionery substance; Sfree-flowing food acid in an amount such that the ratio of food acid to confectionery product is 3% or greater; and the food acid being at least substantially encased by the confectionery substance.
16. A method for forming a sour confectionery product, comprising: providing a quantity of confectionery; extruding the confectionery.to form an upper sheet of confectionery and a lower sheet of confectionery; applying free-flowing citric acid to at least one of said upper and lower sheets of confectionery; and pressing the upper and lower sheets of confectionery together to at least substantially encapsulate the citric acid within the confectionery, wherein the ratio of citric acid to confectionery is 2% or greater.
17. A confectionery product, comprising: one or more confectionery substances having a relatively high degree of hygroscopicity and containing at least 2% food acid; and one or more confectionery substances having a relatively low degree of hygroscopicity; wherein said one or more confectionery substances having a relatively high degree of hygroscopicity is at least substantially encased in said one or more confectionery substances having relatively low degree of hygroscopicity to provide improved shelf life.
18. A confectionery product substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4. IR:ALIBXXOS5555sPoci.doc:NJC
19. A sour confectionery product substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4. A method for forming a sour confectionery product, which method is substantially as herein described with reference to any one of Figures 1 to 3.
21. A sour confectionery product whenever manufactured by the method of claim 16 or Dated 16 September, 2005 Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person to SPRUSON FERGUSON (R:\LIBXX105555spci.doc:NJC
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2003261521A AU2003261521B2 (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2003-11-06 | Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production |
| AU2006201093A AU2006201093A1 (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2006-03-15 | Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US60147311 | 1999-08-05 | ||
| AU65226/00A AU6522600A (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2000-08-04 | Confectionery products having improved shelf life and methods for their production |
| AU2003261521A AU2003261521B2 (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2003-11-06 | Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU65226/00A Division AU6522600A (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2000-08-04 | Confectionery products having improved shelf life and methods for their production |
Related Child Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2006201093A Division AU2006201093A1 (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2006-03-15 | Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2003261521A1 AU2003261521A1 (en) | 2003-12-04 |
| AU2003261521B2 true AU2003261521B2 (en) | 2005-12-15 |
Family
ID=34085106
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU2003261521A Withdrawn - After Issue AU2003261521B2 (en) | 1999-08-05 | 2003-11-06 | Confectionary Products Having Improved Shelf Life and Methods for Their Production |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2003261521B2 (en) |
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2003
- 2003-11-06 AU AU2003261521A patent/AU2003261521B2/en not_active Withdrawn - After Issue
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2003261521A1 (en) | 2003-12-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB | Opposition lodged by |
Opponent name: CADBURY SCHWEPPES PLC |
|
| ON | Decision of a delegate or deputy of the commissioner of patents (result of patent office hearing) |
Free format text: EXTENSION OF TIME ALLOWED. CADBURY HAVE PROVIDED A REASONABLE EXPLANATION FOR THE DELAY. NO AWARD OF COSTS. Opponent name: CADBURY SCHWEPPES PLC Effective date: 20070614 |
|
| ON | Decision of a delegate or deputy of the commissioner of patents (result of patent office hearing) |
Free format text: EXTENSION OF TIME ALLOWED. NO AWARD OF COSTS. Opponent name: CADBURY SCHWEPPES PLC Effective date: 20070614 |
|
| CFC | Application withdrawn - opposition proceedings |
Opponent name: CADBURY SCHWEPPES PLC |
|
| MK12 | Application lapsed section 141(1)/reg 8.3(2) - applicant filed a written notice of withdrawal |