Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
  • A23G3/00—Sweetmeats; Confectionery; Marzipan; Coated or filled products
  • A23G3/34—Sweetmeats, confectionery or marzipan; Processes for the preparation thereof
  • A23G3/36—Sweetmeats, confectionery or marzipan; Processes for the preparation thereof characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds
  • A23G3/362—Sweetmeats, confectionery or marzipan; Processes for the preparation thereof characterised by the composition containing organic or inorganic compounds containing inorganic compounds
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A23—FOODS OR FOODSTUFFS; TREATMENT THEREOF, NOT COVERED BY OTHER CLASSES
  • A23G—COCOA; COCOA PRODUCTS, e.g. CHOCOLATE; SUBSTITUTES FOR COCOA OR COCOA PRODUCTS; CONFECTIONERY; CHEWING GUM; ICE-CREAM; PREPARATION THEREOF
  • A23G3/00—Sweetmeats; Confectionery; Marzipan; Coated or filled products
  • A23G3/02—Apparatus specially adapted for manufacture or treatment of sweetmeats or confectionery; Accessories therefor
  • A23G3/10—Candy-pulling machines ; Processes or apparatus for making cotton candy or candy floss
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
  • A61K9/00—Medicinal preparations characterised by special physical form
  • A61K9/0012—Galenical forms characterised by the site of application
  • A61K9/0053—Mouth and digestive tract, i.e. intraoral and peroral administration
  • A61K9/0056—Mouth soluble or dispersible forms; Suckable, eatable, chewable coherent forms; Forms rapidly disintegrating in the mouth; Lozenges; Lollipops; Bite capsules; Baked products; Baits or other oral forms for animals

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the art of unique delivery systems for comestibles, especially to novel methods of making a functionalized confectionery mass which do not require cooking to dehydrate and products therefrom. More particularly, the invention relates to comestible delivery systems, uncooked confectioneries and nougats, and methods for making same. The invention also provides a chewy confectionery nougat formulation containing bioassimilable sources of both calcium and magnesium.
• nougats It is generally considered a necessity in the art of preparing food or drug delivery systems like confectionery masses such as nougats to use water as a mixing medium and source of hydration for ingredients.
• a typical recipe calls for soaking egg albumen in water over a period of time, such as overnight, in order to fully hydrate the protein. Following hydration the egg albumen is stirred and strained before being beaten into a stiff foam.
• Other ingredients such as sugar, honey, and corn syrup are separately cooked with water to a relatively high cooking temperature of from about 135°C to about 138°C to achieve the necessary interaction among the ingredients. The cooked mixture is then poured into the egg and beaten with a nougat mixer.
• This conventional nougat preparation method requires cooking the ingredients and using a significant amount of water to serve as a mixing medium and source of hydration.
• the amount of water used is much larger than that which would permit the formation of the solid nougat.
• the water is supplied in more than sufficient quantity to ensure that specific ingredients are wetted and functionalized. Consequently, the excessive moisture must be driven off as much as possible to achieve the structural integrity and consistency necessary for the end product. Unless the water is forcibly removed, the process will result in an incoherent product having no significant structural integrity. Removal of excess water is generally undertaken by a combination of mixing and boiling to drive off the moisture and bring the mass to proper viscosity and consistency.
• the processes used to reduce the amount of unbound water in foods include techniques such as concentration, dehydration, and fireeze-drying. These processes require intensive expenditure of energy and are not cost efficient.
• the present invention overcomes the difficulties set forth above as well as other difficulties generally associated with the prior art. In particular, both the necessity of cooking the confection and using excessive water to mix and hydrate one or more ingredients is eliminated, and the method and product of the invention are obtained without any need for dehydration. Consequently, the detrimental heat history generally associated with energy-intensive procedures is also eliminated. Separation of the water from the resulting product is avoided and the lowered water activity results in a product having superior physical, storage, and organoleptic properties with reduced microbial growth problems. Finally, the present invention addresses the issue of producing a chewy nougat confectionery formulation containing calcium, and preferably also magnesium, which is palatable and storage stable, but which avoids the problems normally attendant in the production of these nutritional-type supplements.
• the present invention is a method of making a unique food and drug delivery system, and especially a novel confectionery delivery system, especially a nougat, via hydration, without the need for cooking or subsequent dehydrating in order to produce the confectionery mass.
• the present invention also includes the product resulting form the new method of preparation.
• a saccharide-based component is combined with a hydrated hydrobinding component to form the confectionery of the system.
• active ingredients can be included in the confectionery mass which is formed as a result of the present invention.
• the active ingredients are typically ones which are intended to produce a biological and/or chemical response in the body.
• Especially preferred actives as part of the composition of the invention include bioassimilable sources of calcium, and particularly combinations of calcium and magnesium.
• the product resulting from the present invention is unique because it requires no cooking and no dehydration by traditional heating at high temperatures to produce, and has substantially no phase separation of moisture. The only moisture present is bound therein in an amount sufficient to functionalize the mass. Thus, the product can be prepared without cooking.
• the product may also be prepared using flash-flow processing, low or high shear mixing, or any combination thereof.
• flash-flow processing low or high shear mixing, or any combination thereof.
• the final product furthermore exhibits improved content uniformity and improved taste perception qualities.
• the formulated confectionery delivery system herein described is more palatable (no grit or chalkiness) than many of the current products available in the art.
• the confectionery-mass delivery systems in accordance with the present invention includes a saccharide-based component and a hydrobinding component, the latter component being hydrated sufficiently to provide controlled water delivery to the saccharide-based component and/or other ingredients.
• Controlled water delivery means delivery of water in an amount and at a rate which is sufficient to provide internal viscosity and cohesivity to the saccharide-based component.
• the word hydrated as used in the term hydrated hydrobound component herein means containing sufficient water to provide the requisite controlled water delivery.
• the system created by the combination of the present invention is a water-starved system, which means that the system has only enough moisture to bind the ingredients together and provide internal lubricity. Since the ingredients are competing for moisture due to enhanced wettability, there is virtually no free moisture available to separate from the mass, and thus no attendant problems associated therewith.
• the hydrobinding component is used to provide a functionalized hydrobound confectionery mass.
• the hydrobinding component is thus an ingredient which imbibes, delivers and maintains water in an amount sufficient to functionalize the resulting mass.
• the water which is hydrobound does not separate and become a separate phase.
• a hydrobinding component cooperates with other ingredients to deliver and maintain water sufficient to functionalize the mass of ingredients (including those ingredients which have been subjected to flash-flow processing - e.g. the saccharide-based component, hereinafter described).
• Ingredients useful in the present invention which make up the hydrobinding component include, for example, proteinaceous materials known to those skilled in the art, and preferably gelatins of various grades and types.
• hydrobinding components constituting a mixture of ingredients are desirable in some situations.
• Highly preferred hydrobinding ingredients include, for example, a mixture of gelatin and gum arabic, or a mixture of carrageenan and locust bean gum with a crosslinking agent, such as potassium citrate or potassium chloride, which induces crosslinking between these materials.
• a crosslinking agent such as potassium citrate or potassium chloride
• These mixed hydrobinding materials are advantageous not only for their hydrobinding capacities, but also because they impart viscoelasticity to the resulting confectionery. It is possible that crosslinking in these materials contributes to their desirable physical properties.
• the hydrobinding material can also benefit from inclusion of a wetting agent or humectant such as a polyol known in the art, desirable glycerin, or other functionally similar materials which are commercially available.
• the hydrobinding component will comprise about 0.5-20% of the confectionery system of the invention. Preferable, the hydrobinding component will be within the range of about 5-15%, and even more desirably within the range of about 5-10% of the final confectionery composition. Of the foregoing hydrobinding component, water will comprise about 30 - 80% thereof, and preferably about 40 - 70% of the hydrobinding component.
• the proteinaceous material or the gum, or combination thereof will make up about 0.5 to 60% of the hydrobinding component, and more preferably be within the range of about 3 to 50%, more desirably about 5 to 20% (unless otherwise set forth, all %s herein are percentages by weight, or weight percent).
• a wetting or softening agent such as a polyol, preferably glycerin, which may be included in amounts equal to about 0 - 15%, preferably about 0.1 - 10% of the composition of the invention, even more desirably about 5-10%.
• the glycerin (or other selected material) can also function as a humectant, and thereby keep moisture in the system.
• the hydrobinding component may also be aerated, preferably in the presence of an aerating agent, before or after being combined with the other components making up the confectionery composition of the invention.
• Preferred aerating agents include egg whites and soy protein. Aerating agents are desirably added in amounts within the range of about 0 - 5%, more desirably OJ - 3% of the confectionery mass of the invention.
• ingredients which are used in the hydrobinding component may also be added as part of the saccharide-based component, hereinbelow described.
• gelatins and food grade gums such as gum arabic, carrageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum, etc., can be used to prepare the saccharide-based component, e.g., by being included in the feedstock used to prepare that component.
• the invention also employs a saccharide-based material as another major component (the hydrobinding material being the heretofore set forth first major component).
• the saccharide-based material can include any of a large variety of saccharide materials, such as small sugars, e.g., dextrose, sucrose, fructose, etc., and larger saccharides such as corn syrup solids and poly dextrose, as well as mixtures of two or more of these materials.
• Corn syrup solids are highly preferred for use as the saccharide-based material in the composition of the invention.
• Corn syrup solids are commonly known as maltodextrins. Maltodextrins are composed of water soluble glucose polymers obtained from the reaction of the starch with acid or enzymes in the presence of water.
• Polydextrose is a non-sucrose, essentially non-nutritive, carbohydrate substitute. It can be prepared from polymerization of glucose in the presence of polycarboxylic acid catalysts and polyols. Generally, polydextrose is known to be commercially available in three forms: Polydextrose A and Polydextrose K, which are powdered solids, and Polydextrose N supplied as a 70% solution. Each of these products can also contain some low molecular weight components, such as glucose, sorbitol, and oligomers. Sugars can also be used as saccharide-based materials according to the invention.
• Sugars are those substances which are based on simple crystalline mono- and di- saccharide structures, i.e., based on C 5 (pentose) and C 6 (hexose) sugar structures.
• Sugars include dextrose, sucrose, fructose, lactose, maltose, etc., and sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, etc.
• the foregoing saccharide-based component can comprise about 30 -
• the confectionery delivery system according to the embodiments herein set forth.
• those skilled in the art may discover a higher or lower percentage of the saccharide-based component, or other ingredients herein set forth, will produce a suitable final product, depending upon the final characteristics, e.g. texture, mouth feel, product consistency, etc., which are desired.
• a highly preferred saccharide-based material will comprise a mixture of corn syrup solids and sucrose in a ratio of approximately 50/50 or 40/60.
• hydrobinding- and saccharide-based components may also be incorporated into the material of the invention, to enhance its appearance, taste, texture, and other perceptions of the consumer, and can include, for example, flavors, sweeteners, colorants, surfactants or emulsifiers, and fats or oils. Any one or a combination of more than one of the foregoing may comprise from about 0 - 20% of the confectionery mass, and more desirably be within the range of about 5 - 10% or even up to 15% of the comestible mass. Flavors may be chosen from natural and synthetic flavoring liquids. An illustrative list of such agents includes volatile oils, synthetic flavor oils, flavoring aromatics, oils, liquids, oleoresins or extracts derived from plants, leaves, flowers, fruits, stems and combination thereof available to the skilled artisan.
• flavorings may include whole and partial fruits and nuts, peanut butter, candy bits, chocolate chips, bran flakes, etc.
• Sweeteners may be added to the confectionery system of the invention. These may be chosen from the following non-limiting list: glucose (corn syrup), dextrose, invert sugar, fructose, and mixtures thereof (in addition to those which may be utilized as part of the saccharide-based component), saccharin and its various salts such as the sodium salt; dipeptide sweeteners such as aspartame; dihydrochalcone compounds, glycyrrhizin; Stevia Rebaudiana (Stevioside); chloro derivatives of sucrose such as sucralose; sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, and the like.
• hydrogenated starch hydrolysates and the synthetic sweetener 3,6-dihydro- 6-methyl-l-l-l,2,3-oxathiazin- 4-one-2,2-dioxide, particularly the potassium salt (acesulfame-K), and sodium and calcium salts thereof.
• Other sweeteners may also be used.
• the sweeteners are added in amounts equal to about 0 - 10% of the composition, and preferably about 0.1 - 5%.
• Surfactants or emulsifiers may also be included in the composition of the invention.
• emulsifying material for example, lecithin or other phospholipid material, monoglycerides and/or diglycerides, and mixtures thereof in amounts of from about 0 - 3%, more desirably about OJ - 1%.
• Fats may also be included in the composition, and these can include partially or entirely unsaturated fats such as palm oil and cocoa butter. Hard fats having melting points above body temperature (37 degrees C), and soft fats having a melting point of about or below body temperature, can be used alone or in combination.
• the texture and mouth feel of the resulting confection can be influenced by selecting the types and amounts of fats included in the saccharide-based component.
• Fats marketed under such trade names a Durem and Paramount have been found to be useful. Those skilled in the art will find that fats are optional as part of the composition of the invention, and may be eliminated altogether if so desired. Thus, fats will comprise about 0 - 10% of the product herein set forth, preferably less than about 7%, and even more preferably less than about 5%.
• Additional materials which can be incorporated into the confectionery composition include, for example, biologically and chemically active ingredients such as medicinal substances, e.g. drugs, pharmaceuticals and antacids. These are referred to herein as active ingredients. Active ingredients may make up from about 0-5% of the product of the invention, and even more depending upon the needs and abilities of those skilled in the art. It is preferred, however, to include up to about 40% of active substance in the compositions set forth herein.
• Calcium supplement products can be prepared by incorporation of a bioassimilable calcium source as an active ingredient in the comestible delivery system confectionery of the invention.
• the calcium source is calcium carbonate, but other sources of calcium capable of absorption or bioassimilation can be employed, including finely divided bone meal, egg shell or oyster shell materials and the like, as well as calcium derived from milk solids.
• the calcium-containing material is preferably very finely divided so as not to impart any unnecessary chalkiness or other unpalatable characteristic to the confection. Finely ground calcium materials are commercially available, e.g., from Specialty Minerals or Omya, for use either in antacid products or calcium supplement products.
• a calcium supplement product is prepared which incorporates about 500 mg.
• a calcium source may be combined with a magnesium source to yield a mineral supplement "active" included in various embodiments of the chewy nougat formulation. Magnesium has been recognized as an essential element which aids in metabolism. Magnesium also aids in the absorption of calcium, and is therefore highly desirable as an additional component of a chewable calcium supplement formulation. Any bioassimilable magnesium source may be utilized.
• Non-limiting examples include those selected from the group consisting of magnesiums oxide, hydroxide, phosphate, carbonate and lactate, for example. Of these, magnesiums oxide, carbonate and lactate are more preferred. Magnesium lactate is desirable because it is highly stable for extended periods, and its inclusion in a chewy supplement imparts very little or and color, flavor, sweetness or textural off-notes thereto. These attributes may be particularly important from a commercial point of view.
• An especially preferred dietary supplement therefore includes about 500 mg. of bioassimable calcium, about 40mg. magnesium, and about 2001.U.'s of Vitamin D3 into a single dosage form. This represents 50% of the RDA for these nutrients. More or less of the foregoing nutrients may be added, depending upon the particular needs of the skilled artisan. For example, a proportional scale-up or down of the foregoing substituents could be utilized to yield a formulation having, for example, 75%, 100% or even 25% of the foregoing nutrients.
• a chewy nougat dietary supplement from about 0 - 40% of a calcium source, about 0 - 5% of Vitamin D3 and about 0 - 50% of a magnesium source. More preferably, about 10 - 40% of a calcium source, about 1 - 5% of Vitamin D3, and about 1 - 20% of a magnesium source may be included in the chewy nougat dietary supplement.
• the products according to the various embodiments of the invention are tasty and sweet chewy nougat confectioneries, with a smooth texture and consistency, with no grit or chalkiness. These products are well hydrated, and yet evidence no phase separation of moisture upon extended periods of storage.
• One of the advantages of the present invention is that a large proportion of the product can be displaced by a bulky material such as calcium and magnesium sources.
• up to about 25-35% or in some embodiments, up to about 40% or even up to about 50% or more of the total weight of the resulting product can be an added bioassimilable calcium source (or more desirably calcium with magnesium, etc.) without imparting undesirable taste or texture to the product.
• the product according to several embodiments of the invention exhibits improved taste and texture characteristics as compared with similar commercially-available products. "Improved" means that individual consumers rate the product overall to be superior when such characteristics as firmness, flavor, bite, sweetness, chewiness, melt characteristics, stickiness, juiciness, freedom from grit, and aftertaste are analyzed.
• actives i.e. active ingredients
• these can include such food material as fiber and other vegetable and fruit materials.
• useful comestible delivery systems can also be produced wherein as little as only a trace amount of the total weight of the product is a deliverable active ingredient.
• the products resulting from the present invention are unique, in part because they require no dehydration to produce, i.e., the product can be prepared without cooking. Moreover, there is substantially no separation of moisture in the resulting product. The only moisture present is supplied by the hydrated hydrobinding component an amount sufficient to functionalize the mass. No excess water is thus present, and thus the final product of the invention is stabilized with regard to nutritional content, microbial growth, organoleptic characteristics and other factors. In the present invention water activity is significantly lower than water activity of similar products found in the candy bar industry. For example, candy bars usually have a water activity of 62% - 68% equilibrium relative humidity (ERH).
• EH equilibrium relative humidity
• Another measure of free water in foodstuffs can be provided by the amount of biological growth within the composition.
• the biological activity is less than about 100 ppm, preferably less than about 25 ppm, and most preferably less than 10 ppm.
• compositions according to the various embodiments set forth above be advantageously provided in the form of a shearform matrix, as that term is defined hereunder, as shearform matrix materials can exhibit significantly enhanced wettability because of a randomized structure resulting from flash-flow processing or high or low shear mixing, hereinafter described.
• Shearform matrix refers to the product prepared by the method of flash-flow processing, a method which mixes and conditions ingredients for intimate contacting and enhanced hydration described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 5,587,198.
• flash-flow has become recognized in the art as referring to a process which uses conditions of temperature and force to transform a solid feedstock having a certain morphological and/or chemical structure into a new solid having a different morphological and./or chemical structure without subjecting the solids to excessive heat or other requirements inherent in extrusion processing.
• the resultant structure has now been referred to as a "shearform matrix.”
• the terms flash-flow and shearform matrix are further described and set forth in commonly-owned U.S. Patent Nos., 5,236,734,
• Flash-flow processing can be advantageous in the present invention since it is useful for preparing ingredients to be easily and quickly mixed and hydrated. Another very important result of flash-flow processing is intimate mixing of the ingredients.
• Intimate mixing has traditionally been achieved by the use of water as a mixing medium.
• Flash-flow processing intimately contacts ingredients and randomizes ingredient location and structure of the resulting shearform matrix. Randomizing the structure can be thought of as opening the physical and/or chemical structure for hydration. Thus, flash-flow processing not only ensures intimate mixing of ingredients
• Flash-flow processing can be accomplished either by a flash-heat method or via the somewhat less preferred flash-shear method, as described further herein.
• the feedstock is heated sufficiently to create an internal flow condition, which permits internal movement of the feedstock at a subparticle level, and to exit openings provided in the perimeter of a spinning head.
• the centrifugal force created in the spinning head flings the flowing feedstock material outwardly from the head so that it reforms with a changed structure, i.e. a shearform matrix.
• the force necessary to separate and discharge flowable feedstock is provided by centrifugal force and the force of the ambient atmosphere impinging on feedstock exiting the spinning head.
• One apparatus for implementing a flash-heat process is a cotton candy fabricating type machine, such as the Eocene-floss model 3017 manufactured by Gold Medal Products company of Cincinnati, Ohio. Other apparatus which provides similar forces and temperature gradient conditions substantially equivalent to flash-heat can also be used.
• a spinning machine developed by Fuisz Technologies Ltd. of Chantilly, VA and patented under U.S. Patent No. 5,458,823 may be especially preferred for the flash-heat process.
• This patent describes a spinning machine which has a series of elongated heating elements arranged in between a base and a cover. The heating elements, base and cover together define a chamber into which a non-solubilized feedstock material is inserted which is capable of intraparticle flow upon application of heat and force.
• Means are provided for individually heating each of the elongated heating elements, and restriction means in the form of a cylindrical shell or annular plate which circumscribes the heating elements permits restrictive flow of the processed feedstock which is expelled from the chamber.
• a shearform matrix is produced by raising the temperature of the feedstock, which includes a non-solubilized carrier such as a saccharide material, until the carrier undergoes internal flow upon application of a fluid shear force.
• the feedstock is advanced and ejected while in internal flow condition, and subjected to disruptive fluid shear force to form multiple parts or masses which have a morhpology different from that of the original feedstock.
• the flash-shear process can be carried out in an apparatus which has means for increasing the temperature of a non-solubilized feedstock and means for simultaneously advancing it for ejection.
• a multiple heating zone twin screw extruder can be used for increasing the temperature of the non-solubilized feedstock.
• a second element of the apparatus is an ejector which reduces the feedstock to a condition for shearing. The ejector is in fluid communication with the means for increasing the temperature and is arranged at a point to receive the feedstock while it is in internal flow condition.
• the flash-shear process and apparatus are described in U.S. Patent No. 5,380,473, which is incorporated herein by reference. Of the flash-heat and flash-shear processes herein described, flash-heat appears to be much more readily adaptable to the process of the invention. However, those skilled in the art may find that flash-shear methodology can be adjusted to their particular needs.
• one or more components of the composition of the invention may be advantageously processed using flash-flow procedures, e.g. flash-heat or flash-shear.
• flash-flow procedures e.g. flash-heat or flash-shear.
• the saccharide-based component of the invention Maltodextrin, for example, may be utilized as the feedstock to process through the flash-flow apparatus.
• the saccharide-based component can also serve as a "carrier" material for piggybacking some of the other constituents which may also be flash-flow processed with the saccharide-based component, e.g. one or more of the emulsifiers, oils, fats, flavorings, and sweeteners etc., as well as one or more of the active materials.
• the saccharide-based component and any optional ingredients are provided in the form of a shearform matrix, as set forth above.
• One embodiment of the present invention may also include pre-flash-flow processing of certain ingredients.
• Pre-flash-flow processing is simply flash-flow processing of one or more ingredients before combining these with either the saccharide- based component or the hydrobinding component for additional flash-flow processing or additional admixing. Flash-flow processing results in creased surface area and increased solubility of the ingredients subjected thereto, and contributes to actual binding of the ingredients to each other, and therefore, preliminary or pre-flash-flow processing may particularly advantageous to the skill artisan.
• the magnesium component as part of the calcium/magnesium active ingredient of the calcium-based chewy confectionery nougat formulation of the invention.
• Attendant problems associated with using magnesium as an additive are in this way largely avoided. Because the magnesium is "bound up" or encapsulated as a result of pre- flash-flow, it is far less likely to subsequently interact with any moisture or humidity, light or heat, however small these quantities may be.
• a preferred pre-flash-flow magnesium formulation may comprise from about OJ - 50%, more preferably about 15 - 40% of magnesium from whatever source; together with about 5 - 95%, more preferably about 25 - 75% saccharide material; along with 0 - 15% of one or more optional materials such as emulsifiers, fats, oils. Especially desirable is about 20 - 30% magnesium source, about 35 - 70% saccharide material, and about 0 - 10% optional materials.
• this material is pre-flash-flow processed, it will constitute the active ingredient (together with the calcium source) and is further mixed with the saccharide-based component for further flash-flow processing or shear-mixing (because the encapsulated magnesium contains saccharide material, the amount in the actual saccharide-based component of the final formulation may be proportionately reduced).
• Magnesium oxide is well adapted to pre- flash-flow processing because it is a strong oxidizing agent, and will react with a minimum of water, air or light, and thereby may alter the organoleptic properties of the final chewy nougat formulation.
• Other magnesium sources which may also be processed in this manner include magnesiums carbonate, phosphate and lactate. Any other sources of magnesium are also contemplated by the foregoing method, depending upon the needs of the technician and the attributes one desires in the final product.
• Another means for processing the components making up the compositions of the invention is via low and high shear mixing processes.
• the added time and expense associated with flash-flow processing may be avoided.
• the same qualities associated with the final product e.g. shear-form matrix attributes, intimate mixing, no cooking
• high shear mixing refers to relatively intensive mixing action concentrated in a localized area. The high speed impact of mixing
• High shear mixing should be contrasted with low shear mixing in which the main action of mixing is due to the relative motion of a much larger volume of mix being circulated by the spinning or churning action of a lower impact type mechanism, such as a paddle-blade typically found in a Sigma or Hobart mixer.
• a lower impact type mechanism such as a paddle-blade typically found in a Sigma or Hobart mixer.
• the resultant product can be referred to as both uncooked (in the sense that excessive heat is no utilized) and unspun (in the sense that a flash-flow apparatus is not utilized).
• any number of the components comprising the composition of the invention may be mixed together through the use of high or low shear mixing, as well as flash-flow processing, as well as any combination thereof.
• the materials making up the hydrobinding component such as the cited gums, gelatin and glycerine can then be combined and hydrated, for example, using high or low shear mixing.
• the final composition can then be formed by combining all the aforementioned components, again by utilizing either high or low shear mixing, preferably high shear mixing.
• moisture is readily imbibed and disseminated throughout the non-hydrated components and/or ingredients.
• additional moisture is not required to form a
• the saccharide-based component, optional ingredients, and any actives may be admixed using high shear.
• the ingredients constituting the hydrobinding component may also be processed using high shear.
• the final formulation can be achieved by then submitting all components to high shear mixing.
• An especially preferred high-shear mixer for use with the invention is known as a
• Littleford FKM 1200 This device provides high shear mixing by proximal shearing blades which are at right angles to one another.
• the shearing blades consist of “plowers” and choppers, both of which are utilized for high shear mixing action. While not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that high shear action provides both mixing and heating at the localized points of blade contact with the mix ingredients, thereby resulting in excellent dispersibility without the undesired effects of lumping etc.
• Other high shear mixers (with one or more mixing blades), currently available or yet to be developed, are also contemplated by the method of the invention.
• the high shear mixer can be further equipped with a jacket heater to provide the benefits of additional warming.
• a preferred temperature range is from about 30 degrees C to about 60 degrees C, more desirably within the range of about 30 degrees to about 45 degrees C.
• a preferred procedure for high shear mixing is as follows: The jacket heater on the high shear mixer is first activated and allowed to warm to a temperature of about 40 degrees C. Next, the saccharide-based component and other dry ingredients, e.g. calcium and/or magnesium source, may be fed through the open hopper and allowed to mix using the plowers (the magnesium may be provided as a dry encapsulation as a result of flash- flow processing). For an 18 pound mixture, for example, the device is first run for about 2 minutes. Any added fat, along with emulsifiers, and the liquid-based hydrobinding component (which has been previously prepared using low shear mixing), together with
• any flavorings, sweeteners and coloring are then fed into the mixer, and the choppers or high shear blades are activated to further complete the mixing.
• the jacket temperature may be increased to within the range of about 50-60 degrees C, preferably about 58-60 degrees to assist in the mixing, especially if fat is present in the mixture.
• the mixer is then run for about 5-10 minutes more, perhaps longer, to complete the mixing of the saccharide-based component and the hydrobinding component. Once mixing is complete, the entire matrix is then emptied into an appropriate container for slicing, sorting, packaging and shipping etc., e.g. is extruded and cut into dosage size pieces.
• the use of a low shear mixing apparatus can also provide the product of the invention.
• a Sigma mixer and/or Hobart industrial paddle mixer may be suitable.
• the dry ingredients saccharide-based component and any additional materials
• the liquid ingredients hydrobinding components
• the Sigma mixer with the dry ingredients.
• the whole mixture is then run in the Sigma mixer for about 3 minutes. Variations of the foregoing process are certainly within the scope of the invention, depending upon the characteristics of the individual ingredients, and the attributes desired within the final product.
• Another method of formulating the product of the invention may comprise the utilization of both high- and low-shear mixing apparatus set forth above, depending upon the needs of the skilled artisan.
• a series of confectionery-type masses was prepared according to the invention for the delivery of a bioassimilable calcium source, in this case powdered calcium carbonate.
• the hydrobinding material was selected to be a mixture of medium weight gelatin (250 Bloom) and gum arabic.
• the saccharide-based material was selected to be sucrose (6X) or a mixture of sucrose and corn syrup solids. The components and the preparation conditions for these batches are given below in Table 1.
• the gelatin and gum arabic were premixed with glycerin using low shear mixing methods. Then a controlled amount of water was added thereto, along with flavoring and color.
• the calcium carbonate and the saccharide-based material (corn syrup solids and sucrose) were added to a Littleford FKM- 1200 high shear mixer. The mixer was then operated for 2 minutes using the plowers only. The premixed fat emulsifier/sorbitan mixture was added to the mixer.
• the hydrobinding material above gelatin et al.
• a nougat composition was prepared without cooking or removal of water.
• the ingredients set forth in Table 2-A were mixed using the aforementioned Littleford high shear mixer for 5 min at 40-50 cycles/min.
• This mixed composition was then mixed with colors and flavors in a Sigma mixer, again for 5 min at 40-50 cycles/min.
• glycerin and a vegetable gum were mixed and low shear- stirred to smoothness. Water was added, and again the mixture was stirred to smoothness. Gelatin was then added along with flavoring and coloring, and the mixture was low shear-stirred again for about 1 minute to thicken. This mixture was then warmed to about 50°C for about 15-20 minutes. The warmed mixture was added to the primary mixture, and stirred with the Sigma mixer for about 5 min at 40-50 cycles/min. The final product is present in Table 2-B.
• the resulting mass was removed from the mixer, and rolled to the desired thickness, e.g. about 3 cm. This product was completely homogeneous, and had a chewy texture.
• Example 2 Another chewy nougat product was made using the same materials and proportions described in Example 1, except that the components described there as being part of the saccharide-based component were processed together using flash-flow processing to provide a shearform matrix. This shearform matrix was then added to the coloring and flavoring, and used as described. Again, the resulting product was homogenous, chewy in texture, and flavorful.
• the primary mixture prepared according to the method described in Example 1 was used to make a gelatin-free confection product suitable for use as a calcium supplement.
• the hot solution was immediately added to a mixture of locust bean gum, carrageenan, and glycerin in a beaker and mixed, to provide a warm paste. This paste was then added to the pre-mixed primary mixture, and mixed for about 5 min.
• the final temperature of the resulting nougat was -50 degrees C.
• the amounts of the ingredients in this chewy nougat confection are given in Table 3.
• This pleasant-tasting and chewy gelatin-free nougat material was cut into approximately 5.3 g pieces, each of which provided 500 mg of calcium.
• Example 2 An additional chewy nougat product was made according to the method set forth in Example 1 which delivered 500 mg of calcium and 200 I.U.'s of vitamin D3 in chocolate, mint and cherry flavors in a 5.3 gram piece according toTable 4 below:
• Vitamin D3 was dissolved in a small amount of corn syrup and added with the liquid components.
• a mint-flavored chewy nougat formulation according to the foregoing embodiment was compared with three leading commercially-available (store bought) calcium supplement preparations in a random taste test.
• 100 consumers between the ages of 30-70 were chosen to participate and evaluate a total of four products according to the following criteria on a scale of 1-9: bite, firmness, flavor, sweetness, chewiness, melt, stickiness, juiciness, grit, aftertaste and coolness (the higher the score, the more positively the consumer judged each attribute).
• Each consumer was given an identical bite-size serving of each one of the four products in the same order (with crackers and a sip of water in between each serving). Consumers were not told the source or identify of the products they were evaluating, other than that each was a calcium supplement. Results are indicated below:
• Example 2 An additional chewy nougat product was made according to the method set forth in Example 1 which delivered 500 mg of calcium, 40 mg of magnesium and 2001.U's of vitamin D3 in a cherry flavor in a 5.3 gram piece according to Table 5 below:
• Vitamin D3 was dissolved in a small amount of corn syrup and added with the liquid components.
• Example 1 A further chewy nougat confectionery product was made according to the method set forth in Example 1 which delivered 500 mg of calcium, 40 mg of magnesium and 200 L.U.'s of vitamin D3 in a cherry flavor in a 5.3 gram piece according to Table 6 below:
• Vitamin D3 was dissolved in a small amount of corn syrup and added with the liquid components.

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  • 1999-02-22 EP EP99908352A patent/EP1065939A1/de not_active Withdrawn
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  • 1999-02-22 JP JP2000537444A patent/JP2002507400A/ja active Pending
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