GB2532188A

GB2532188A - Edible paint compositions and their uses

Info

Publication number: GB2532188A
Application number: GB1417533.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brown Carol
Original assignee: RAINBOW DUST COLOURS Ltd
Current assignee: RAINBOW DUST COLOURS Ltd
Priority date: 2014-10-03
Filing date: 2014-10-03
Publication date: 2016-05-18
Also published as: GB201417533D0

Abstract

An edible paint composition comprises 65 to 85 wt % glycerol, 6 to 10 wt % thickener, 0.15 to 0.25 wt % lecithin and 3 to 6 wt % of one or more colouring agents. In a preferred embodiment the lecithin is soy lecithin. Preferably, the thickener is silicon dioxide. The colouring agent may be a synthetic colouring agent. The composition may also comprise 8 to 14 wt % of a humectant diluents, such as propylene glycol. The composition produces an edible paint that, when applied to a sugar paste, demonstrates no mottling or other visible defects. The paint is stable at ambient conditions for 36 months.

Description

EDIBLE PAINT COMPOSITIONS AND THEIR USES

The present invention relates to edible paint compositions and a process for their preparation. In particular, though not exclusively, it concerns an edible paint composition comprising glycerol and lecithin.

With the increase in popularity of baking, there is a growing trend to decorate foodstuffs with more complicated and extravagant designs. A number of products which can be used to add decoration to foodstuffs are currently available, such as edible glitter, edible dust, rice paper, and sugar flowers. Another means of adding decoration is to use edible paints.

Edible paints are extremely versatile and are available in a variety of colours. They can therefore be used to create a number of effects when decorating foodstuffs, such as cakes.

However, when conventional edible paints are applied to substrates such as sugar paste, flower paste and modelling paste, streaks, blemishes and other visible defects are typically evident. These defects are unattractive and limit the versatility and use of the paint.

Accordingly, there is a need for an edible paint composition with reduced visible defects when applied to such substrates.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an edible paint composition comprising 65 to 85 wt % of glycerol; 6 to 10 wt % of a thickener; 0.15 to 0.25 wt % of a lecithin; and 3 to 6 wt % of one or more colouring agents.

In the context of the present invention, the term 'wt ctio refers to the % by weight of the particular component with respect to the total weight of the edible paint composition.

The term 'lecithin! as used herein refers to a mixture of various phospholipids (usually phosphatidylserine and/or phosphatidylcholine) and, optionally, other polar lipids. The composition of the lecithin mixture depends on the source of the lecithin. Typical naturally-occurring sources of lecithin include animal and plant tissues. For example.

soybean oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, and/or egg yolk.

The lecithin is synthetic lecithin or naturally-occurring lecithin. In a preferred embodiment, the lecithin is soy lecithin, rapeseed lecithin, sunflower lecithin, canola lecithin, cotton seed lecithin, egg lecithin or a combination thereof. In another preferred embodiment, the lecithin is soy lecithin. The use of lecithin in the composition is advantageous as it enhances the ability of the paint to adhere to the substrate.

The term 'thickener' is used herein to describe a substance which increases the viscosity of a mixture without substantially modifying its other properties. In some embodiments, the thickener is a silicon-based compound or an organic polymeric material. In particular embodiments, the thickener is silicon dioxide. When silicon dioxide is used as a thickener, it has been found that it also acts as a binding agent.

The term 'colouring agent' as used herein refers to any dye, lake pigment or substance that imparts colour when added to a mixture. "l'he colouring agent may be in the form of a liquid, a powder, a gel or a paste. In the context of the present invention, the term 'colouring agent' includes compounds, such as titanium dioxide (i.e. E171), which are used as white colouring agents.

The term 'dye' as used herein relates to a coloured substance that has an affinity for the substrate to which it is being applied. The term 'lake pigment' as used herein relates to a class of pigments composed of organic dyes that have been rendered insoluble by interaction with an inert binder. Such terms are known in the art.

Suitable colouring agents include coloured dyes or lake pigments approved for use in products for human consumption. The colouring agent may be synthetically produced or naturally-occurring. Naturally-occurring colouring agents may include vegetable colourants, fruit colourants and other colourants derived from plants. Suitable naturally-occurring colouring agents include, but are not limited to, annatto, betanin, butterfly pea, caramel colouring, chlorophyllin, elderberry juice, lycopene, cochineal, pandan, paprika, turmeric, saffron, cabbage extract and beetroot extract, e.g. El 00, El 01, E120, E140, E153, E160, El 63, E170, E171 and E172. Suitable synthetically produced colouring agents include E102, El04, E110, E122, E123, E124, E127, E128, E129, E131, E132, E133, E142, E150, E151, E154 and E155.

The colouring agent may be one lake pigment or dye or a mixture of two or more such substances. In an embodiment of the invention, the edible paint composition comprises from 3.5 to 4.5 wt % of E171 (titanium dioxide) and from 0.5 to 1.5 wt % of an additional colouring agent. The present inventors have found that the described paint composition is particularly beneficial as it enables E171 to be suspended in the mixture such that it loons an opaque paint. When the paint composition is varied outside the described bounds, the inventors have found that E171 separates and forms a white layer at the bottom of the mixture.

In particular embodiments, the edible paint composition additionally comprises 8 to 14 wt % of a humectant diluent, such as propylene glycol.

In an embodiment of the invention, the edible paint composition consists essentially of 65 to 85 wt % of glycerol; 6 to 10 wt % of a thickener; 0.15 to 0.25 wt % of a lecithin; and 3 to 6 wt % of one or more colouring agents.

In particular embodiments, the composition comprises 70 to 80 wt % of glycerol; 7 to 9 wt % of silicon dioxide; 0.18 to 0.22 wt % of soy lecithin; 10 to 12 wt % of propylene glycol; and 4 to 5.5 wt % of the one or more colouring agents, one of which colouring agents is titanium dioxide.

In another embodiment, the composition comprises 70 to 80 wt % of glycerol; 7 to 9 wt % of silicon dioxide; 0.18 to 0.22 wt °A of soy lecithin; 10 to 12 wt % of propylene glycol; and 3.5 to 4.5 wt % of E171 (titanium dioxide) and 0.5 to 1.5 wt % of one or more additional colouring agents.

In another embodiment, the composition consists essentially of 74 wt % of glycerol; 12.7 wt % of propylene glycol; 8.1 wt °A of silicon; 5 wt % of the one or more colouring agents; and 0.2 wt °A of soy lecithin In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a product to which the edible paint composition detailed above has been applied. The paint composition can be applied to any food product. Suitable products include, but arc not limited to, biscuits, pastries, confectionary, sugar coatings, fondant products, marzipan products, frostings, icings and cake glazes. In a preferred embodiment, the edible paint composition is applied to a product selected from sugar paste, flower paste, modelling paste, Mexican paste and royal icing. In another preferred embodiment, the edible paint composition is applied to sugar paste.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a process for the preparation of the edible paint composition detailed above, comprising the steps of i) mixing glycerol and the thickener together; ii) adding the one or more colouring agents to the mixture resulting from step i); iii) adding E171 and lecithin to the mixture resulting from step ii); iv) adding silicon dioxide to the mixture resulting from step iii).

In an embodiment of the invention, mixing is performed between each addition step of the process. Mixing may be provided by any suitable method, such as by using a high shear mixer.

The invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only. Example 1 Glycerol and propylene glycol were added to a mixing vessel including a high speed shear mixer (e.g. Axomix 300 LT). The mixture was mixed for about two minutes, using paddles set at 60 rpm. The desired dye was added and the resulting mixture was mixed for about four minutes using paddles set at 60 rpm and a shear head set at speed 2000. The desired lake colours were then added and the resulting mixture was mixed for about three minutes, with paddles set at 60 rpm and a shear head set at speed 3000. EI71 and soy lecithin were added to the mixture. The mixture was then mixed for about four minutes, using paddles set at 60 rpm and shear head set at speed 2000. A colour test was then performed on the resulting mixture to determine whether the desired colour had been achieved. Silicon dioxide was then added to the mixture under vacuum conditions.

The resulting product had the composition shown below: Ingredient wt % Glycerol 73.97 Propylene Glycol 12.74 Silicon Dioxide 8.13 Colours 4.96 Soya Lecithin 0.20 The edible paint composition produced in example 1 was applied to sugar paste. No streaks, mottling or other visible defects were observed.

The resulting product was also found to be stable at ambient conditions for 36 months.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An edible paint composition comprising: 65 to 85 wt % of glycerol; 6 to 10 wt % of a thickener; 0.15 to 0.25 wt % of a lecithin; and 3 to 6 wt of one or more colouring agents.
2. The edible paint composition according to claim 1, wherein the lecithin is a naturally-occurring lecithin.
3. The edible paint composition according to claim 2, wherein the lecithin is soy lecithin, rapeseed lecithin, sunflower lecithin, canola lecithin, cotton seed lecithin, egg lecithin or a combination thereof
4. The edible paint composition according to claim 3, wherein the lecithin is soy lecithin.
5. The edible paint composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the thickener is a silicon-based compound or an organic polymeric material.
6. The edible paint composition according to claim 5, wherein the thickener is silicon dioxide.
7. The edible paint composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more colouring agents includes at least one synthetic colouring agent.
8. The edible paint composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the colouring agent is selected from the group consisting of E171, E102, E104, E110, E122, E123, E124, E129, E131, E132, E133, E142, E151, E153, E155, E171, E172, spirulinal.OD, copper chlorophyll and beetroot, and combinations thereof.
9. The edible paint composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition additionally comprises 8 to 14 wt. % of a humectant diluent, such as propylene glycol.
10. The edible paint composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition comprises: 70 to 80 wt % of glycerol; 7 to 9 wt % of silicon dioxide; 0.18 to 0.22 wt % of soy lecithin; 10 to 12 wt % of propylene glycol; and 4 to 5.5 wt % of the one or more colouring agents, one of which colouring agents is titanium dioxide.
11. The edible paint composition according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the composition consists essentially of 74 wt % of glycerol; 12.7 wt % of propylene glycol; 8.1 wt % of silicon; wt % of the one or more colouring agents; and 0.2 wt % of soy lecithin.
12. A product to which the edible paint composition according to any one of the preceding claims has been applied.
13. The product according to claim 12, wherein the product to which the composition is applied is a sugar paste.
14. A process for the preparation of an edible paint composition according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of i) mixing glycerol and the thickener together; ii) adding the one or more colouring agents to the mixture resulting from step i); iii) adding E171 and lecithin to the mixture resulting from step ii) iv) adding the thickener to the mixture resulting from step iii).