Method of treating tobacco to reduce nitrosamine content, and products produced thereby

Abstract

A method of treating tobacco to reduce the content of, or prevent formation of, harmful nitrosamines which are normally found in tobacco is disclosed. The method includes the step of subjecting at least a portion of the plant, while the portion is uncured and in a state susceptible to having the amount of nitrosamines reduced or formation of nitrosamines arrested, to a controlled environment capable of providing a reduction in the amount of nitrosamines or prevention of the formation of nitrosamines, for a time sufficient to reduce the amount of or substantially prevent the formation of at least one nitrosamine, wherein the controlled environment is provided by controlling at least one of humidity, rate of temperature change, temperature, airflow, CO level, CO 2 level, O 2 level, and arrangement of the tobacco plant. Tobacco products and an apparatus for producing such tobacco products are also disclosed.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A process of substantially preventing the formation of at least one nitrosamine in a harvested tobacco plant, the process comprising: 
 drying at least a portion of the plant, while said portion is uncured, yellow, and in a state susceptible to having the formation of nitrosamines arrested, in a controlled environment and for a time sufficient to substantially prevent the formation of said at least one nitrosamine;    wherein said controlled environment comprises air free of combustion exhaust gases and an airflow sufficient to substantially prevent an anaerobic condition around the vicinity of said plant portion; and    wherein said controlled environment is provided by controlling at least one of humidity, rate of temperature change, temperature, airflow, CO level, CO 2  level, O 2  level, and arrangement of the tobacco plant.    
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the air is heated to a temperature of from about 100° F. to about 250° F.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature is from about 160° F. to about 170° F.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one nitrosamine is N′-nitrosonornicotine.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one nitrosamine is 4-(N-nitrosomethyl-amino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising converting said dried plant portion into a tobacco product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, gum, and bits.  
     
     
         7 . A process of substantially preventing the formation of at least one nitrosamine in a harvested tobacco plant, the process comprising: 
 drying at least a portion of the plant, while said portion is uncured, yellow, and in a state susceptible to having the formation of nitrosamines arrested, in a controlled environment and for a time sufficient to substantially prevent the formation of said at least one nitrosamine;    wherein said controlled environment comprises a flow of air sufficient to avoid an anaerobic condition around the vicinity of said plant portion; and    wherein said controlled environment is provided by controlling at least one of humidity, rate of temperature change, temperature, airflow, CO level, CO 2  level, O 2  level, and arrangement of the tobacco plant.    
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein the air is heated to a temperature of from about 100° F. to about 250° F.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8 , wherein the temperature is from about 160° F. to about 170° F.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one nitrosamine is N′-nitrosonornicotine.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7 , wherein said at least one nitrosamine is 4-(N-nitrosomethyl-amino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 7 , further comprising converting said dried plant portion into a tobacco product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, gum, and bits.  
     
     
         13 . A process of substantially preventing the formation of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine, and N′-nitrosoanabasine in a harvested tobacco plant, the process comprising: 
 drying at least a portion of the plant, while said portion is uncured, yellow, and in a state susceptible to having the formation of nitrosamines arrested, in a controlled environment and for a time sufficient to substantially prevent the formation of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine, and N′-nitrosoanabasine;  
 wherein said controlled environment comprises air free of combustion exhaust gases and an airflow sufficient to substantially prevent an anaerobic condition around the vicinity of said plant portion; and  
 wherein said controlled environment is provided by controlling at least one of humidity, rate of temperature change, temperature, airflow, CO level, CO 2  level, O 2  level, and arrangement of the tobacco plant.  
 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 13 , wherein the air is heated to a temperature of from about 100° F. to about 250° F.  
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 14 , wherein the temperature is from about 160° F. to about 170° F.  
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 13 , further comprising converting said dried plant portion into a tobacco product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, gum, and bits.  
     
     
         17 . A process of substantially preventing the formation of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine, and N′-nitrosoanabasine in a harvested tobacco plant, the process comprising: 
 drying at least a portion of the plant, while said portion is uncured, yellow, and in a state susceptible to having the formation of nitrosamines arrested, in a controlled environment and for a time sufficient to substantially prevent the formation of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine, and N′-nitrosoanabasine;  
 wherein said controlled environment comprises a flow of air sufficient to avoid an anaerobic condition around the vicinity of said plant portion; and  
 wherein said controlled environment is provided by controlling at least one of humidity, rate of temperature change, temperature, airflow, CO level, CO 2  level, O 2  level, and arrangement of the tobacco plant.  
 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 17 , wherein the air is heated to a temperature of from about 100° F. to about 250° F.  
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature is from about 160° F. to about 170° F.  
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 17 , further comprising converting said dried plant portion into a tobacco product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff, gum, and bits.  
     
     
         21 . A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow Burley tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic liquids used to extract expanded organic materials and having a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine and N′-nitrosoanabasine which is 0.05 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         22 . The tobacco product of  claim 21 , wherein said tobacco suitable for human consumption is cured yellow tobacco.  
     
     
         23 . The tobacco product of  claim 21 , which is a product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco-containing gum and bits.  
     
     
         24 . A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow Burley tobacco suitable for human consumption, in leaf form and having a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine and N′-nitrosoanabasine which is 0.05 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         25 . The tobacco product of  claim 24 , wherein said tobacco suitable for human consumption is cured yellow tobacco.  
     
     
         26 . The tobacco product of  claim 24 , which is a product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco-containing gum and bits.  
     
     
         27 . A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow Burley tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic liquids used to extract expanded organic materials and having a content of 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone which is 0.002 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         28 . The tobacco product of  claim 27 , wherein said content of 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone is 0.001 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         29 . The tobacco product of  claim 27 , wherein said tobacco suitable for human consumption is cured yellow tobacco.  
     
     
         30 . A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow Burley tobacco suitable for human consumption, in leaf form and having a content of 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone which is 0.002 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         31 . The tobacco product of  claim 30 , wherein said content of 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone is 0.001 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         32 . The tobacco product of  claim 30 , wherein said tobacco suitable for human consumption is cured yellow tobacco.  
     
     
         33 . A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow United States Burley tobacco suitable for human consumption, substantially free of organic liquids used to extract expanded organic materials and having a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine and N′-nitrosoanabasine which is less than 0.2 μg/g.  
     
     
         34 . The tobacco product of  claim 33 , wherein said collective content is 0.15 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         35 . The tobacco product of  claim 34 , wherein said collective content is 0.1 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         36 . The tobacco product of  claim 35 , wherein said collective content is 0.05 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         37 . The tobacco product of  claim 33 , wherein said tobacco suitable for human consumption is cured yellow tobacco.  
     
     
         38 . The tobacco product of  claim 33 , which is a product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco-containing gum and bits.  
     
     
         39 . A tobacco product comprising cured non-green or yellow United States Burley tobacco suitable for human consumption, in leaf form and having a collective content of N′-nitrosonornicotine, 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, N′-nitrosoanatabine and N′-nitrosoanabasine which is less than 0.2 μg/g.  
     
     
         40 . The tobacco product of  claim 39 , wherein said collective content is 0.15 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         41 . The tobacco product of  claim 40 , wherein said collective content is 0.1 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         42 . The tobacco product of  claim 41 , wherein said collective content is 0.05 μg/g or less.  
     
     
         43 . The tobacco product of  claim 39 , wherein said tobacco suitable for human consumption is cured yellow tobacco.  
     
     
         44 . The tobacco product of  claim 39 , which is a product selected from the group consisting of cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snuff and tobacco-containing gum and bits.