Chewing Gum Containing Physiological Cooling Agents

Abstract

A method for producing a chewing gum, as well as the chewing gum so produced, incorporates a physiological cooling agent, such as acyclic carboxamide, or combinations of physiological cooling agents. In another embodiment a combination of physiological cooling agents is made in a modified release structure. The modified release/cooling agents combination is preferably obtained by physically modifying the properties of the combination of cooling agents by coating and drying. When incorporated into gum, these particles are adapted to enhance the shelf stability of the flavor and/or produce a modified release when the gum is chewed. In another embodiment, the physiological cooling agent is present with menthol and menthone. In another embodiment, coated chewing gum has a coating that comprises a physiological cooling agent. The preferred inventive chewing gum provides a high flavor impact in which the harsh notes normally associated with such a high flavor impact have been reduced or eliminated. In addition, the preferred inventive gum provides a clean, high-quality, cooling chewing gum coating with xylitol or other polyols where xylitol has been reduced in concentration or eliminated.

1 . A method of producing chewing gum with physiological cooling agents comprising the steps of:
 a) mixing at least two physiological cooling agents together with a release modification material;   b) treating the cooling agents to provide a modified release; and   c) adding a quantity of the modified release cooling agents to a chewing gum composition to provide a cooling agent level in the gum of from about 0.001% to about 2%.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the physiological cooling agents are selected from the group consisting of N-substituted p-menthane carboxamides, menthyl lactate, menthone glycerol ketal, 3−/− menthoxypropane-1,2-diol, menthyl succinate and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cooling agents are treated by an encapsulation process. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the cooling agents are encapsulated by a spray drying process. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the cooling agents are encapsulated by a fluid bed coating process. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the cooling agents are treated by being entrapped in an extrusion process. 
     
     
         7 . A chewing gum made according to the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A chewing gum composition comprising:
 a) about 5% to about 95% gum base;   b) about 5% to about 95% bulking and sweetening agent; and   c) about 0.1 to about 10% flavoring agent wherein the flavoring agent comprises an acyclic carboxamide and one or more other physiological cooling agents.   
     
     
         9 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 8  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide. 
     
     
         10 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 9  wherein the one or more other physiological cooling agents comprises menthyl succinate. 
     
     
         11 . A chewing gum composition comprising:
 a) about 5% to about 95% gum base;   b) about 5% to about 95% bulking and sweetening agent; and   c) about 0.1 to about 10% flavoring agent wherein the flavoring agent comprises an acyclic carboxamide and menthol.   
     
     
         12 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 11  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide. 
     
     
         13 . The chewing gum composition of  claim 12  wherein the flavoring agent further comprises menthyl succinate. 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing a chewing gum with a physiological cooling agent comprising the steps of:
 a) mixing a physiological cooling agent comprising an acyclic carboxamide together with a release modification material;   b) treating the cooling agent to provide a modified release; and   c) adding a quantity of the modified release cooling agent to a chewing gum composition to provide a cooling agent level in the gum of from about 0.001% to about 1%.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the acyclic carboxamide comprises N-2,3-trimethyl-2-isopropyl butanamide.