Confectionery Product

Abstract

The invention relates to a confectionery product comprising a polymer system, flavor and sweetener, wherein at least 20% by weight of said confectionery product comprises substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 5% by weight of said confectionery product comprising one or a combination of elastomeric polymers wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a tan (delta) above 1 measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. And wherein the tan (delta) is defined as (loss modulus G″/storage modulus G′). According to the present invention, a new confectionery product has been obtained having texture properties emulating toffee but comprising a part, which is retained in the mouth during chewing.

1 . Confectionery product comprising
 a polymer system,   flavor and   sweetener,   wherein at least 20% by weight of said confectionery product comprises substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 5% by weight of said confectionery product comprising one or a combination of elastomeric polymers,   wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a tan (delta) above 1 measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. and wherein   the tan (delta) is defined as (loss modulus G″/storage modulus G′).   
   
   
       2 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a tan (delta) in the range of 1 to 10 measured at a frequency of 0.1 to 10 Hz. 
   
   
       3 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said tan (delta) is in the range of 1 to 5 measured at a frequency of 0.1 to 10 Hz. 
   
   
       4 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage modulus G′ is lower than about 40,000 Pa, as measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. 
   
   
       5 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage modulus G′ decreases during at least a part of a chewing process. 
   
   
       6 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage modulus G′ decreases in the chewing process during the first 1 to 3 minutes. 
   
   
       7 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said loss modulus G″ is higher than about 10,000 Pa as measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. 
   
   
       8 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said loss modulus G″ decreases during at least a part of the chewing process. 
   
   
       9 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said loss modulus G″ decreases in the chewing process during the first 1 to 3 minutes. 
   
   
       10 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said chewing process involves a chewing frequency at about 1 Hz. 
   
   
       11 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said storage modulus G′ and said loss modulus G″ are measured at an oscillation torque of about 8 to 12 μN·m. 
   
   
       12 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage modulus G′ and the loss modulus G″ are measured by AR 1000 rheometer from TA Instruments and at a temperature of 37° C. 
   
   
       13 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a said loss modulus G″ decreasing over time. 
   
   
       14 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is characterized by, within the first 3 minutes of the chewing, having a said storage modulus G′ lower than that of a conventional chewing gum as measured at a chewing frequency of 0.1 to 1 Hz. 
   
   
       15 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is characterized by, within the first 3 minutes of the chewing, having a said loss Modulus G″ lower than that of a conventional chewing gum as measured at a chewing frequency of 0.1 Hz. 
   
   
       16 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the loss modulus G″ and the storage modulus G′ are both lower than about 10,000 Pa as measured at a frequency of about 0.1 Hz. 
   
   
       17 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein at least about 70% by weight of said polymer system comprising substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 15% by weight of said polymer system comprising one or a combination of elastomeric polymers. 
   
   
       18 . Confectionery product according to any of the claim  claim 1 , wherein at least 30% by weight of said confectionery product comprises substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 5% by weight of said confectionery product comprising elastomeric polymers. 
   
   
       19 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said elastomeric polymers include styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), poly isobutylene (PIB), isobutylene-isoprene rubber (IIR), polyisoprene, natural rubber and any combination thereof. 
   
   
       20 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises less than 3% by weight of said elastomeric polymers. 
   
   
       21 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises less than 2% by weight of said elastomeric polymers. 
   
   
       22 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises less than 1% by weight of said elastomeric polymers. 
   
   
       23 . Confectionery product according; to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises at least one substantially non-elastomeric polymer in an amount in the range of 70% to 100% by weight of said polymer system. 
   
   
       24 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system is substantially formed by at least one substantially non-elastomeric polymer. 
   
   
       25 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is substantially free of said elastomeric polymers. 
   
   
       26 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises less than 4% by weight of polymers having a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 50,000 to 99,999 g/mol. 
   
   
       27 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises less than 2% by weight of polymers having a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 100,000 to 199,999 g/mol. 
   
   
       28 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises less than 1% by weight of polymers having a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 200,000 to 399,999 g/mol. 
   
   
       29 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises less than 0.5% by weight of polymers having a molecular weight (Mw) of from about 399,000 to 800,000 g/mol. 
   
   
       30 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises sweetener in an amount of 2% to 80% by weight of the confectionery product. 
   
   
       31 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises sweetener in an amount of 10% to 75% by weight of the confectionery product. 
   
   
       32 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises sweetener in an amount of 20% to 70% by weight of the confectionery product. 
   
   
       33 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said sweetener comprises sugar. 
   
   
       34 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said sweetener comprises bulk sweeteners. 
   
   
       35 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product comprises less than 30% by weight of filler. 
   
   
       36 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises filler in the amount of 1% to 30% by weight. 
   
   
       37 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product comprises filler in the amount of 2% and 15% by weight. 
   
   
       38 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said non elastomeric polymers comprise PVA. 
   
   
       39 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said non elastomeric polymers include low-molecular weight PVA, where said low-molecular weight PVA has a molecular weight (Mw) of less than about 50,000 g/mol. 
   
   
       40 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said non elastomeric polymers comprise a natural or synthetic resin. 
   
   
       41 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer system comprises at least one low-molecular weight PVA having a molecular weight (Mw) of about 9,000 to 30,000 g/mol. 
   
   
       42 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one low-molecular weight PVA having a molecular weight (Mw) of about 2,000 to 40,000 g/mol in an amount of from about 70% to 99% by weight of the polymer system. 
   
   
       43 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system of said confectionery product comprises at least about 90% by weight of polyvinyl acetate. 
   
   
       44 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system of said confectionery product comprises at least about 95% by weight of polyvinyl acetate. 
   
   
       45 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system of said confectionery product comprises at least about 99% by weight of polyvinyl acetate. 
   
   
       46 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system is substantially formed by polyvinyl acetate(s) alone. 
   
   
       47 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is a toffee gum. 
   
   
       48 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system substantially comprises polyvinyl acetate (PVA). 
   
   
       49 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the polymer system comprises
 at least one low-molecular weight PVA having a molecular weight (Mw) of about 2,000 to 40,000 g/mol,   at least one high-molecular weight PVA having a molecular weight (Mw) of 40,001 to 200,000 g/mol.   
   
   
       50 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product comprises at least about 70% by weight of said polymer system comprising polyvinyl acetate (PVA) and less than 10% by weight of said polymer system comprises polymer having a molecular weight (Mw) greater than about 50,000 g/mol. 
   
   
       51 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises plasticizers. 
   
   
       52 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said polymer system comprises less than 30% by weight of plasticizers. 
   
   
       53 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product comprises less than 10% by weight of plasticizers. 
   
   
       54 . Confectionery product according to  claim 51 , wherein said plasticizer comprises triacetin. 
   
   
       55 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said plasticizer comprises acetylated glycerides. 
   
   
       56 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises
 a polymer system in an amount of from about 5% to about 99% by weight,   flavor in an amount of about 0.001% to about 30% by weight and   sweeteners in an amount of about 5% to about 80% by weight.   
   
   
       57 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises a polymer system in an amount of from about 10% to about 99% by weight of said confectionery product. 
   
   
       58 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises a polymer system in an amount of from about 20% to about 99% by weight of said confectionery product. 
   
   
       59 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises a polymer system in an amount of from about 30% to about 99% by weight of said confectionery product. 
   
   
       60 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product comprises a chewable tablet comprising a chewable polymer system. 
   
   
       61 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said flavor comprises substantially oil-based and/or substantially hydrophilic flavors. 
   
   
       62 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein said confectionery product is formed into cores, ellipsoid, balls, cylinders, squares, rectangular, hexagonal, strips, paraboloid, donut formed, ring formed, teddy bear formed and/or multimodular. 
   
   
       63 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the weight of the confectionery product is from about ¼ gram to about 10 grams. 
   
   
       64 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product comprises a coating. 
   
   
       65 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product is center filled. 
   
   
       66 . Confectionery product according to  claim 1 , wherein the confectionery product comprises active ingredients. 
   
   
       67 . Method of manufacturing a confectionery product comprises:
 manufacturing a confectionery product by a batch process;   wherein the confectionery product comprises   
     a polymer system, 
     flavor and 
     sweetener,
 wherein at least 20% by weight of said confectionery product comprises substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 5% by weight of said confectionery product comprising one or a combination of elastomeric polymers, 
 wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a tan (delta) above 1 measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. and wherein 
 the tan (delta) is defined as (loss modulus G″/storage modulus G′). 
 
   
   
       68 . Method of manufacturing a confectionery product comprises:
 manufacturing a confectionery product by an extruder process;   wherein the confectionery product comprises   
     a polymer system, 
     flavor and 
     sweetener,
 wherein at least 20% by weight of said confectionery product comprises substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 5% by weight of said confectionery product comprising one or a combination of elastomeric polymers, 
 wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a tan (delta) above 1 measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. and wherein 
 the tan (delta) is defined as (loss modulus G″/storage modulus G′). 
 
   
   
       69 . Method of manufacturing a confectionery product comprises:
 manufacturing a confectionery product by a compression process;   wherein the confectionery product comprises   
     a polymer system, 
     flavor and 
     sweetener,
 wherein at least 20% by weight of said confectionery product comprises substantially non-elastomeric polymer and less than about 5% by weight of said confectionery product comprising one or a combination of elastomeric polymers, 
 wherein said confectionery product is characterized by having a tan (delta) above 1 measured at a frequency of about 1 Hz. and wherein 
 the tan (delta) is defined as (loss modulus G″/storage modulus G′).