Smokeless tobacco pastille and injection molding process for forming smokeless tobacco products

Abstract

A smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is provided. The smokeless tobacco composition includes a tobacco material and a polysaccharide filler component such as polydextrose. A process for preparing a smokeless tobacco composition pastille configured for insertion into the mouth of a user is also provided. The process includes mixing a tobacco material with a binder and a polysaccharide filler component to form a smokeless tobacco mixture, injection molding the smokeless tobacco mixture, and cooling the smokeless tobacco mixture to form a solidified smokeless tobacco composition pastille. The mixing step can include forming a dry blend of the tobacco, filler, and binder components, and combining the dry blend with a viscous liquid component. The injection-molded pastille can provide a dissolvable and lightly chewable product.

1 . A smokeless tobacco composition configured for insertion into the mouth of a user, the smokeless tobacco composition comprising a tobacco material and a polysaccharide filler component. 
     
     
         2 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polysaccharide filler component comprises polydextrose. 
     
     
         3 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition comprises about 10 weight percent to about 25 weight percent of the polysaccharide filler component on a dry weight basis. 
     
     
         4 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional filler component comprising a sugar alcohol. 
     
     
         5 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 4 , wherein the additional filler component is sorbitol. 
     
     
         6 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a binder comprising a water soluble gum. 
     
     
         7 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 6 , wherein the binder is gum arabic. 
     
     
         8 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of flavorants, binders, emulsifiers, disintegration aids, humectants, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , wherein the tobacco material has an average particle size of less than about 50 microns. 
     
     
         10 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture content of the tobacco material is less than about 5 percent. 
     
     
         11 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , wherein the smokeless tobacco composition is in the form of an injection-molded pastille. 
     
     
         12 . The smokeless tobacco composition of  claim 1 , comprising:
 at least about 20 dry weight percent of tobacco material, based on the total weight of the composition;   at least about 10 dry weight percent of polysaccharide filler component;   at least about 10 dry weight percent of at least one binder;   at least about 20 dry weight percent of at least one humectant;   at least about 1 dry weight percent of at least one emulsifier;   at least about 0.1 dry weight percent of at least one sweetener; and   at least about 0.5 dry weight percent of at least one flavorant.   
     
     
         13 .- 28 . (canceled)