Oral compositions with reduced water content

Abstract

The disclosure provides for oral compositions that exhibit desired properties associated with moist products while incorporating a relatively low water content. Such compositions may include at least one releasable material, at least one filler/carrier component, and at least one water substitute, such as a polyol. The water substituted may be present in an amount of about 25% by weight or greater based on the total weight of the oral composition, and the compositions and products formed therewith can exhibit a relatively low water activity, such as in the range of about 0.85 or less. The present disclosure further provides methods of forming an oral composition with a mouthfeel corresponding to a moist product while having a relatively low water activity.

1 . An oral composition comprising:
 at least one releasable material;   at least one filler component; and   a polyol component in an amount of about 25% by weight or greater based on the total weight of the oral composition.   
     
     
         2 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyol component is present in an amount of about 25% by weight to about 40% by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         3 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral composition comprises less than 10% by weight of water based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         4 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral composition comprises about 0.1% to about 9% by weight of water based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         5 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral composition comprises about 0.5% to about 5% by weight of water based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         6 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polyol comprises one or both of glycerin and propylene glycol. 
     
     
         7 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral composition exhibits a mouthfeel corresponding to a moist product while having a water activity of about 0.85 or less. 
     
     
         8 . The oral composition of  claim 7 , wherein the oral composition has a water activity of about 0.8 or less. 
     
     
         9 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral composition is contained within a pouch. 
     
     
         10 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the oral composition is in the form of a lozenge, a pastille, or an extrudate. 
     
     
         11 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable material is an active ingredient. 
     
     
         12 . The oral composition of  claim 11 , wherein the active ingredient is selected from the group consisting of a nicotine component, botanicals, stimulants, amino acids, vitamins, cannabinoids, cannabimimetics, terpenes, nutraceuticals, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , wherein the releasable material is a flavor component. 
     
     
         14 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more components selected from the group consisting of sweeteners, gums, binding agents, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The oral composition of  claim 1 , further comprising a tobacco component. 
     
     
         16 . The oral composition of  claim 15 , wherein the tobacco component comprises bleached tobacco. 
     
     
         17 . A method of forming an oral composition with a mouthfeel corresponding to a moist product while having a relatively low water activity, the method comprising:
 combining at least one releasable material and at least one filler component with a polyol such that the polyol comprises about 25% by weight or greater of the oral composition based on the total weight of the oral composition; and   limiting a water content of the oral composition to a range wherein the oral composition has a water activity of about 0.85 or less.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the polyol comprises about 25% to about 40% by weight of the oral composition based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range of about 10% or less by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising limiting the water content of the oral composition to a range of about 0.5% to about 5% by weight based on the total weight of the oral composition. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled)