[Object]

It is intended to provide a crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation, which is free from the formation of a lump during delivery or storage thereof, does not require pulverization or re-classification in use, is easy to handle in transfer, package opening, addition or mixing to another food material, and so on, and allows for automated transportation and so on.

[Means for Solving the Object]

The crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation is obtained by charging crystalline or powdery maltitol into a shelf type dryer, a tunnel-type dryer, a cylindrical container, or the like and subjecting the equipment or container to a treatment wherein an air having a temperature of 30 to 33 C. and a relative humidity of 5% is allowed to flow into the equipment or container from one side thereof and withdrawn out of the other side thereof at a space velocity of 11 to 12 for consecutive 24 hours. Even when the relative humidity is 45%, the crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation can be obtained by combining therewith other conditions such as an appropriate space velocity of the feed of air and an appropriate treatment duration.

[Object]

It is intended to provide a crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation, which is free from the formation of a lump during delivery or storage thereof, does not require pulverization or re-classification in use, is easy to handle in transfer, package opening, addition or mixing to another food material, and so on, and allows for automated transportation and so on.

[Means for Solving the Object]

The crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation is obtained by charging crystalline or powdery maltitol into a shelf type dryer, a tunnel-type dryer, a cylindrical container, or the like and subjecting the equipment or container to a treatment wherein an air having a temperature of 30 to 33 C. and a relative humidity of 5% is allowed to flow into the equipment or container from one side thereof and withdrawn out of the other side thereof at a space velocity of 11 to 12 for consecutive 24 hours. Even when the relative humidity is 45%, the crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation can be obtained by combining therewith other conditions such as an appropriate space velocity of the feed of air and an appropriate treatment duration.

The present invention concerns a method for producing a chewing gum composition containing a fat-free and gelatin-free chewing gum, comprising the following steps: 1) preparing the liquid phase, consisting of polyol and starch syrups, 2) optionally, adding glycerin and/or emulsifier and/or flavours, 3) introducing a powder fraction consisting of non-cariogenic ingredients into the liquid phase obtained in this way, and 4) introducing the gum base, and the chewing gum composition obtained in thus way, in which the fraction of non-cariogenic ingredients comprises powdered polyols with a chosen particle size.

A chewing gum composition and more particularly to a chewing gum composition has enhanced flavor release.

The subject matter of the invention is a sugar-free hard dragee consisting of a compressed core and a hard coating completely surrounding the compressed core, wherein the hard dragee is sugar-free. The compressed core contains a mixture of erythritol. D-sorbitol and steviol whereas the hard coating contains a mixture of D-maltitol, erythritol and stevia/steviol. The hard dragees according to the invention surprisingly have a good compatibility in spite off the combination of sugar replacement substances and non-sugar sweeteners. Moreover, the compressed cores of the hard dragees according to the invention have a very good compressibility.

[Object] It is intended to provide a crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation, which is free from the formation of a lump during delivery or storage thereof, does not require pulverization or re-classification in use, is easy to handle in transfer, package opening, addition or mixing to another food material, and so on, and allows for automated transportation and so on. [Means for solving the object] The crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation is obtained by charging crystalline or powdery maltitol into a shelf type dryer, a tunnel-type dryer, a cylindrical container, or the like and subjecting the equipment or container to a treatment wherein an air having a temperature of 30 to 33 C. and a relative humidity of 5% is allowed to flow into the equipment or container from one side thereof and withdrawn out of the other side thereof at a space velocity of 11 to 12 for consecutive 24 hours. Even when the relative humidity is 45%, the crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation can be obtained by combining therewith other conditions such as an appropriate space velocity of the feed of air and an appropriate treatment duration.

[Object] It is intended to provide a crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation, which is free from the formation of a lump during delivery or storage thereof, does not require pulverization or re-classification in use, is easy to handle in transfer, package opening, addition or mixing to another food material, and so on, and allows for automated transportation and so on. [Means for solving the object] The crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation is obtained by charging crystalline or powdery maltitol into a shelf type dryer, a tunnel-type dryer, a cylindrical container, or the like and subjecting the equipment or container to a treatment wherein an air having a temperature of 30 to 33 C. and a relative humidity of 5% is allowed to flow into the equipment or container from one side thereof and withdrawn out of the other side thereof at a space velocity of 11 to 12 for consecutive 24 hours. Even when the relative humidity is 45%, the crystalline maltitol powder less prone to consolidation can be obtained by combining therewith other conditions such as an appropriate space velocity of the feed of air and an appropriate treatment duration.

The present invention provides foods and beverages comprising a combination of two or more digestion-resistant components. This invention also provides an agent for producing hydrogen gas in the large intestine, the agent comprising a combination of two or more digestion-resistant components. The foods and beverages or the agent for producing H.sub.2 in the large intestine according to this invention can induce sustained production of large amounts of hydrogen gas by intestinal bacteria of more human individuals.

The present invention provides foods and beverages comprising a combination of two or more digestion-resistant components. This invention also provides an agent for producing hydrogen gas in the large intestine, the agent comprising a combination of two or more digestion-resistant components. The foods and beverages or the agent for producing H.sub.2 in the large intestine according to this invention can induce sustained production of large amounts of hydrogen gas by intestinal bacteria of more human individuals.

The present invention relates to methods for improving the gastrointestinal tolerance of food and beverage products comprising sweet, low-digestible carbohydrates, and the use of one or more of D-glucose, fiber and protein for improving the gastrointestinal tolerance of food and beverage products comprising sweet, low-digestible carbohydrates.