A tobacco material and a process for the treatment of tobacco are provided. The process comprises securing the tobacco material within a moisture-retaining material and exposing the tobacco material to an ambient processing temperature of at least about 45 C., with the tobacco having a packing density of at least 200 kg/m.sup.3 on a dry matter weight base at the start of the process and a moisture content of between about 10% and 15.5%. The treated tobacco material has an aerobic plate count of up to about 1000 CFU/g.

A method of modifying the content of certain bacteria in uncured tobacco material is provided, the method including contacting an uncured tobacco material with a treatment solution, wherein the treatment solution is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a solution comprising salt, sugar, or a combination thereof; (ii) a solution comprising one or more enzymes; and (iii) a solution comprising one or more probiotics, wherein said contacting provides a treated tobacco material having a reduced total bacterial content following harvest. Also provided is a method of reducing TSNA content, the method including growing a tobacco plant in soil treated with a chloride source; harvesting the tobacco plant; and curing the harvested tobacco plant to give a cured tobacco material, providing a treated, cured tobacco material having a TSNA content that is reduced as compared to a cured tobacco material that has been grown in soil not treated with a chloride source. Smoking articles and smokeless tobacco products including such treated tobacco materials are also provided.

A pasteurization unit and process for pasteurization of products such as cannabis and hemp.

The invention relates to a method for producing pouched smokeless tobacco products for oral use as well as to a pouched smokeless tobacco product obtainable using this method. The method comprises heat-treating an initial tobacco preparation having water content below 20% w/w, providing a smokeless tobacco composition comprising the heat-treated tobacco preparation and enclosing portions of said smokeless tobacco composition in saliva-permeable pouch material.

The herein-disclosed invention is a liquid, humectant composition comprising about 70%-88% distilled water, about 7%-14% food-grade USP propylene glycol, about 5%-10% ethanol, about 4%-8% raw honey, about 0.15%-0.16% Cascade hop oil, about 0.5%-0.7% citric acid, and about 0.06%-0.4% sodium benzoate. The composition should be prepared with USP, food-grade ingredients at room temperature, atmospheric pressure. Super-critical extraction of the Cascade hop oil ingredient is recommended. Once prepared, between 88.8 ml and 600 ml of said composition should be dropped onto a vented humidor disc for absorption; said saturated disc should then be placed with desired plant matter into a sealed plastic baggie, optionally inside a sealed humidor box. Said plant matter should reach an equilibrium humidity between 60% and 75% and should receive lasting preservative and aromatic effects.

A stabilizing process for tobacco and tobacco products includes sterilizing the tobacco by applying an electron beam treatment to the tobacco. The process may also include treating the tobacco. The treating the tobacco includes pre-conditioning the tobacco, pasteurizing the tobacco, curing the tobacco, fermenting the tobacco, or combinations thereof. The method may also include forming a smokeless tobacco product containing the tobacco.

Methods and compositions are provided for expressing an endolysin in a bacterium or in a tobacco plant or plant part. Expression of the endolysin can reduce the total bacterial load on the plant and in tobacco products produced from the plant. Accordingly, the level of tobacco specific nitrosamines (TSNA) in a cured tobacco product can be decreased when the tobacco leaves used in the product were harvested from a plant expressing endolysin or when bacteria modified to express endolysin is used to treat the tobacco. Thus, bacteria and tobacco plants and plant parts are provided that express an endolysin. Further provided are methods for decreasing the microbial load on a tobacco plant and in a tobacco product by applying a solution of bacteria modified to express an endolysin or by modifying a tobacco plant to express endolysins. Smokeless tobacco products including such modified tobacco plant parts are also provided.

The disclosure provides products configured for oral use, the products including a mixture of a particulate filler, water, one or more organic acids, and one or more flavoring agents, the product having a pH value of less than about 7.0. The products exhibit greater stability over time with respect to whiteness and/or flavor component concentration than products which do not contain one or more organic acids.

A method of modifying the content of certain bacteria in uncured tobacco material is provided, the method including contacting an uncured tobacco material with a treatment solution, wherein the treatment solution is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a solution comprising salt, sugar, or a combination thereof; (ii) a solution comprising one or more enzymes; and (iii) a solution comprising one or more probiotics, wherein said contacting provides a treated tobacco material having a reduced total bacterial content following harvest. In certain embodiments, the treated tobacco material is subsequently cured, and can optionally be fermented. Smoking articles and smokeless tobacco products including such treated tobacco materials are also provided.

A method of modifying the content of certain bacteria in uncured tobacco material is provided, the method including contacting an uncured tobacco material with a treatment solution, wherein the treatment solution is selected from the group consisting of: (i) a solution comprising salt, sugar, or a combination thereof; (ii) a solution comprising one or more enzymes; and (iii) a solution comprising one or more probiotics, wherein said contacting provides a treated tobacco material having a reduced total bacterial content following harvest. In certain embodiments, the treated tobacco material is subsequently cured, and can optionally be fermented. Smoking articles and smokeless tobacco products including such treated tobacco materials are also provided.