CONFECTIONERY PRODUCT

Abstract

Disclosed is a process for the manufacture of a confectionary product consisting of a tablet characterised by the use of water-soluble ingredients.

Claims

1. A tablet obtained by compressing substantially spherical granules of a plurality of colours consisting of a sweetener core having a particle size ranging from 400 to 600 μm, coated with particles of the same or another sweetener having a particle size smaller than that of the core, said particles being caused to adhere to the cores by an aqueous solution of a hydrocolloid optionally containing a water-soluble active ingredient.

2. A tablet according to claim 1 wherein the sweetener is sorbitol and the sweetener core has a particle size of 500 μm.

3. A tablet according to claim 1 wherein the hydrocolloid is hydroxypropyl methylcellulose.

4. A tablet according to claim 1, wherein the granules have a diameter ranging from 1.8 mm to 2.2 mm.

5. A tablet according to claim 1, wherein the water-soluble active ingredient is selected from colorants, flavourings, vitamins, minerals, syrups, medicaments, plant extracts, amino acids, probiotics, prebiotics, inactivated bacteria and high-intensity sweeteners.

6. A confectionery product comprising a tablet according to claim 1.

7. The tablet according to claim 1, wherein the sweetener core is coated with particles having a particle size about 100 μm.

8. A tablet according to claim 1, wherein the granules have a diameter of 2 mm.

Description

EXAMPLE 1

[0041] Single-Layer Tablet with Granules of 3 Different Colours.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 No. Ingredient Percentage (%) without water 1 Sorbitol .sup. 33% 2 Mint flavouring 0.16% 3 Aspartame 0.04% 4 Colour 1 0.002%  5 HPMC 0.06% 6 Sorbitol .sup. 33% 7 Mint flavouring 0.16% 8 Aspartame 0.04% 9 Colour 2 0.002%  10 HPMC 0.06% 11 Sorbitol .sup. 33% 12 Mint flavouring 0.16% 13 Aspartame 0.04% 14 Colour 3 0.002%  15 HPMC 0.06% 16 Magnesium stearate 0.25% Total without water  100%

[0042] The tablet of Example 1 is obtained by using three different sets of granules. The granules belonging to the first set, characterised by colour 1, have a particle size of 2 mm, and are obtained from ingredients 1 to 5; the granules belonging to the second set, characterised by colour 2, have a particle size of 2 mm, and are obtained from ingredients 6 to 10; the granules belonging to the third set, characterised by colour 3, have a particle size of 2 mm, and are obtained from ingredients 11 to 15.

[0043] The granules belonging to the three sets are spherical, and are mixed in a tumbler, to which magnesium stearate is added.

[0044] The mixture of the three sets of granules and magnesium stearate is then conveyed to the moulds of a rotary tablet press, wherein it is compressed to obtain tablets containing the ingredients listed in Table 1 with their percentages.

[0045] The tablets have a single layer characterised by a smooth surface wherein demarcated areas of a polygonal shape, each characterised by one of the colours indicated as colour 1, colour 2 and colour 3, are distinguishable.

EXAMPLES 2-4

[0046] Examples 2-4 describe tablets made according to the composition of Table 2; however, each example is made with granules of a different particle size.

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Example no. Example 2 Example 3 Example 4 Granule 1.8 mm 2 mm 2.2 mm particle size Evaluation The tablets present a The tablets present a The tablets present a pattern of regularly pattern of regularly pattern of nearly always alternating white, green alternating white, green regularly alternating and red areas, indicating and red areas, indicating white, green and red the balanced presence of the balanced presence of areas, indicating the vitamin C, iron bisglycinate vitamin C, iron bisglycinate balanced presence of and pyridoxine hydrochloride. and pyridoxine hydrochloride. vitamin C, iron bisglycinate The areas have polygonal The areas have well-defined and pyridoxine hydrochloride. outlines which are nearly polygonal outlines and are The areas have well-defined always well-defined, and clearly distinct from each polygonal outlines and are are clearly distinct from other. clearly distinct from each each other. other.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 No. Ingredient Percentage (%) without water 1 Sorbitol 32.500%  2 Mint flavouring 0.160% 3 Aspartame 0.040% 4 Sodium ascorbate 0.500% 5 HPMC 0.060% 6 Sorbitol 32.800%  7 Mint flavouring 0.160% 8 Aspartame 0.040% 9 Iron bisglycinate 0.200% 10 HPMC 0.060% 11 Sorbitol 33.000%  12 Mint flavouring 0.150% 13 Aspartame 0.040% 14 Allura red 0.002% 15 Pyridoxine hydrochloride 0.010% 16 HPMC 0.060% 17 Magnesium stearate 0.218% Total without water .sup. 100%

[0047] The tablets of Examples 2-4 are obtained by using three different sets of granules, each characterised by a different water-soluble active compound and a different colour. The granules belonging to the first set, characterised by the presence of sodium ascorbate, are naturally white and obtained from ingredients 1 to 5 (Table 3); the granules belonging to the second set, characterised by the presence of iron bisglycinate, are naturally green and obtained from ingredients 6 to 10 (Table 3); the granules belonging to the third set, characterised by the presence of pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), are coloured red with allura red colouring, and obtained from ingredients 11 to 16 (Table 3).

[0048] The tablets of Examples 2-4 have the same composition; a daily portion of 6×700 mg tablets provides 23% of the NRV (Nutrient Reference Value) of vitamin C, 16% of the NRV of iron, and 25% of the NRV of vitamin B6.

[0049] The tablets of examples 2-4 are differentiated from one another by the size of the granules from which they are obtained. All the granules are obtained from sorbitol cores, granulated with sorbitol of a smaller size.

[0050] The tablets are obtained from granules belonging to the three sets described in Example 1. The size of all three sets in each example is the same, as reported in Table 2. The resulting tablets were qualitatively evaluated by a group of four experts on the basis of their appearance, according to whether the presence of the various functional ingredients was observed.