CHEWING GUM WITH STEVIA

Abstract

Disclosed is a chewing gum comprising stevia in the percentage of at least 0.05% by weight of the total gum, at least one calcium salt, and one or more high-viscosity elastomers.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A chewing gum comprising Stevia in percentages of at least 0.05% by weight on the total of the gum, calcium carbonate and butyl rubber as high viscosity elastomer.

13. A chewing gum according to claim 12 wherein the butyl rubber has a Mooney viscosity of 515 units and an unsaturation percentage ranging from 1% to 3%.

14. A chewing gum according to claim 12 wherein the calcium carbonate to high viscosity elastomer(s) weight ratio ranges from 1:1 to 15:1.

15. A chewing gum according to claim 14 wherein the calcium carbonate to high viscosity elastomer(s) weight ratio ranges from 2:1 to 13.5:1.

16. A chewing gum according to claim 12 wherein the high viscosity elastomer(s) minimum percentage is 2%.

17. A chewing gum according to claim 16 wherein the high viscosity elastomer(s) minimum percentage is 3%.

18. A chewing gum according to claim 12 wherein the particle size of calcium carbonate ranges from 0.1 to 100 m.

19. A chewing gum according to claim 18 wherein the particle size of calcium carbonate ranges from 0.1 to 30 m.

20. A chewing gum according to claim 19 wherein the particle size of calcium carbonate ranges from 0.1 to 15 m.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] It has now been discovered that the gum base plasticising problem caused by stevia can be eliminated by suitably selecting the ingredients of the gum base and adding a calcium salt.

[0017] It has been found in particular that high-viscosity elastomers, with the addition of a calcium salt, are not subject to the plasticising induced by even small amounts of stevia sweetener (0.05% or more), a phenomenon which is all the more unexpected because the intensive sweeteners conventionally used do not give rise to plasticising.

[0018] The object of the invention is therefore chewing gums comprising at least 0.05% stevia, at least one calcium salt as filler, and one or more high-viscosity elastomers.

[0019] The high-viscosity elastomers which can be used according to the invention are preferably elastomers derived from polymerisation or copolymerisation of isobutylene or butadiene with other monomers. Examples of said high-viscosity elastomers include butyl rubber, polyisobutylene and styrene-butadiene copolymer.

[0020] Isobutylene and isoprene copolymer (butyl rubber) is particularly preferred. A type of butyl rubber particularly suitable for the purposes of the invention has a Mooney viscosity of 515 units measurable by the ASTM D1646 method, and an unsaturation level ranging from 1% and 3%. In addition to high-viscosity elastomers, the gum base also contains conventional ingredients such as low-viscosity elastomers, resins and emulsifiers.

[0021] A carbonate preferably having a small particle size, substantially ranging from 0.1 to 100 m, preferably from 0.1 to 30 M, most preferably from 0.1 to 15 m, is preferred as calcium salt.

[0022] The weight ratio between filler(s) and high-viscosity elastomer(s) advantageously ranges from 1:1 to 15:1, preferably from 2:1 to 13.5:1.

[0023] Moreover, a minimum value for the high-viscosity elastomer or combination of elastomers amounting to 2% of the gum base is considered preferable to obtain the desired compensation effect, the other ingredients being equal. Said value is preferably 3%.

[0024] The term stevia used herein refers, in particular, to a purified powdered extract obtained from the leaves of Stevia rebaudiana containing steviol glycosides amounting to at least 95% of the dry matter.

[0025] The percentages by weight of stevia typically range from 0.05 to 1% by weight of the composition, preferably from 0.1 to 0.5% by weight.

[0026] Any composition of the water-soluble part of the chewing gum as conventionally known can be deemed suitable for the purposes of the invention.

[0027] The gums according to the invention are pleasant to chew and stable, as they are not subject to the above-mentioned plasticising effect.

[0028] The following example illustrates the invention described above.

TABLE-US-00001 % value by weight Ingredients of gum base Butyl rubber 9.3 Low-viscosity elastomer 6.4 Polymer plasticisers and resins 36.0 Plasticisers 21.2 Emulsifiers 7.0 Calcium carbonate 20.0 Purified powdered extract obtained from 0.1 Stevia rebaudiana leaves, containing steviol glycosides amounting to at least 95% of the dry matter