Semi-moist delivery system

1. A composition for the oral administration of an additive selected from the group consisting of pharmaceutical, nutritional supplements, vitamins and minerals, and mixtures thereof mammals in a discrete dosage form, said discrete dosage from comprising:

said additive,

an extrudate comprising a matrix having about 10 to about 50% wt starch,

a sweetener consisting essentially of sucrose, corn syrup and sorbitol, said sucrose being in an amount of at least 10%, and

at least about 5% wt water,

said composition having A w of about 0.60 to about 0.75, and a soft and chewy texture, and said A w being adjusted to permit an appropriate amount of free water in the presence of the additive.

2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the water content is about 10%.

3. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the polyhydric alcohol content is about 40%.

4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the starch content is about 32%.

5. The carrier of claim 1 wherein said carrier has a pregelatinized starch content of about 15%.

6. The carrier of claim 1 where the A w is 0.65 and the additive is aspirin.

7. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the polyhydric alcohol is sorbitol.

8. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the sugar content is about 15%.

9. A method of making a carrier and additive mixture for use in an oral administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the additive in a discrete dosage form, comprising the steps of:

a) forming a matrix and additive admixture by mixing, in a one-step procedure additive,

about 10 to about 50% wt starch,

0 to about 40% wt fat or oil,

a sweetener consisting of sucrose, corn syrup and sorbitol, said sucrose being in an amount of at least 10%,

and water,

and mixing;

adjusting the relative amounts of polyhydric alcohol and water to control the A w of said admixture to adjust the level of moisture in the carrier to be a level not inimical to the additive and extruding said admixture to form an extrudate.

10. The method of claim 9 including adjusting the water content to about 10%.

11. The method of claim 9 including adjusting the polyhydric alcohol content to about 40%.

12. The method of claim 9 including adjusting the starch content to about 32%.

13. The method of claim 9 including adjusting the sugar content to about 15%.

14. The method of claim 9 further including adding pregelatinized starch to about 15% of the total carrier.

15. The method of claim 9 including the step of mixing in a pharmaceutical.

16. The method of claim 9 including the step of mixing in a nutraceutical.

17. The method of claim 9 including the step of mixing in a vitamin and mineral mix.

18. The method of claim 9 including the step of adding sorbitol.

19. The method of claim 9 including the step of controlling the A w to be at about 0.60 to about 0.75.

20. The method of claim 9 including the step of adding aspirin as the active ingredient and controlling the A w of said carrier to about 0.65.

21. The carrier of claim 2 , wherein the additive constitutes from about 0.1% to about 5.0% of the resulting mixture.

22. The method of claim 9 , further including adding about 0.1% to about 5.0% additive.

23. A composition for the oral administration of a pharmaceutical additive to mammals in a discrete dosage form, said discrete dosage form comprising:

an extrudate having a matrix, and comprising:

10-50% starch,

0-40% fat or oil,

a sweetener consisting essentially of sucrose, corn syrup and sorbitol, said sucrose being in an amount of least 10%,

at least about 5% water,

said composition having an A w of about 0.60 to about 0.75, and a soft and chewy texture, and said A w being adjusted to permit an appropriate amount of free water in the presence of the additive.

24. A method of making a carrier and additive mixture for use in an oral administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the additive in a discrete dosage form, comprising the steps of:

a) forming an additive admixture by mixing, in a one-step procedure:

additive,

about 10 to about 50% wt starch,

0 to about 40% wt fat or oil,

a polyhydric alcohol,

a sweetener consisting of sucrose, said sucrose being in the amount of at least 10%

and water,

adjusting the relative amounts of polyhydric alcohol sweetener and water to control the A w of said admixture to adjust the level of moisture in the carrier to be at a level not inimical to the additive and extruding said admixture to form an extrudate.

25. The method of claim 24 including adjusting the water content to about 10%.

26. The method of claim 24 including adjusting the polyhydric alcohol content to about 40%.

27. The method of claim 24 including adjusting the starch content to about 32%.

28. The method of claim 24 including adjusting the sweetener content to about 15%.

29. The method of claim 24 further including adding pregelatinized starch to about 15% of the total carrier.

30. The method of claim 24 including the step of mixing in a pharmaceutical.

31. The method of claim 24 including the step of mixing in a nutraceutical.

32. The method of claim 24 including the step of mixing in a vitamin and mineral mix.

33. The method of claim 24 including the step of controlling the A w to be at about 0.60 to about 0.75.

34. The method of claim 24 including the step of adding aspirin as the active ingredient and controlling A w of said carrier to about 0.65.

35. The method of claim 24, further including adding about 0.1% to about 5.0% additive.

36. An extrudate for the oral administration of an additive to mammals in a discrete dosage form, said discrete dosage comprising an extruded composition having

4.5-22.5% starch,

0-40% fat or oil,

polyhydric alcohol,

a sweetener consisting of sucrose, corn syrup and sorbitol, said sucrose being in the amount of at least 10%,

water, and

said extrudate having an A w of about 0.60 to about 0.75, and a soft and chewy texture, and said A w being adjusted to permit an appropriate amount of free water in the presence of the additive.