CHEWING GUM BULKING AGENTS
A sucrose-free, non-cariogenic, non-laxative chewing gum composition contains a bulking agent having at least 25 wt. % of a water-soluble dietary fiber polysaccharide component, and at least 25 wt. % of a water-soluble non-cariogenic, non-laxative crystalline C 4-6 mono-saccharide, or a mono-saccharide derivative, or a disaccharide containing C 4-6 saccharide units, as a bulking agent component. Such a combination of hulking agent components produces an advantageous balance of beneficial dietary fiber and sucrose-free components, while creating a chewing gum with an acceptable or superior non-slimy mouthfeel.
1 . A sucrose-free chewing gum composition containing a bulking agent containing components comprising:
a) at least 25 wt. % of a water-soluble dietary fiber polysaccharide, and
b) at least 25 wt. % of a non-cariogenic, non-laxative crystalline C 4-6 mono-saccharide, or a mono-saccharide derivative, or a disaccharide containing C 4-6 saccharide units.
2 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 in which component a) contains 3 to 60 saccharide units.
3 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 which is non-slimy when chewed.
4 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 in which component a) is inulin, fructooligosaccharide, or indigestible dextrin.
5 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 in which component b) is erythritol, tagatose, or isomaltose.
6 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 in which component a) contains 3 to 30 saccharide units.
7 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 in which component a) contains 20 to 40 saccharide units.
8 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 containing at least 40 wt. % component a).
9 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 containing at least 40 wt. % component b).
10 . A chewing gum composition of claim 1 containing at least 40 wt. % component a) and at least 40 wt. % component b).
11 . A bulking agent suitable for use in a chewing gum containing components comprising
a) at least 25 wt. % of a water-soluble dietary fiber polysaccharide containing three to sixty saccharide units, and
b) at least 25 wt. % of a non-cariogenic, non-laxative crystalline C 4-6 mono-saccharide, or a mono-saccharide derivative, or a disaccharide containing C 4-6 saccharide units.
12 . A bulking agent of claim 11 containing at least 45 wt. % component a) and at least 45 wt. % component b).
13 . A bulking agent of claim 11 in which component a) is inulin and component b) is erythritol.
14 . A bulking agent of claim 11 in which component a) is indigestible dextrin and component b) is tagatose.
15 . A bulking agent of claim 11 in which component a) is inulin and component b) is tagatose.
16 . A bulking agent of claim 11 in which component a) is indigestible dextrin and component b) is erythritol.
17 . A bulking agent of claim 11 in which component a) is polydextrose.
18 . A bulking agent of claim 17 which contains no more than 25 wt. % polydextrose.
19 . A bulking agent of claim 11 which does contain sorbitol, isomalt, maltitol, xylitol, or mannitol.
20 . A sucrose-free chewing gum composition containing:
at least 5 wt. % of a water-soluble dietary fiber polysaccharide containing three to sixty saccharide units, and
at least 5 wt. % of a non-cariogenic, non-laxative crystalline C 4-6 mono-saccharide, or a mono-saccharide derivative, a disaccharide containing C 4-6 saccharide units, or a short chain soluble dietary fiber.
21 . A chewing gum of claim 20 containing components comprising:
a) at least 15 wt. % of a water-soluble dietary fiber polysaccharide containing three to sixty saccharide units, and
b) at least 15 wt. % of a non-cariogenic, non-laxative crystalline C 4-6 mono-saccharide, or a mono-saccharide derivative, or a disaccharide containing C 4-6 saccharide units.
22 . A chewing gum composition of claim 20 in which component a) is indigestible dextrin, inulin, or fructooligosaccharide.
23 . A chewing gum composition of claim 20 in which component b) is erythritol, tagatose, or isomaltose.
24 . A sucrose-free chewing gum composition of claim 20 containing a bulking agent comprising of at least 75 wt. % of a short chain dietary fiber with an average DP more than 6 and less than 20.
25 . A sucrose-free chewing gum composition of claim 24 in which the short chain dietary fiber is inulin.