METHOD FOR INCORPORATING FAT-SOLUBLE INGREDIENT INTO COMESTIBLE PRODUCT, AND PRODUCT RESULTING THEREFROM
Disclosed is a method for incorporating a fat-soluble ingredient into a comestible product, the method including forming a comestible core, coating the comestible core with at least one coating layer to form a comestible shell, and applying a fat-soluble ingredient to the comestible core via the coating, the fat-soluble ingredient being applied in the at least one coating layer in liquid form.
1 . A method for incorporating a fat-soluble ingredient into a comestible product, the method comprising:
forming a comestible core;
coating said comestible core with at least one coating layer to form a comestible shell; and
applying a fat-soluble ingredient to said comestible core via said coating, said fat-soluble ingredient being applied in said at least one coating layer in liquid form.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said comestible core is a chewing gum core.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said comestible shell is a hard candy confectionery shell.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said at least one coating layer is a plurality of coating layers applied in a plurality of coating steps.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein at least one of said plurality of coating steps comprises applying a liquid premix of said fat-soluble ingredient and at least one flavor ingredient in at least one of said plurality of coating layers.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said plurality of coating steps comprises at least one initial step forming an interior portion of said comestible shell, at least one intermediate step forming a central portion of said comestible shell, and at least one finishing step forming an exterior portion of said comestible shell.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further including applying said liquid premix comprising said fat-soluble ingredient and said at least one flavor ingredient via said at least one intermediate step.
8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising localizing said fat-soluble ingredient in said central portion.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said fat-soluble-ingredient is at least one fat-soluble vitamin ingredient.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein said fat-soluble vitamin ingredient is selected from the group consisting of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein said fat-soluble vitamin ingredient is vitamin D.
12 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said chewing gum core is hydrophobic and comprises an elastomer and a sweetener.
13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein said comestible shell is a hydrophilic confectionery shell, and wherein at least one of said initial step and said finishing step comprises applying at least one sugar alcohol to form said confectionery shell.
14 . A comestible product comprising a fat-soluble ingredient, the product comprising:
a comestible core; and
a comestible shell coating said comestible core,
wherein said comestible shell comprises an interior portion, a central portion, an exterior portion, and
a fat-soluble ingredient;
wherein said comestible shell comprises a concentration gradient, such that said central portion comprises a maximum concentration of said fat-soluble ingredient, and said interior portion and said exterior portion comprise a minimum concentration of the fat-soluble ingredient.
15 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said comestible core is a chewing gum core.
16 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said comestible shell is a hard candy confectionery shell.
17 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said fat-soluble ingredient is a vitamin.
18 . The product of claim 17 , wherein said fat-soluble vitamin ingredient is selected from the group consisting of vitamins A, D, E, and K.
19 . The product of claim 18 , wherein said fat-soluble vitamin ingredient is vitamin D.
20 . The product of claim 15 , wherein said chewing gum core is hydrophobic and comprises an elastomer and a sweetener.
21 . The product of claim 16 , wherein said hard candy confectionery shell is hydrophilic and comprises at least one sugar alcohol.
22 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said fat-soluble ingredient is localized in said central portion of said comestible shell.
23 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said minimum concentration of said fat-soluble ingredient in said interior portion and said exterior portion of said comestible shell is about 0%, and wherein said maximum concentration of said fat-soluble ingredient in said central portion of said comestible shell is about 100%.
24 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said maximum concentration of said fat-soluble ingredient in said central portion of said comestible shell is any percentage of said fat-soluble ingredient in said central portion that is greater than a percentage of said fat-soluble ingredient in said interior portion and said exterior portion individually.
25 . The product of claim 14 , wherein said maximum concentration of said fat-soluble ingredient in said central portion of said comestible shell is any percentage of said fat-soluble ingredient in said central that is greater than a combined percentage of said fat-soluble ingredient in said interior portion and said exterior portion.