Coating of Confectionery and Tablets
A method of coating an edible item. The method comprises applying molten polyol to the item and cooling the polyol to crystallise it into its solid form.
1 . A method of coating an edible item, the method comprising:
a) applying molten polyol to the item by an application method selected from the group consisting of casting and co-extrusion; and
b) cooling the polyol to crystallize it into its solid form.
2 . (canceled)
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application method comprises casting.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the application method comprises co-extrusion.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the polyol is selected from the group consisting of erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, maltitol and isomalt.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the applying and cooling steps are performed as continuous processes.
7 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the edible item is passed through rotating molds which provide a cast of polyol around each edible item.
8 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the edible item is extruded through an inner nozzle, and molten polyol is extruded through an outer nozzle, of co-axial nozzles, creating the encapsulated item.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the extrusion process is pulsed to form discrete pellets.