Biodegradable bubble gum

Abstract

A bubble gum composition comprises a gum base which comprises at least 10% by weight seaweed. Preferable the seaweed in Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculous). The bubble gum composition may also contain cal

Description

Biodegradable Bubble Gum The present invention relates to a chewable confection in the form of a bubble-gum with improved environmental characteristics. Chewable confection in the form of chewing gum and bubble gum is well known and is made out of a gum base containing rubber / plastic. The product is intended to be chewed over a period of time but not to significantly break down during chewing but rather to release flavourings and to enable exercise of the jaw muscles. Bubble gum has additional recreational value in that it has higher elasticity and therefore a different user experience in addition to the notional ability to use it to blow bubbles. However, the principal benefit is that the additional elasticity provides improved massaging of the gums and the jaw muscles to provide a greater intrinsic health benefit Whilst bubble gum provides health benefits, for example a given weight of bubble gum will release a much smaller fraction of sugar than the equivalent weight of, for example a boiled sweet or other confection, there is room to improve the health profile so as to encourage consumption with the associated health benefits of consumption. Specifically, more than 45% of adults in the United Kingdom are currently being affected by gum disease, which has the potential to seriously impact their quality of life. It is estimated that, 10% are living with the most severe form of gum disease, which is the most likely to cause pain and even tooth loss. Despite the benefits of chewable confections, the fact that the gum is persistent and does not readily dissolve results in an estimated, 100,000 Tonnes of plastic pollution in the United Kingdom. Further it costs an estimated £7 million to remove 2 million pieces of gum from 87% of streets annually in the United Kingdom. To illustrate this further, Oxford Street in London has an estimated % million chewing gum residues ‘blobs’ on the pavement. There are therefore two requirements for improved chewable confection, specifically what might be thought of as a persistently chewable confection (i.e. one that does not disintegrate in the mouth). First there is a need to provide improved health benefits to support the benefits of the product in addition to its reduced sugar and carbohydrate delivery, and second there is a need to provide an improved environmental profile to avoid persistence in the environment. In this respect it is desirable to provide a product which may be termed “biodegradable” and is a “bioplastic”. Maybe further advantageous if the composition of the persistently chewable confection can be mixed with other materials to make a composite, to form other chewable products such as savoury products. The present invention provides: A persistently chewable product comprising a gum base having an elasticity suitable for use as a bubblegum, the gum base further comprising at least 10% by weight seaweed. The use of seaweed extracts in minor levels in chewable products is well known. However, a composition comprising a high level of seaweed and therefore being substantially capable of biodegradation and fully delivering the health benefits associated with seaweeds, for example iodine in the diet, have not been made available Various seaweeds are suitable however a preferred seaweed is Bladderwrack. Bladderwrack is additionally beneficial as it comprises alginic acid which is beneficial in digestion and gastrointestinal function. Bladderwrack, bladderwrack grows along the coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the North and Baltic Seas, and various waters in Canada and the United States and can be up to 35 inches (90 cm) tall. It is therefore readily available and can be harvested without detriment to the environment. Further Bladderwrack also is understood to provide other vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, iodine, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc, and vitamins A and Cc. The present invention the function of the seaweed is to provide the persistently chewable (gum) base for the bubblegum and the resilient qualities necessary for the improved chewing action. The preferred composition of the present invention further comprises calcium chloride admixed with the seaweed, preferably admixed with Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus). As the flavour of seaweed can be relatively strong the seaweed is preferably accompanied with sodium alginate in addition to the calcium chloride so as to give a less intense flavouring. The amount of seaweed in the composition is preferably in the range from 10 to 30% by weight, more preferably 15 to 25% by weight. The amount of sodium alginate in the composition is preferably 10 to 50% by weight. The residue of the composition to 100, minus optional minor ingredients, is calcium chloride. This is preferably provided in a one-to-one weight ratio with the other seaweed and alginate. The final composition typically comprises between 5 and 70% water, preferably between 8 and 60% water, most preferably from 20 to 50% by weight the amounts of components mentioned above being those of dry weight. This is far higher than a typical chewing gum and provides less waste for a given amount of chewable composition. A preferred composition range is 16 to 22% seaweed, preferably Bladderwrack, 34 to 44% sodium alginate and 34 to 44% calcium chloride, and additives of up to 16% by dry weight to form a gum base for the chewable confection. A preferred composition is 20% seaweed, preferably Bladderwrack, 40% sodium alginate and 40% calcium chloride, by dry weight to form a gum base for the chewable confection. In addition to this gum base, additional flavourings, sweeteners and vitamins and minerals may be added. A preferred additive sweetener is xylitol such as at a level between one and 10%, xylitol being preferred for its reduced ability to cause tooth decay. The composition is preferably free of sugars. A preferred addition is zinc, in the form of zinc chloride. This not only provides zinc to the diet which is understood to reduce violent behaviour as well as general health benefits but it also as a divalent cation supplements the calcium. A preferred addition is that part of the calcium is provided as a fluoride. This provides an additional benefit of providing, in the manner of toothpaste, strengthening of tooth enamel. Addition of up to 2500 ppm of fluoride in the invention is preferred. The presence of fluoride appears to also produce a more durable gum. The above compositions provide an improved bubblegum termed cheweedz (TM) which is nutritious, biodegradable, low cost, abundant in supply and of course edible. Flavourings additive may optionally be added to bubble gum Esters used in synthetic bubblegum for example methyl salicylate, ethyl butyrate, benzyl acetate, amyl acetate or cinnamic aldehyde. Naturally occurring flavourings are preferred. Although, the present invention comprising seaweed and particular Bladderwrack has an intrinsic natural flavour and therefore the addition of further flavourings is not required. Persistently chewable confections typically comprise glycerin, such as a level of between 2 and 15%. This provides a more moist composition, however, the seaweed in the present invention removes the need for glycerine making sure that the composition remains fluid and moist over a prolonged period of time. Conventionally, bubble gums are formed from by the addition of high molecular weight (longer chains of atoms in the molecules) polymers such as artificial materials for example polyethylene, butadiene-styrene rubber and butylene-isoprene copolymer however these are not only of poor biodegradability but are not digestible. The present invention by use of seaweed and in particular Bladderwrack provides the necessary elasticity and resilience (rubberyness) to provide an effective bubble blowing composition. The present invention therefore provides a bubblegum comprising naturally occurring polymers (the long molecule chains). The method of preparation of the composition according to the present invention is as follows. At ambient temperature, 20 g of sodium alginate and 10 g of Bladderwrack (dried) are added to boiled water which has been cooled to around 60°C to form a first composition. Time is provided, such as an hour, for the seaweed to fully hydrate. Separately, with stirring, 20g of dry weight calcium chloride are added to 500 mL of water to form a second composition, with an optional xylitol sweetener of 2g (which allows fast release on first placing in the mouth, such as to counter ant effects of optional vitamin tastes) and optional vitamin C, ascorbic acid, at 0.1g. The first composition is then added to the second composition dropwise to form the gum base of the present invention. The second composition when combined with the first provides individual bodies of gum base (or final product if combined with any required minor ingredients). It is preferable that the individual bodies remain in the second solution for between one and 24 hours before being separated. This provides, particularly in combination of Bladderwrack the other components described above the high degree of elasticity which enables the bubble gum characteristics to be created. This has not previously been appreciated. When adding additive supplements such as vitamins and minerals these are preferably added to the second composition. This is preferable as the outside of the particles forms and combining the compositions is therefore enriched in these components giving rise to early release into the digestive system even if the product is only chewed for a short while.

Claims

Claims, i A persistently chewable product composition comprising a gum base having an elasticity suitable for use as a bubble gum, the gum base comprising at least 10% by weight seaweed.

2. The composition of claim 1 wherein the seaweed is Bladderwrack (Fucus vesiculosus).

3. The composition of claim one or claim 2 were in the composition further comprises calcium chloride admixed with the seaweed, preferably in further combination with calcium fluoride admixed with Bladderwrack.

4. The composition of any preceding claim in which the amount of seaweed in the composition is preferably in the range from 10 to 30% by dry weight.

3. The composition of any preceding claim in which the composition further comprises sodium alginate between 10 to 50% by dry weight.

6. The composition of any of claims 3 to 5 were in the dry weight of the composition is made up to 100% by calcium chloride. £. The composition of any of claims 3 to 6 in which the calcium salts are present ina 0.9to 1toa 1 to 0.9 ratio with the seaweed and alginate by weight.

8. The composition of any preceding claim in which the bubble gum comprises 5 and 70% water.

9. The composition of any preceding claim in which the composition comprises 20% seaweed, preferably Bladderwrack, 40% sodium alginate and 40% calcium chloride, by weight to form a gum base to which minor components up to a level of 10% may be included to form the composition.

10. The composition of any preceding claim comprising xylitol.

11. The composition of any preceding claim further comprising up to 2500 parts per million (ppm) of fluoride.

12. A method of preparation a persistently chewable product suitable for use as a bubblegum, the method comprising preparing compositions by: mixing between 16 and 22 parts by weight of sodium alginate and 6 to 12 parts by dry weight of Bladderwrack to 330 parts by weight water at between 40 and 60°C to form a first composition; optionally adding up to 2 parts of xylitol sweetener; mixing 16 and 22 parts by dry weight of calcium chloride with 500 parts by weight of water to form a second composition. followed by the step of: combining the first composition into the second composition in discrete amounts such as between 0.1 and 2 g and leaving the mixed composition for between 1 and 24 hours; separating solids materials from the mixed composition before filtration and removing excess surface moisture from the solids materials so obtained.