Edible ink compositions and related products and methods

Abstract

Edible ink compositions and methods for preparing and using the same are described. The edible ink composition may include a pigment having at least 26% by weight of calcium carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition, at least one binder, and at least one solvent. The composition may be edible and may be formulated for printing on a substrate.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 404,651, filed September 8, 2022, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to edible ink compositions, including compositions comprising calcium carbonate, that exhibit improved binding properties, which may be suitable for edible substrates to provide improved quality and stability. [Background technology]

[0003] Various white pigments derived from natural sources are useful in edible ink formulations for food products. For example, calcium carbonate has been used as a white pigment in edible ink formulations in place of titanium dioxide. However, high calcium carbonate content can present challenges, such as undesirably high viscosity, which complicates printing on substrates. Edible ink compositions can also easily rub off and fade on contact, or lose their appearance over time. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure includes edible ink compositions, products containing the edible ink compositions, and methods of making the compositions and products. For example, the present disclosure includes an edible ink composition comprising a pigment comprising at least 26% by weight of calcium carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition, at least one binder, and at least one solvent, where the composition is edible and formulated for printing on a substrate. The calcium carbonate may comprise scalenohedral calcium carbonate. In some examples, the composition may comprise 27% to about 37% by weight, or about 30% to about 32% by weight, of calcium carbonate. Additionally or alternatively, the composition may comprise about 5% to about 35% by weight of at least one binder, based on the total weight of the composition, and / or about 30% to about 75% by weight of at least one solvent, based on the total weight of the composition. In some examples, the at least one binder may include shellac, ethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), zein, rosin, rosin esters, xanthan gum, or combinations thereof.

[0005] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the at least one binder may include esterified shellac. In some examples, the at least one solvent may include ethanol, optionally denatured ethanol. The composition may further include at least one emulsifier. For example, the at least one emulsifier may include lecithin, polysorbate, polyglycerol ester, monoglyceride ester, diglyceride ester, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the composition may include from about 0.25% to about 4% by weight of the emulsifier, based on the total weight of the composition.

[0006] The edible ink composition may further comprise an oil absorber. For example, the oil absorber may comprise native starch, modified starch, acacia gum, sodium caseinate, microcrystalline cellulose, maltodextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, cocoa, or a combination thereof. In some examples, the composition may further comprise rice protein, rice starch, tricalcium phosphate, spirulina, cocoa powder, another food colorant, or a combination thereof.

[0007] In at least one embodiment, the calcium carbonate may include scalenohedral calcium carbonate and limestone. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the calcium carbonate may be encapsulated. In at least one embodiment, the calcium carbonate may include scalenohedral calcium carbonate and encapsulated calcium carbonate. According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition may have a Brookfield viscosity at 25°C ranging from about 30 cP to 20,000 cP or less. The at least one solvent may include alcohol, water, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the composition is free of isoamyl alcohol, free of titanium dioxide, or free of isoamyl alcohol or titanium dioxide.

[0008] The present disclosure also includes an edible product comprising a composition described above and / or elsewhere herein on a surface of the product, optionally with a transparent or translucent layer on the surface. In at least one embodiment, the surface may be the outermost surface of the product. The product may be a confectionery product. In some embodiments, the product may include a waxy coating, and the composition may be printed on the coating.

[0009] The present disclosure also includes methods of making the products described above and elsewhere herein, wherein the methods include printing a composition onto a surface of the product. In some examples, the composition may be printed as a logo or text onto an area of ​​the surface of the product. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Certain aspects of the disclosure are described in more detail below. In the event of a conflict with terms and / or definitions incorporated by reference, the terms and definitions provided herein shall control.

[0011] As used herein, the terms "comprises," "comprising," or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, composition, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements may include not only those elements, but also other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, composition, article, or apparatus. The term "exemplary" is used to mean "example" rather than "ideal." As used herein, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural forms unless the context otherwise dictates. Relative terms such as "about," "substantially," and "approximately" mean being approximately the same as a referenced number or value and should be understood to encompass a ±5% variation of the particular amount or value.

[0012] Exemplary compositions according to the present disclosure may comprise at least 26% by weight of at least one pigment, at least one binder, and at least one solvent, based on the total weight of the composition. The compositions herein may further comprise at least one of an emulsifier, an oil absorber, or a combination thereof, and / or one or more other ingredients (e.g., salt, fatty acid, pH adjuster, preservative, natural or artificial flavor compound, plasticizer, dispersant, filler, and / or micronutrient). The pigment may comprise calcium carbonate and / or may lack titanium dioxide. The compositions herein may provide improved adhesion to the substrate, allowing for a relatively large amount of pigment to achieve a desired color and / or color intensity. The compositions herein may be edible or may be in the form of an ink suitable for printing or otherwise transferring to the surface of an edible product.

[0013] The compositions herein include at least one pigment, which can be natural or artificial. For example, the pigment may include calcium carbonate to impart a white appearance. The compositions herein may be able to include higher amounts of calcium carbonate while maintaining a desired viscosity useful for transfer and drying on a substrate. In some examples, the compositions may include 30% or more by weight of calcium carbonate.

[0014] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition comprises calcium carbonate particles having a particle size ranging from about 0.5 μm to about 15 μm, e.g., from about 0.5 μm to about 8 μm, from about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm, from about 0.5 μm to about 3 μm, from about 1 μm to about 3 μm, or from about 1.5 μm to about 3 μm. The particle size is the particle diameter d where 50% of the particles by weight have a smaller diameter. 50 Points to a value.

[0015] The calcium carbonate may be in one or more different forms. The calcium carbonate particles may be in the form of calcite (e.g., scalenohedral calcium carbonate), limestone, or a mixture thereof. Scalenohedral calcium carbonate may provide desirable reflectance and light scattering properties. A commercially available scalenohedral calcium carbonate suitable for the present disclosure is ViCALity™ (Minerals Technologies, Inc.). Calcite forms of precipitated calcium carbonate having crystal structures different from the scalenohedral structure, such as rhombic, hexagonal prismatic, pinacoidal, colloidal, cubic, or prismatic, may be used in addition to or as a substitute for scalenohedral calcium carbonate. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the presence of scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles may provide the composition with desirable color properties as well as greater long-term stability. In some examples, the composition can include scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles and crushed limestone in a weight ratio (scalenohedral calcium carbonate:limestone) of, for example, 10:1 to about 1:1, e.g., about 8:1, about 5:1, or about 3:1.

[0016] In some examples, at least a portion of the calcium carbonate present in the composition may be in an encapsulated or co-dried form. For example, some or all of the calcium carbonate may be combined with another material, such as an encapsulating agent or co-desiccant, using an encapsulation or co-drying technique to improve oil resistance. Any one of calcite (e.g., scalenohedral calcium carbonate), limestone, or mixtures thereof may be encapsulated or co-dried. Suitable materials for encapsulation or co-drying according to the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, polymers and copolymers (e.g., polyvinyl acetate (PVAC)), natural gums (e.g., gum arabic, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, and carrageenan), cellulose, cellulose derivatives (e.g., ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, sodium hydroxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), including sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (NaCMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC)), and mixtures thereof. Encapsulation and / or co-drying techniques that can be used herein to obtain encapsulated or co-dried calcium carbonate include, but are not limited to, spray drying, fluidized bed drying, spray cooling, co-crystallization, granulation, extrusion, freeze-drying, perforation, adsorption, and agglomeration. In at least one embodiment, calcium carbonate particles can be encapsulated with PVA using extrusion. In other embodiments, calcium carbonate can be dried with a cellulosic material, or CMC such as HPMC, HPC, NaCMC, gum arabic, maltodextrin, or modified starch (e.g., starch sodium octenyl succinate), and ground to a desired particle size, such as a particle size ranging from about 0.5 μm to about 15 μm.

[0017] Compositions herein, e.g., edible ink compositions, may include scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles and encapsulated calcium carbonate in a weight ratio (scalenohedral calcium carbonate:encapsulated calcium carbonate or co-dried calcium carbonate) of about 10:1 to about 1:1, such as about 9:1, about 5:1, or about 2:1. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that the presence of protected calcium carbonate, e.g., encapsulated calcium carbonate or co-dried calcium carbonate, in combination with scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles may provide increased resistance to fading and may maintain at least some of the color properties provided by the calcium carbonate even when the scalenohedral calcium carbonate particles are faded by oil absorption.

[0018] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition, e.g., the edible ink composition, may comprise about 25 wt. % or more, or about 30 wt. % or more, of calcium carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition. For example, the composition may comprise about 25 wt. % to about 40 wt. % or about 25 wt. % to about 37 wt. % of calcium carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition. In some embodiments, the composition may comprise about 27 wt. % to about 37 wt. % of calcium carbonate, about 28 wt. % to about 36 wt. % of calcium carbonate, about 30 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of calcium carbonate, or about 32 wt. % to about 34 wt. % of calcium carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition. In at least one embodiment, the composition comprises about 32 wt. % of scalenohedral calcium carbonate. In some embodiments, the edible ink composition comprises about 26 wt. % to about 28 wt. % of scalenohedral calcium carbonate. In at least one embodiment, the composition comprises about 30 wt. % of scalenohedral calcium carbonate.

[0019] In some examples herein, the edible ink composition may include calcium carbonate and one or more additional pigments. For example, the composition may include calcium carbonate in combination with another white pigment and / or a non-white pigment. The composition may include calcium carbonate in combination with any pigment (e.g., an edible colorant) or mixture of pigments to form an ink composition having a desired color tone. For example, the composition may include calcium carbonate in combination with a black, brown, or gray pigment, or a colorant system (e.g., including FD&C colorants such as FD&C dyes and FD&C flakes) to form an ink composition having a generally gray appearance. Exemplary pigments other than calcium carbonate that may be used in the compositions herein include, but are not limited to, riboflavin (vitamin B2), rice protein, tricalcium phosphate (TCP), rice starch, spirulina, and cocoa powder. In some examples, mica-based metallic pearl pigments may be used in compositions containing calcium carbonate. Exemplary mica-based metallic pearl pigments may be in the form of mica plated or fused with titanium dioxide as a compound. In some examples, the calcium carbonate in the compositions can include both free calcium carbonate particles and encapsulated or co-dried calcium carbonate. The compositions herein can include one or more additional pigments, such as at least 27% by weight calcium carbonate and about 1% by weight to about 8% by weight of one or more pigments other than calcium carbonate.

[0020] In some examples, the composition may include rice protein, rice starch, and / or TCP in combination with calcium carbonate. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that TCP may improve the stability of the edible ink composition. The present disclosure also contemplates rice protein, rice starch, and / or TCP as a pigment having a generally white appearance as an alternative to calcium carbonate. In at least one example, the composition includes at least 27% by weight TCP, e.g., about 27% to about 37% by weight TCP, and the composition does not include calcium carbonate and / or titanium dioxide.

[0021] In at least one embodiment, the composition may include spirulina in combination with calcium carbonate. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that spirulina in the edible ink composition may provide a synergistic effect. For example, spirulina may help reduce and / or break surface tension, which may help level or smooth the edible ink composition for printing on the surface of the substrate, and / or may help prevent the edible ink composition from balling or beading on the surface of the substrate. In at least one embodiment, the composition includes calcium carbonate and 0-8% by weight or less of spirulina, e.g., 0-5% by weight or less of spirulina, or 0-3% by weight or less of spirulina.

[0022] The compositions herein may also include one or more solvents. Exemplary solvents suitable for the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, alcohols (e.g., C2-C6 alcohols, diols, etc.), water (including, for example, aqueous solutions), and combinations thereof. Alcohols may include, but are not limited to, isopropanol, 1-propanol, ethanol, 1-butanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol (isoamyl alcohol), 2-butanol, hexanol, propylene glycol (PG), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and glycerol. In some embodiments, the alcohol may be denatured. For example, the composition may include denatured ethanol, e.g., ethanol combined with a denaturant such as ethyl acetate. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition may include about 30% to about 75%, about 40% to about 70%, about 50% to about 65%, or about 60% to about 70% by weight of solvent(s), based on the total weight of the composition.

[0023] The compositions herein may contain one or more binders. Binders may help bind pigments and / or other components of the composition together and / or help bind the composition to the substrate. For example, binders may help improve adhesion of the pigment to the surface of the edible substrate, which may or may not be polished. Exemplary binders suitable for the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, shellac, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), zein, rosin, rosin esters, xanthan gum, starch (e.g., natural and modified starches), dextrin, gum arabic, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), maltodextrin, and combinations thereof. Such binders may be alcohol-soluble or water-soluble. In embodiments of the present disclosure, the compositions may contain from about 0.1% to about 35% by weight, e.g., from about 5% to about 35% by weight, of one or more binders, based on the total weight of the composition. For example, the composition may include from about 0.2% to about 20% by weight, e.g., from about 5% to about 20% by weight, from about 7% to about 15% by weight, or from about 10% to about 20% by weight of one or more binders.

[0024] In some examples, the binder of the edible ink composition comprises shellac. The shellac may be esterified or non-esterified. In some aspects of the present disclosure, the shellac may be used in combination with a relatively high molecular weight solvent, such as isoamyl alcohol. Combining shellac with isoamyl alcohol (or other alcohols, such as relatively high molecular weight alcohols, ethanol, denatured ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, and / or butanol) can help control the viscosity of the composition. For example, the composition may comprise shellac and an alcohol (e.g., ethanol), optionally including a denatured alcohol, such as denatured ethanol. In some examples, the composition comprises shellac combined with a solvent mixture including water, isoamyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and ethanol (e.g., denatured ethanol).

[0025] Without being bound by theory, it is believed that ethanol, e.g., denatured ethanol or pure ethanol, optionally with shellac, allows for the inclusion of a relatively high amount of pigment (e.g., 30% by weight or more) that maintains a desired viscosity. For example, the composition may include at least 30% by weight of calcium carbonate (e.g., about 30% by weight to about 37% by weight of calcium carbonate), about 2% by weight to about 20% by weight, e.g., about 5% by weight to about 20% by weight of shellac (e.g., esterified shellac), and isoamyl alcohol and / or ethanol (e.g., denatured ethanol). In some examples, the shellac and ethanol may be included in the composition in a 1:1 weight ratio.

[0026] In some examples, the composition may include shellac and at least one other binder, such as HPMC, HPC, CMC, and / or zein. Without being bound by theory, it is believed that shellac and HPMC, HPC, CMC, and / or zein may provide the composition with desired film strength and flexibility and / or may allow for a relatively high amount of calcium carbonate while maintaining a desired viscosity. In some examples, alcohol-soluble HPC, HPMC, CMC, and / or zein may be used as a binder instead of shellac. For example, some edible ink compositions herein may include up to 5% by weight or up to 20% by weight of zein as the sole binder or as a binder in combination with HPMC. In some examples, the edible ink composition may include at least 0.05% by weight of CMC as a binder in combination with HPMC.

[0027] The compositions herein may also include one or more emulsifiers. Emulsifiers may help reduce surface tension and wetting. Additionally, emulsifiers may also provide a relatively high amount of calcium carbonate. Exemplary emulsifiers suitable for the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, lecithin (including, for example, sunflower lecithin and hydroxylated lecithin), polysorbates (including, for example, polysorbate 80), sucrose fatty acid esters, polyglycerol esters, monoglyceride esters, and diglyceride esters. In some examples, the composition may include diacetyl tartaric acid ester of emulsifier monoglycerides and diglycerides (DATEM). The edible ink compositions herein may include from about 0.25% to about 4% by weight, or from about 2% to about 4% by weight, of an emulsifier, based on the total weight of the composition. In at least one example, the composition includes about 4% by weight of an emulsifier, such as DATEM or hydroxylated lecithin.

[0028] An exemplary edible ink composition according to the present disclosure includes calcium carbonate (e.g., scalenohedral calcium carbonate), shellac and / or zein, ethanol (optionally denatured ethanol), HPMC, and an emulsifier (e.g., polysorbate 80).

[0029] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition may include one or more oil absorbers. The oil absorbers may help improve the oil resistance of the edible ink composition when printed or otherwise transferred to the surface of a substrate (including substrates with a waxy coating). The oil absorbers may also help maintain the color and / or strength of the ink over time and resist fading. The oil absorbers may promote the stability of the edible ink composition on substrates such as polished lentils. Exemplary oil absorbers suitable for the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, natural starch (e.g., rice starch), modified starch (e.g., starch sodium octenyl succinate), gum arabic (acacia gum), sodium caseinate, maltodextrin, cocoa, microcrystalline cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and other celluloses (e.g., cellulose blends). The compositions herein may contain from 0 to more than about 4 wt. % of an oil absorber, such as from about 0.2 wt. % to about 4 wt. % of an oil absorber, or from about 2 wt. % to about 4 wt. % of an oil absorber. In at least one embodiment, the composition may contain about 0.2 wt. % CMC. In some embodiments, the composition may contain one or more oil deflectors. One or more oil deflectors may be used in combination with one or more oil absorbers, or may be used without one or more oil absorbers. The oil absorbers and / or oil deflectors may also help prevent any oil present in the substrate or its coating from penetrating into the pigment in the edible ink composition.

[0030] One or more additional components may be included in an edible ink formulation according to the present disclosure, which may include, but are not limited to, salts, fatty acids, preservatives, natural or artificial flavor compounds, pH adjusters, plasticizers, dispersants, fillers, and micronutrients.

[0031] The compositions herein may have a Brookfield viscosity of about 20,000 cP or less at 25° C. In some examples, the compositions herein may have a Brookfield viscosity of less than about 15,000 cP or less than about 10,000 cP at 25° C. For example, the viscosity may range from about 30 cP to about 20,000 cP, from about 50 cP to about 15,000 cP, from about 100 cP to about 10,000 cP, from about 250 cP to about 5,000 cP, or from about 500 cP to about 2,000 cP. In some examples, the compositions herein may have a Brookfield viscosity of less than about 3,000 cP at 25° C. Such viscosities of the edible ink composition may be suitable for, and therefore compatible with, manufacturing equipment and printers used to transfer the edible ink composition to the surface of a substrate.

[0032] The compositions herein can provide desired properties, such as visual characteristics, print quality, bonding (e.g., adhesion to a substrate), and / or stability (e.g., durability). Visual properties can include color, opacity, brightness, and / or overall appearance. Stability and durability can be demonstrated as resistance to fading and / or rubbing off of the substrate. The compositions herein can provide a brighter white color compared to other edible inks.

[0033] According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, a composition, e.g., an edible ink composition, can be prepared by combining ingredients in one or more steps. For example, the method can include combining one or more solvents with one or more binders and / or one or more emulsifiers (if emulsifiers are used). Optionally, one or more oil absorbers can be added to the mixture. Calcium carbonate (and / or other pigments) can then be added. When two or more pigments (including two or more different types of calcium carbonate) are used, the pigments can be combined together before adding the solvent, binder, emulsifier, and oil absorber.

[0034] In at least one embodiment, preparing the composition includes combining shellac with water and one or more alcohol solvents, such as isoamyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol, and / or denatured ethanol. The resulting composition may have a Brookfield viscosity at 25° C. of 5000 cP or less.

[0035] The edible ink compositions herein may be applied to the surface of various edible substrates. Suitable application methods may include printing, as described in more detail below. Edible substrates may include various food products, such as pet snacks, cereal bars, and ice cream products (e.g., ice cream bars), as well as confectionery products, such as candy (hard and soft), mints, chewing gum, gelatin, chocolate, fudge, jelly beans, fondant, licorice, and toffee. The substrate may also include a coating, such as a waxy or otherwise hydrophobic coating. For example, the coating may be a yogurt coating.

[0036] In some embodiments herein, the edible ink composition may be applied to the surface of a panned confectionery product. The panned confectionery product may include a central core and at least one coating layer comprising sugar, such as crystallized sugar. For example, without limitation, the panned confectionery product may include multiple coating layers. In some embodiments, the edible core may include chocolate. The edible ink composition may be applied to coated chewing gum pellets. In some embodiments, the surface of the panned confectionery product may include a polished coating, and the edible ink composition is applied to the polished coating. The edible ink composition may be printed as a dry film or a film that subsequently dries on the polished coating. In some embodiments, the surface of the panned confectionery product may include an unpolished coating, and the edible ink composition is applied to the unpolished coating. The edible ink composition may be printed as a dry film or a film that subsequently dries on the unpolished coating. In some embodiments, a transparent or translucent layer may be applied over the edible ink composition.

[0037] The panned confectionery product may be a sugar-coated confectionery product. Non-limiting examples of the type of core in a sugar-coated confectionery product include a natural center (e.g., almond, hazelnut, or peanut) or a "confectionery" center (e.g., caramel, toffee, fondant, or chocolate). The core may then be coated with chocolate, or a successive layer of sugar or other substances such as polyols, gums, and natural polymers, which may further include one or more color compositions.

[0038] In other aspects of the present disclosure, the edible substrate may include snack foods such as fruit snacks, chips / crisps, extruded snacks, ice cream bars, tortilla / corn chips, popcorn, pretzels, nuts, granola / mousse bars, breakfast bars, energy bars, fruit bars, and other snack bars. In certain aspects, the food product may be a chocolate-coated or yogurt-coated food product.

[0039] The edible ink compositions herein may also be applied to the surface of pharmaceutical products such as tablets or capsules (including coated tablets and capsules), or other pharmaceutical or consumer products having a surface suitable for edible ink printing.

[0040] When printed or otherwise transferred onto the surface of a substrate, such as an edible product, the edible ink composition may be localized to specific areas of the surface. For example, a shape, logo, lettering, or another localized image may be printed onto the surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the edible ink composition may cover the surface, for example, to provide a solid or patterned appearance across the entire surface.

[0041] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the edible ink composition can be applied to a substrate by a printer. In some examples, the edible ink composition can be applied using a contact printing process, such as an offset rotogravure process. For example, the edible ink composition can be transferred to the desired surface by etching a film or roller upon contact with the surface. Contact printing can be facilitated by pressure between the surface to be treated and the film or roller. In other examples, the edible ink composition can be applied via various printing processes, such as digital printing, screen printing, flexography, offset lithography, inkjet printing, or pad printing.

[0042] The following examples are intended to illustrate the present disclosure without being limiting in nature, and it is understood that the present disclosure encompasses additional embodiments consistent with the foregoing description and the following examples. [Example]

[0043] Example 1: Various compositions were prepared and evaluated for their suitability in edible ink printing. A base composition was prepared by combining the ingredients shown in Table 1.

[0044] [Table 1]

[0045] Compositions A-W were prepared by combining the base composition with various pigments, binders, emulsifiers, and oil absorbers according to Tables 2-24.

[0046] [Table 2]

[0047] [Table 3]

[0048] [Table 4]

[0049] [Table 5]

[0050] [Table 6]

[0051] [Table 7]

[0052] [Table 8]

[0053] [Table 9]

[0054] [Table 10]

[0055]

Table 11

[0056]

Table 12

[0057]

Table 13

[0058]

Table 14

[0059]

Table 15

[0060] Table 16

[0061]

Table 17

[0062] Table 18

[0063]

Table 19

[0064] Table 20

[0065] [Table 21]

[0066] [Table 22]

[0067] [Table 23]

[0068] [Table 24]

[0069] Example 2:

[0070] Additional compositions were prepared as follows.

[0071] [Table 25]

[0072] [Table 26]

[0073] [Table 27]

[0074] [Table 28]

[0075] [Table 29]

[0076] Example 3:

[0077] A base composition was prepared by combining the ingredients shown in Table 30. Compositions X and Y were prepared by combining the ingredients and base compositions according to Tables 31 and 32.

[0078] [Table 30]

[0079] [Table 31]

[0080] [Table 32]

[0081] Composition X was prepared by adding the amounts of ethanol, scalenohedral calcium carbonate, and CMC shown in Table 31 to the base composition to provide a flowable, printable ink composition.

[0082] While various examples have been described, it should be noted that the present disclosure is not limited to these examples. Other aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the present disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

1. a pigment comprising at least 26% by weight of calcium carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition; at least one binder; and at least one solvent; An edible ink composition, wherein the composition is edible and is formulated for printing onto a substrate.

2. 10. The composition of claim 1, wherein the calcium carbonate comprises scalenohedral calcium carbonate.

3. 3. The composition of claim 1, wherein the composition comprises from 27% to about 37% by weight, or from about 30% to about 32% by weight, of the calcium carbonate.

4. 4. The composition of claim 1, comprising from about 5 wt. % to about 35 wt. % of the at least one binder, based on the total weight of the composition, and / or from about 30 wt. % to about 75 wt. % of the at least one solvent, based on the total weight of the composition.

5. 5. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one binder comprises shellac, ethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), zein, rosin, rosin esters, xanthan gum, or a combination thereof.

6. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the at least one binder comprises an esterified shellac.

7. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one solvent comprises ethanol, optionally denatured ethanol.

8. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the composition further comprises at least one emulsifier.

9. 9. The composition of claim 8, wherein the at least one emulsifier comprises lecithin, polysorbate, polyglycerol ester, monoglyceride ester, diglyceride ester, or a combination thereof.

10. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the composition comprises from about 0.25% to about 4% by weight of an emulsifier, based on the total weight of the composition.

11. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the composition further comprises an oil absorber.

12. 12. The composition of claim 11, wherein the oil absorber comprises native starch, modified starch, gum acacia, sodium caseinate, microcrystalline cellulose, maltodextrin, carboxymethyl cellulose, cocoa, or a combination thereof.

13. 13. The composition of any one of claims 1-12, wherein the composition further comprises rice protein, rice starch, tricalcium phosphate, spirulina, cocoa powder, another food coloring, or a combination thereof.

14. 14. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the calcium carbonate comprises scalenohedral calcium carbonate and limestone.

15. 15. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein at least a portion of the calcium carbonate is encapsulated.

16. 16. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the calcium carbonate comprises scalenohedral calcium carbonate and encapsulated calcium carbonate.

17. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the composition has a Brookfield viscosity in the range of about 30 cP to 20,000 cP at 25°C.

18. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the at least one solvent comprises an alcohol, water, or a combination thereof.

19. The composition of any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the composition is free of isoamyl alcohol.

20. An edible product comprising a composition according to any one of claims 1 to 19, optionally having a transparent or translucent layer on the surface of said product.

21. 21. The article of claim 20, wherein the surface is the outermost surface of the article.

22. 22. The product of claim 20 or 21, wherein the product is a confectionery product.

23. 22. The product of claim 20 or 21, wherein the product is a chewing gum.

24. 24. The product of any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the product comprises a waxy coating and the composition is printed onto the coating.

25. A method of making the product of any one of claims 21 to 24, wherein the method comprises printing the composition onto the surface.

26. 26. The method of claim 25, wherein the composition is printed as a logo or lettering onto an area of ​​the surface.

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