Gummy jelly in a flexible container

Abstract

To provide gummy jelly packed in a flexible container which can be readily taken out by only pushing the flexible container, irrespective of gummy jelly having high adhesiveness and containing gelatin and irrespective of a container having a small taper angle.SOLUTION: A gummy jelly packed in a flexible container, comprising a flexible container having a substantially cylindrical or substantially polygonal columnar outer shape with a taper angle of 5 to 15 degrees, and the gummy jelly filled in the flexible container, wherein the gummy jelly contains gelatin, and load conditions: i) [Load when gummy jelly is compressed by 5 mm]=0.20 to 0.50 kg, and ii) [Load after maintaining gummy jelly compressed to 5 mm for 10 seconds] / [load when the gummy jelly compressed by 5 mm]=0.60 to 0.80 are satisfied.SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to gummy jelly in a flexible container.

Background Art

[0002] Previously, the applicant of the present application jointly with Osaka University, a national university corporation, developed a chewing function test method in which a test subject chews test gummy jelly a specified number of times, then collects all the bitten pieces of the gummy jelly, washes them with water, and measures the chewing ability of the test subject based on the surface area of the plurality of obtained bitten pieces (Patent Document 1). In the chewing function test method, from the viewpoint of hygiene, it is desirable that the gummy jelly can be easily taken out from a flexible container without directly touching it by hand and can be directly put into the mouth of the test subject as it is.

[0003] As a food taken out from a flexible container and eaten, for example, jelly in a flexible container called so-called portion jelly is known. In this food, water separation occurs from the jelly, and water exists at the interface between the flexible container and the jelly. Therefore, the jelly can be easily taken out by pressing the side surface or the bottom surface of the flexible container or sucking it out with the mouth. Therefore, in the jelly in the flexible container, a container shape designed to prevent the jelly from slipping out and being accidentally swallowed when sucked has also been proposed (Patent Document 2).

[0004] On the other hand, for gummy jelly for testing chewing function, it is necessary to have a certain elasticity no matter where the gummy jelly is bitten, and it is necessary to have a shape with a uniform thickness such as a substantially square prism shape or a cylindrical shape. It was not possible to incorporate devices for easy removal or difficulty in accidental swallowing into the container shape.

[0005] Furthermore, unlike the jelly in the flexible container mentioned above, gelatin-containing gummy jellies do not undergo any syneresis at the interface with the flexible container. Therefore, it is difficult to detach the gummy jellies from the flexible container simply by pressing it. In fact, many gummy jellies are sold commercially in tray containers, but all of them require being peeled off by hand. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5216978 [Patent Document 2] Utility Model Publication No. 3036922 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0007] As a way to solve the above problem, the inventors considered a method of applying a release oil to the inside of the flexible container in advance. However, applying such a large amount of release oil requires applying a large amount of release oil, but this results in new problems such as the surface of the gummy jelly becoming slippery with oil, causing the gummy jelly to slide out when the flexible container is deformed, to slide into the mouth and be swallowed, or to become difficult to chew.

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a gummy jelly in a flexible container that, despite being a highly adhesive gummy jelly containing gelatin and having a small taper angle, can be easily removed simply by pressing the flexible container. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] To achieve the above objective, the inventors conducted extensive research and, as a result, discovered that by adjusting the ratio of the load of the gummy jelly when compressed by 5 mm and the ratio of the time change of the load after maintaining that load for 10 seconds to a specific range, the gummy jelly can be easily removed from the flexible container, which has led to the completion of the present invention.

[0010] In other words, the gist of this invention is, [1] A flexible container having an outer shape that is roughly cylindrical or roughly polygonal with a taper angle of 5 to 15°, and gummy jelly filled in the flexible container. including Gummy jelly in a flexible container, The gummy jelly contains gelatin, and Compression tests using a texture analyzer A gummy jelly in a flexible container, characterized by satisfying the following load conditions, i) [Load when gummy jelly is compressed by 5mm] = 0.20~0.50kg ii) [Load after compressing the gummy jelly by 5mm and maintaining that state for 10 seconds] / [Load when compressing the gummy jelly by 5mm] = 0.60~0.80 [Compression test conditions] Probe: Spherical probe with a diameter of 5 mm Measurement speed: 1mm / sec Compression distance: 5mm Measurement temperature: 20℃ [2] Both sides of the flexible container From the total When compressed by 5 mm, 30-70% of the total volume of the gummy jelly is pushed out from the opening of the flexible container, as described in [1] above. [3] The flexible container-containing gummy jelly according to [1] or [2], wherein the interface between the flexible container and the gummy jelly has a layer containing beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids. [4] The gummy jelly in a flexible container according to any of [1] to [3] above, wherein the gummy jelly is a gummy agent for measuring chewing ability. Regarding. [Effects of the Invention]

[0011] The gummy jelly in a flexible container of the present invention can be easily taken out from the flexible container and can be hygienically eaten. In particular, it can be preferably used for a gummy agent for measuring chewing ability.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0012] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail.

[0013] The gummy jelly in a flexible container in the present invention comprises a flexible container having a substantially cylindrical or substantially polygonal columnar outer shape with a taper angle of 5 to 15°, and the gummy jelly filled in the flexible container.

[0014] The flexible container used in the present invention may be any container having flexibility such that it can be compressed by about 5 to 10 mm when pinched with two fingers from both side surfaces of the container with a taper angle. Also, the load when compressed by 5 to 10 mm may be about 0.30 to 3.00 kg.

[0015] The material of the flexible container may be a plastic having the above-described flexibility, and from the viewpoints of cost, workability, etc., for example, it is preferably made of polypropylene.

[0016] The flexible container has a substantially cylindrical or substantially polygonal columnar outer shape with a taper angle of 5 to 15°. In the present invention, the "taper angle" refers to the taper angle in a tapered container, specifically, the angle formed by the central axis of a substantially cylinder or substantially prism and the tapered side surface. When the taper angle is 0°, it becomes a straight-type container. When the taper angle is less than 5°, the gummy jelly cannot be easily taken out from the flexible container. When the taper angle exceeds 15°, not only does the flexible container become a shape that is difficult to pinch with fingers, but also the gummy jelly cannot be properly taken out from the flexible container. A more preferable taper angle is 5 to 10°.

[0017] The size of the flexible container is not particularly limited, as long as it is large enough for an adult to press on both tapered sides of the container with their fingers. For example, the top surface area should be 1 to 5 cm². 2 It is acceptable as long as it is within that range, and the height is acceptable as long as it is within the range of 8 to 20 mm.

[0018] In the aforementioned flexible container, the surface (top surface) with the longest distance from the central axis of the approximately cylindrical or approximately polygonal prism shape serves as the opening, and the gummy jelly is filled into the container through this opening. For hygienic and preservative reasons, a film is heat-sealed to the top surface, sealing the gummy jelly inside the flexible container. The shape of the opening is approximately circular or approximately polygonal. The material of the film can be any material that can be heat-sealed to the flexible container, and there are no particular limitations on that material.

[0019] The gummy jelly filled in the aforementioned flexible container contains gelatin and satisfies the following load conditions. i) [Load when gummy jelly is compressed by 5mm] = 0.20~0.50kg ii) [Load after compressing the gummy jelly by 5mm and maintaining that state for 10 seconds] / [Load when compressing the gummy jelly by 5mm] = 0.60~0.80

[0020] The gummy jelly in the flexible container of the present invention has the composition and physical properties described above, so that when consuming, the gummy jelly can be pushed out from the opening of the container by peeling off the film on the top of the container and compressing both tapered sides of the container, making it possible to bring the gummy jelly to the mouth without directly touching it with the hands.

[0021] There are no particular limitations on the origin or manufacturing method of the gelatin contained in the aforementioned gummy jelly. For example, any gelatin extracted and purified from a collagen-containing substance (such as animal hide, bone, or connective tissue) is acceptable, and there are no particular limitations on the organism from which it originates. For example, in addition to gelatin derived from the hides and bones of animals such as cattle, pigs, and chickens, gelatin derived from aquatic organisms (freshwater or seawater) can also be used. Furthermore, gelatin that has been treated with acid, alkali, or other methods may be used. In this invention, one type of gelatin with the same origin and manufacturing method may be used, or two or more types of gelatin with different origins and manufacturing methods may be mixed and used.

[0022] The gelatin content in the gummy jelly can be 4 to 20% by weight of the total weight, and is preferably 5 to 12% by weight, from the viewpoint of being easy to adjust to the predetermined load conditions.

[0023] The aforementioned gummy jelly contains carbohydrates. The carbohydrates contained in the aforementioned gummy jelly include, but are not limited to, sucrose (sugar), glucose, fructose, maltose, xylitol, erythritol, trehalose, maltitol, palatinose, reduced palatinose, starch syrup, reduced starch syrup, reduced maltose syrup, glycerin, sorbitol, etc.

[0024] The sugar content in the gummy jelly may be 20 to 80% by weight of the total weight, and is preferably 50 to 80% by weight from the viewpoint of being easy to adjust to the predetermined load conditions.

[0025] The gummy jelly may also contain other optional ingredients such as dietary fiber, acidulants, pH adjusters, fruit juice, flavorings, colorings, oils and fats, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and gelling agents. The aforementioned optional components can be any material that can be used in food, and are not particularly limited. For example, dietary fiber can include polydextrose, inulin, and indigestible dextrin. Furthermore, the aforementioned optional components can be used individually or in combination of two or more types, as long as they satisfy the aforementioned load conditions.

[0026] The load on the gummy jelly is measured using a texture analyzer (Stable Micro Systems' "Texture Analyzer TA.XT.plus") under the following conditions. [Test conditions] Probe: Spherical probe with a diameter of 5 mm Measurement speed: 1mm / sec Compression distance: 5mm Measurement temperature: 20℃

[0027] The load when the gummy candy is compressed by 5 mm is specifically defined as the load when the gummy candy is placed in the measuring section of the texture analyzer, and the probe is inserted into the gummy candy according to the manual, reaching a depth of 5 mm. By adjusting the load on the gummy jelly when compressed by 5mm to 0.20-0.50kg, it becomes easier to remove from the flexible container, while also maintaining a stable texture during chewing.

[0028] The load after compressing the gummy jelly by 5 mm and maintaining that state for 10 seconds specifically refers to the load 10 seconds after inserting the probe into the gummy jelly to a depth of 5 mm in the texture analyzer and then stopping the probe's movement. By adjusting the load on the gummy jelly after compressing it to 5mm and maintaining that state for 10 seconds to a range of 0.20-0.40kg, it becomes easier to remove from the flexible container and maintains a stable texture when chewed.

[0029] By adjusting the load when the gummy jelly is compressed by 5 mm and the load after maintaining the 5 mm compressed state for 10 seconds to a desired range, it becomes possible to easily remove the gummy jelly from a flexible container even if it has a small taper angle.

[0030] An example of a gummy jelly having the aforementioned load is a gummy agent for measuring chewing ability. A gummy agent for measuring chewing ability is used to measure the chewing ability of a subject based on the surface area of ​​multiple bite fragments obtained by having the subject chew the gummy agent. Examples of methods for measuring chewing ability include the chewing function testing method described in Patent Document 1.

[0031] In the flexible container-packaged gummy jelly of the present invention, it is sufficient that the flexible container is filled with gummy jelly such that when the flexible container is pinched with two fingers from both tapered sides and compressed by 5 mm, 30-70% of the total volume of the gummy jelly is pushed out above the opening of the flexible container. If less than 30% of the total volume of gummy jelly is extruded when compressed by 5mm, it will be difficult to put the gummy jelly that comes out of the opening of the flexible container into the mouth. If more than 70% of the total volume of gummy jelly is extruded, there is a possibility that it will slide out of the flexible container or that the slipped-out gummy jelly will be accidentally swallowed.

[0032] In the flexible container-packaged gummy jelly of the present invention, a layer containing beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids may be formed at the interface between the flexible container and the gummy jelly. Gummy candies containing gelatin are highly adhesive to flexible containers, but by applying beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids to the interface between the flexible container and the gummy candies, they can be more easily peeled off the flexible container.

[0033] The beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids mentioned above are not particularly limited as long as they can be used as food ingredients. For example, as medium-chain fatty acids, triglycerides can be used that consist of straight-chain or branched saturated fatty acids with 5 to 12 carbon atoms. Examples of the saturated fatty acids include pentanoic acid (also known as valeric acid, 5 carbon atoms), hexanoic acid (caproic acid, 6 carbon atoms), heptanoic acid (enanthic acid, 7 carbon atoms), octanoic acid (caprylic acid, 8 carbon atoms), nonanoic acid (pelargonic acid, 9 carbon atoms), decanoic acid (capric acid, 10 carbon atoms), dodecanoic acid (lauric acid, 11 carbon atoms), and tetradecanoic acid (myristic acid, 12 carbon atoms). The types of saturated fatty acids that make up the triglycerides may be the same or different.

[0034] The layer should be formed on the surface of the flexible container to such an extent that the gummy jelly does not adhere excessively to the flexible container. The thickness of the layer should be 0.1 mm or less, and there are no particular limitations.

[0035] The flexible container-packaged gummy jelly of the present invention can be manufactured, for example, as follows. Specifically, a gummy base is prepared by adding gelatin to a candy base containing carbohydrates and water, and the aforementioned optional ingredients are added to obtain a gummy liquid adjusted to a predetermined moisture content. Then, the obtained gummy liquid is poured into a flexible container, cooled to room temperature, sealed by heat-pressing a film onto the opening (top surface) of the flexible container, and left to stand at room temperature (15-25°C) for several days. The aforementioned gummy liquid can be manufactured by adding and mixing each ingredient in the same way as general gummies, and there are no particular restrictions on the order in which the ingredients are added. Furthermore, it is preferable that the moisture content of the gummy liquid poured into the flexible container be adjusted to 15-30% from the viewpoint of making it easier to produce gummy jelly with a predetermined load.

[0036] Furthermore, a layer containing beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids at the interface between the flexible container and the gummy jelly can be formed, for example, by applying a mixture of beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids to the surface of the flexible container and then pouring in the gummy liquid.

[0037] The gummy jelly in a flexible container obtained as described above can be easily removed from the container even if the flexible container has a small taper angle, and is also suitable as a gummy agent for medical use such as chewing measurement tests. [Examples]

[0038] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to examples, but the present invention is not limited in any way by these examples.

[0039] (Example 1) Carbohydrates were heated and dissolved in water, then gelatin, which had been pre-dissolved in 60°C water, was added and mixed. Acidulants, colorants, and flavorings were further mixed in, and the gummy liquid, which was finally adjusted to the specified moisture content, was poured into a flexible container (a polypropylene container with flexibility that allows it to withstand a load of 1.20 kg when both sides are compressed by 5 mm, with a square opening of 20 mm x 20 mm, a height of 11 mm, and a roughly rectangular prism shape with a taper angle of 9°) that had been coated with about 0.01 g of a mixture of beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids (Coconad MT, manufactured by Kao Corporation) in a weight ratio of 6:94. The top surface was heat-sealed with a sealing material, and it was cooled at 20°C for two weeks to obtain gummy jellies in flexible containers, each weighing 5.5 g.

[0040] (Examples 2-4, Comparative Examples 1-3) Gummy jelly in a flexible container was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except for the composition shown in Table 1. For Example 3, a liquid with a moisture content of 18% was poured into the container, dried at 40°C until the desired moisture content was reached before sealing with heat seal.

[0041] <Compression Test> For each of the gummy candies in flexible containers obtained in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-3, the texture was measured using a texture analyzer (Stable Micro Systems' "Texture Analyzer TA.XT.plus") under the following conditions after being removed from the flexible container. [Test conditions] Probe: Spherical probe with a diameter of 5 mm Measurement speed: 1mm / sec Compression distance: 5mm Measurement temperature: 20℃ Let A be the load when the gummy candy is compressed by 5 mm, and B be the load after maintaining the 5 mm compressed state for 10 seconds. The values ​​of [A] and [B / A] are shown in Table 1.

[0042] [Table 1]

[0043] <Ease of removal evaluation> For each of the gummy candies in flexible containers obtained in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-3, the flexible container was compressed by 5 mm from both tapered sides, and the percentage of the total gummy candy that was pushed out above the opening of the flexible container was visually determined. For evaluation, "○" was used to indicate "easy to retrieve," and "△" was used to indicate "difficult to retrieve, or impossible to retrieve." The results are shown in Table 1. The evaluation was conducted by a consensus of the three panelists.

[0044] As shown in Table 1, 30-70% of the material in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Example 3 was extruded above the container opening, but this was not the case for Comparative Examples 1 and 2.

[0045] <Texture Evaluation> The texture of each flexible container-packaged gummy jelly obtained in Examples 1-4 and Comparative Examples 1-3 was evaluated. The specific method involved placing each gummy jelly in the mouth, chewing it 30 times, spitting it out, and visually inspecting the chewed fragments. Furthermore, "○" was evaluated as "stable chewing sensation," and "△" as "difficult to bite through, inconsistent chewing sensation, some chewing fragments easily dissolve in the mouth." The results are shown in Table 1. The evaluation was conducted by consensus among three panelists.

[0046] As shown in Table 1, while Examples 1-4 and Comparative Example 3 yielded a consistent number of chewable fragments corresponding to the number of chews, Comparative Example 2 had an unsatisfactory texture, lacking a consistent chewing feel. This resulted in inconsistent fragment size due to excessive elasticity, partial dissolution, and a small number of fragments. Therefore, it was unsuitable as a gummy for measuring chewing ability. These results indicate that if A is too small, the chewable fragments dissolve or are easily swallowed. If A is too large or B / A is too large, it becomes difficult to bite through, resulting in an inability to obtain a stable number of chewable fragments. In either case, these conditions are unsuitable for accurately measuring chewing ability.

[0047] (Comparative Example 4) A flexible container-packaged gummy jelly was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a straight container with a taper angle of 1° was used as the flexible container.

[0048] (Comparative Example 5) A flexible container-type gummy jelly was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a tapered container with a taper angle of 20° was used as the flexible container.

[0049] When the ease of removal of the flexible container-packaged gummy jellies of Comparative Examples 4 and 5 was evaluated, Comparative Example 4 could not be removed from the container even when pressed with a finger, and Comparative Example 5 was a gummy jellies with a large taper angle, and the texture differed depending on where it was bitten, making it unsuitable as a gummy agent for measuring chewing ability.

Claims

1. A flexible container containing gummy jelly, comprising a flexible container having an outer shape that is approximately cylindrical or polygonal with a taper angle of 5 to 15°, and gummy jelly filled in the flexible container, A gummy jelly in a flexible container, characterized in that the gummy jelly contains gelatin and satisfies the following load conditions in a compression test using a texture analyzer. i) [Load when gummy jelly is compressed by 5 mm] = 0.20 to 0.50 kg ii) [Load after compressing the gummy jelly by 5 mm and maintaining that state for 10 seconds] / [Load when the gummy jelly is compressed by 5 mm] = 0.60 to 0.80 [Compression test conditions] Probe: Spherical probe with a diameter of 5 mm Measurement speed: 1mm / sec Compression distance: 5 mm Measurement temperature: 20℃

2. The gummy jelly in a flexible container according to claim 1, wherein when the flexible container is compressed by a total of 5 mm from both sides, 30 to 70% of the total volume of the gummy jelly is pushed out from the opening of the flexible container.

3. The gummy candy in a flexible container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the interface between the flexible container and the gummy candy has a layer containing beeswax and medium-chain fatty acids.

4. The gummy jelly in a flexible container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the gummy jelly is a gummy agent for measuring chewing ability.

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