Sweetener Concentration Near Detection Threshold

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sweeteners have not been effectively used near their sweetness detection threshold to enhance the sweetness of other sweeteners in consumables.

Innovation Solution

A sweetened consumable comprising at least 0.0001% of a sweetener such as sucrose or artificial sweeteners, combined with more than one sweetness enhancer like naringin dihydrochalcone, mogroside V, or stevioside, each present in concentrations near their sweetness detection threshold.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If sweetness enhancers are used at high concentrations, then sweetness enhancement effect is achieved, but off-notes and unpleasant aftertaste occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcentration of sweetness enhancerVSAvoidoff-notes and unpleasant aftertaste
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the concentration parameter of sweetness enhancers from traditional high levels (0.1-10%) to ultra-low levels (0.001-100 ppm, near detection threshold), fundamentally altering the dosage regime to achieve enhancement without off-notes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates composite sweetening systems by combining multiple sweeteners (e.g., stevia, sucralose, aspartame) with multiple sweetness enhancers (e.g., mogrosides, rubusosides, narDHC) working synergistically at low concentrations to achieve high sweetness without unpleasant aftertastes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-generated harmful factors

If multiple sweetness enhancers are combined at low concentrations, then sweetness enhancement is achieved without off-notes, but formulation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveabsence of off-notesVSAvoidformulation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple sweetness enhancers from different chemical families (terpene glycosides like mogrosides, phenolic glycosides like rubusosides, and chalcones like narDHC) into a single composite formulation that works synergistically with various sweeteners

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-generated harmful factors

If sweetness enhancers are used near detection threshold concentrations, then off-notes are minimized, but the enhancement effect is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereduced off-notesVSAvoidenhancement effect magnitude
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the concentration parameter to the ultra-low range near detection thresholds (0.001-100 ppm), discovering that this specific parameter regime maximizes sweetness enhancement while minimizing off-notes through synergistic interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite formulations combining multiple sweeteners and multiple sweetness enhancers that work synergistically, where the combined effect at low concentrations exceeds the sum of individual components, maintaining strong enhancement without off-notes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP2079319B2consumables
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 GIVAUDAN SA
  • EP2079319B2 patent drawing
  • EP2079319B2 patent drawing
  • EP2079319B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Disclosed are sweetened consumables and methods of forming said sweetened consumables that comprise certain sweeteners and at least one sweetness enhancer in a concentration near its sweetness detection threshold. The sweeteners include sucrose, fructose, glucose, high fructose corn syrup, corn syrup, xylose, arabinose, rhamnose, erythritol, xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, inositol, acesulfame potassium, aspartame, neotame, sucralose, saccharine, or combinations thereof. The sweetness enhancer is selected from naringin dihydrochalcone, mogroside V, swingle extract, rubusoside, rubus extract, rebaudioside, and stevioside.