Abstract: A flavor ingredient has been found to provide long lasting, high intensity and high quality flavor when used in chewing gum compositions. The flavor ingredient contains between 7-30% by weight of a flavoring agent such as mint oil, between 2-15% by weight styrene butadiene rubber, between 45-90% by weight starch or modified starch, between 0-8% by weight water and, preferably, between 0.5-4% by weight of a thickener such as silicon dioxide. The flavor ingredient is prepared by mixing the flavoring agent with particles of the elastomer to form a suspension. The suspension is then mixed with an aqueous starch solution and the thickener is added. The resulting stable emulsion is dried to form the flavor ingredient of the invention.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a chewing gum with a zein coated delayed release high-potency sweetener. In accordance with the invention, the zein coating is modified so as to be softer so that the sweetener particles are less crunchy and perceptible in the chewing gum. The process beings by mixing a quantity of zein, solvent for the zein, and a water soluble modified cellulose compound, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, together to form a modified zein solution. The amount of the inclusion material is preferably about 5 to about 40 percent by weight of the zein. This modified zein solution is applied to a high-potency sweetener and then dried to produce the delayed release sweetener particles. These particles are then added to a chewing gum formulation.