GB2501092A

GB2501092A - Oral tobacco product

Info

Publication number: GB2501092A
Application number: GB1206402.8A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Rushforth; Eva Sommarstrom; Tomas Essa N Hans
Original assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd; British American Tobacco Co Ltd; Fiedler and Lundgren AB
Current assignee: British American Tobacco Investments Ltd; Fiedler and Lundgren AB
Priority date: 2012-04-11
Filing date: 2012-04-11
Publication date: 2013-10-16
Also published as: EP2649889A3; EP2649889A2; US20130269715A1; GB201206402D0

Abstract

A preformed oral tobacco product which does not comprise any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N. Preferably the oral tobacco product comprises cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as a binding agent. Preferably the binding agent comprises 1-5% wt of the oral tobacco product. Preferably, the product is substantially stable in water and does not break down or dissolve in water in less than 1 hour. Also claimed is a method of manufacturing an oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent and providing individual portions thereof. The binding agent may be a cellulose derivative, preferably carboxymethyl cellulose. Also claimed is a preformed oral tobacco product comprising tobacco and a cellulose derivative as a binding agent. Preferably the binding agent is carboxymethyl cellulose. Also claimed is a preformed oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and is substantially stable in water.

Description

Oral Tobacco Product

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a tobacco product and, more paiticularly, to a non-smokeable tobacco product for oral use and a method of manufacturing the same.

Background

Tobacco products for smokeless use include snuff, snus and other tobacco compositions. Snus can be in the form of loose tobacco particles or in pre-portioned ic fleece pouches. Smokeless oral-use tobacco products also include tobacco mixed with various additives including binding agents, and processed to produce a hardened tobacco product.

Sununary In accordance with embodiments of the invention, there is provided a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which does not exhibit any brittleness and has a three-point bending strength of less than 4N.

The product may comprise cut tobacco and carboxymethyl cellulose as a binding agent, and the binding agent may consist exclusively of carboxymcthyl cellulose. The binding agent may be provided as a proportion of greater than i%, and may be between i% -5% F by weight, and may be between 2% -4% by weight, and may be between 3-4% by weight.

The oral tobacco product may have a thrcc-point bending strength of less than 2.5N, and may be less then o.5N, and may be less than o.25N.

The oral tobacco product may be substantially stable in water and does not significantly break down or dissolve in water in less than 1 hour.

The present invention also provides a method of manufacturing a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product comprising combining tobacco with a binding agent and providing individual portions thereof.

The method may comprise extruding the mixture and dividing the extruded mixture into the individual portions.

The binding agent may comprise a cellulose derivative, and may comprise carboxymethyl cellulose, and the binding agent consists exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose.

The binding agent may be added as a proportion of greater than i% by weight, preferably between i% -5% by weight, more preferably between 2% -4% by weight, and io yet more preferably between 3% -4% by weight.

The method may further comprise kneading the mixture before the extruding step. The method may comprise kneading the mixture for between 7 -15 minutes, preferably 10 minutes.

The method may further comprise heating the mixture before the extruding step, and may comprise heating the niixture to between 5°C and 70°C, preferably 5o°C -60°C.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a preformed mouldable oral tobacco product which exhibits a negative force greater than -o.iN in a three-point bending strength test.

The oral tobacco product may exhibit a negative force of between -o.iN to 0.9N, preferably between -o.4N to -o.6N, in a three-point bending strength test.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide a preformed oral tobacco product comprising tobacco and a cellulose derivative as a binding agent.

The binding agent may comprise carboxymethyl cellulose, and the binding agent may consist exclusively of carboxymethyl cellulose.

The binding agent may be provided as a proportion of greater then i% by weight, preferably between i% -5% by weight, more preferably between 2% -4% by weight, and yet more preferably between 3% -4% by weight.

Embodiments of the present invention also provide an oral tobacco product which does exhibit any brittleness and is substantially stable in water.

The a oral tobacco product may exhibit a percentage weight loss in water over 30 minutes of between 4% -7%, and preferably an average weight loss of less than 6%.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a plurality of continuous lengths of tobacco product of the invention being formed by an extruder; Figure 2 shows the continuous lengths of tobacco product of Figure 1 having been cut into individual portions; i Figure 3 shows one individual portion of tobacco product of Figures 1 and; Figure 4 shows three-point bend test results of a number of test tobacco product formulations, including product formulations according to the invention; Figure 5 shows a wide continuous belt of tobacco product material being formed by an extruder; Figure 6 shows the continuous belt of tobacco product material of Figure 4 having been processed by a cutter/scorer roller to divide the bolt into individual tobacco product portions; and Figure 7 shows a double roller apparatus for producing individual portions of tobacco product of the invention.

Detailed Description

A first embodiment of the present invention comprises a soft and mouldable oral tobacco product comprising tobacco combined with a binding agent and extruded into continuous rods which are then cut into individual portions. Optionally, the product may additionally include further additives, such as, for example, flavourants and humectants.

A first method of the invention for producing such an oral tobacco product comprises combining moist snus tobacco with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC') as a binding agent at a proportion of 3% by weight. The snus tobacco typically includes a number of additional components already mixed therewith, which may include salt, soda, humectants such as propylene glycol and/or glycerol, flavouring and water. The moisture content of the snus is preferably around 55%, However, the moisture content is not limited to this value and may be from 30% -60%, and 45% -6o%, or between 50% -8%. The mixture is then heated to around 6o°C and kneaded for around 10 minutes. The mixture is then extruded through a multiple orifice extruder (see Figure -although other extruder configurations maybe used within the scope of the invention -to form elongate strips of tobacco composition which arc subsequently cut into individual portions (see Figures 2 and 3). It is to be noted that the invention is not intended to be limited to such a method including a heating step, and this step maybe omitted.

A second method of the invention for producing oral tobacco products comprises feeding tobacco, and optionally other dry additives, into an extruding machine. The tobacco may be milled or ground tobacco, or may be tobacco processed in any other i way. This feeds into an extruder that heats the tobacco (and dry additives), and combines water and CMC as a binding agent, and, optionally, other liquid additives, with the thy ingredients. CMC as a binding agent is included at a proportion of 3% by weight. Thc heated mixture is then fed through a die to form a continuous length of moist tobacco composition which is subsequently cut to desired lengths or individual portions, The first extrudcr maybe a gravimetric counter-rotating twin-screw extruder, or a single screw extruder. The second extruder may be a twin-screw co-rotating extruder with variable heat zones and screw configurations, or a single screw with one heat zone. However, these extruders are only exemplary and are not limiting to the scope of the invention. The heat zones may be controlled to between 25°C -150°C.

Alternatively, it is intended within the scope of the invention that this method may not include any heating of the mixture from an external heat source.

The resulting portions of tobacco product produced by both processes are soft and malleable, allowing them to easily be moulded by a user into a desired shape prior to insertion into the mouth in use. The product does not show any brittleness.

The physical characteristics of a number of tobacco products made using the above processes, but using a variety of different binding agents, were tested. In particular, each product of different composition was tested for hardness and bending properties using a 3-point bending test, a known test which measures how much force is required to bend/break a product into two or more pieces. The test involves a portion of product being placed on two spaced supports, and a probe presses against the upper surface of the product at the mid-point between the supports and moves at a rate downwards towards the two supports. The reactionary force exerted back by the test product on the probe is recorded as probe moves and as the product deforms between the supports and point of force application, until the product breaks or the test concludes, The results of the tests of each tobacco product composition are shown in the graph of Figure 4, and include tobacco composition products with various binding agents including pectin, carrageennan, gellan, guar, hamulsion, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), locust bean gum (LBG), sodium alginate, xanthan, agar, and CMC.

It can be seen from Figure 3 that the graph plot for many compositions of tobacco product and binding agent have a curve profile which initially increases to a peak force value, after which point, the force plot drops. This signifies a product with an initial hardness before breaking, the peak of the graph being the break point, and indicates a brittleness to the products, after which break point, the force is reduced.

Conversely to the above, some of the plots for tobacco products of embodiments of the invention steadily increase in force value over time with no decrease in force value, illustrating that these products do not break and exhibit no brittleness, but instead, are malleable. Therefore, these tobacco products exhibit the desirable physical properties of being mouldable by a user into desired shape prior to insertion into the mouth, or mouldable once in the mouth, without breaking into smaller chunks as would a harder or brittle product. The height of the curves for these tobacco products indicates the force required to mould the product. It can be seen from the graphs for these products that comprise different tobacco blends results in products which require different degrees of force to be moulded. One of the binding agents that results in a product with such desirable physical properties is CMC, However, the invention is not intended to he limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent and other binding agents may also demonstrate such desirable properties, such as, for example, xanthan gum, pectin, o locust bean gum, gellan, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC), guar gum, agar, earragccnan, tragacanth, sodium alginate or maltodextrin.

Another desirable physical property demonstrated by the tobacco composition products of the invention is that the preformed product does not, or substantially does not, stain the fingers of the user when being moulded and manipulated prior to use.

In addition to the above, with CMC as a binding agent at 3%, the tobacco composition products of the various formulations exhibit an average three point bending strength of less than around 4oog, equating to around 4N. This maximum value of the products tested was achieved with the product made from coarse stem tobacco. The three products produced using coarse lamina tobacco, fine grade lamina and stem tobacco ("Granit Fine") and mixed grade lamina and stem tobacco ("Granit Mixed"), produced tobacco product formulations in which the three-point bending strength was less than 25og, or 2.5N, whilst all being soft, malleable products.

io The tobacco products of the invention are not limited to such values, however, and some embodiments with varying types of dry tobacco, and CMC binding agent percentage by weight, may have a three-point bending strength less than 2.5N, less than o.N, and also less than o.25N.

i The loose tobacco used in the manufacture of the tobacco products of the invention and in the processes described above, is preferably relatively fine in size, and snus tobacco or other fine grade tobacco is preferred.

The tobacco products of the invention arc also stable in water for at least one hour, and substantially do not break down, dissolve, or otherwise lose product mass as do some known smokeless oral tobacco products. This results in a product which maintains its integrity and shape during three phases of consumer use (insertion, use and removal), making it convenient to use and also clean and convenient to dispose of after use.

The above property of resistance to disintegration in water of the tobacco products of the invention was tested using the following methodology. Five fleeces were identity marked WC (Wet Control) Replicate sample 1,2,3 and DC (Dry Control). Four flat bottomed round ioml flasks were identified WC, 1, 2, 3. Five aluminium boats were identified WC, 1, 2, 3, DC. Samples WC, 1, 2, 3 were weighed ("weight 1" -see Table 1 below) and put into corresponding flasks. ioomls of de -ionized water was dispensed into each flask and stoppered. Flasks 1, 2, 3 were placed on a shaker for 30 minutes at irpm. The WC flask was placed to one side and not shaken. Samples 1, 2, 3 and WC were then drained through a sieve on top of their respective fleece. Sample DC was then weighed ("weight i"). All samples wcre then arranged on sieve and placed in oven at 29 degree Celsius. Samples were then dried for over 12 hours (22 actual). Samples were then weighed and data recorded ("weight 2" -see Table 1 below).

The weight loss for each sample (weight 1 -weight 2) was then calculated and recorded. The percentage weight loss for each sample was then compared with that for the wet control, using an "average portion weight" (APW) value of finished products.

This APW value had previously been calculated from 20 sample products as being 1,5211g. The percentage weight loss was calculated using the following formula: {[Weight difference (Ri -R3) -weight difference (WC)} / APW} x 100 io Table 1 below shows the results of the above test and the percentage weight loss values of those replicate samples 1-3: weight loss comparM to Weighti Weight 2 Difference WC using Average (g) (g) (g) Portion Weight (MW) ________ ____ ____ _____ (96) Dry Control (DC) 4.0932 3,5148 0.5784 ______________________ Wet Control (WC) 4.1190 3.3639 0.7551 _______________________ Replicate 1 4.1274 3.2900 0.8374 5.4 Replicate 2 4.0922 3.2676 0.8246 4.6 Replicate 3 4.1341 3.2825 0.8516 6.3

Table 1.

The above results show the tested products of the invention show a weight loss percentage value of between 4.6% -6.3%, and an average weight loss value of less than 6%.

The graph of Figure 4 shows a further property exclusive to certain tobacco product formulations of the invention, in that the end of the graphs dip below the zero on the Force x-axis at the end of the test when the force of the test probe stops moving. This indicates elasticity in the product, greater than other formulations of other known tobacco products that were tested with other binding agents In the tested range of products, the negative force in the three-point bend test ranged between approximately -log (-o.iN) to around -9og (-o.9N). The greatest negative value was exhibited by the formulation in which course stem tobacco was used, other product formulations exhibiting a negative value of around -4og to -6og (-o.4N to -o.6N). Once binding agent ilsed in tobacco products of the invention that exhibited such desirable physical characteristics is CMC, although the invention is not intended to be limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent and other binding agents, such as those listed above, may also demonstrate such desirable properties.

A further advantage of the tobacco products of the invention is that they may provide a flavour delivery comparable to that of loose snus without thc inconvenience of small particles being spread around the inside of the mouth which can get caught in the gums/teeth, and thc messy disposal after use, as is the case with loose snus and hard smokeless tobacco products. Furthermore, the products provide the convenience of pouched snus but without disadvantages that may be associated with pouched snus products.

In the first method described above, the mixture is described as being heated to around 60°C, although this temperature may vary, for example between 5°C and 70°C, or 50°C.

In another method of the invention, the mixture may not need to be heated at all and the heating step of the process may be omitted entirely.

Furthermore, although the kneading step is described as being performed for around to minutes, the process of the invention is not intended to he limited to this duration and other kneading times maybe used, for example, between 3 -15 minutes, preferably between 7 -15 minutes. Additionally, the binder is described as being added at a proportion of around 3% by weight, although the invention is not limited to this proportion, and may be between i% -%, preferably between 2% -4%. It has been found that a binding agent proportion less than i% does not bind the tobacco together in the finished product to the required level, whereas a binding agent proportion more than 5% may result in undesirable product characteristics. The above binding agent proportions apply to CMC as a binding agent but the invention is not intended to be limited to a tobacco product having this binding agent and other binding agents, such as those listed above, in such proportions, may also demonstrate such desirable properties.

The extruding of the continuous lengths of tobacco product may alternatively be different to that of the processes described above, and may alternatively comprise extruding a wide belt of material (see Figure) then shaping using a cutter/scorer (see Figure 6). Yet further, the product may be shaped and formed into individual dosages by being passed through double rollers (see Figure 7). Yet further, the product maybe shaped and formed into individual dosages by being exftuded into half-dies then pressed together.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety of this disclosure shows by way of illustration various embodiments in which the claimed invention(s) may be practiced and provide for superior oral tobacco products and methods of manufacture. The advantages and features of the disclosure are of a representative sample of embodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive.

They are presented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed features. It is io to be understood that advantages, embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures, and/or other aspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on the disclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to the claims, and that other embodiments may be utilised and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of the disclosure. Various embodiments may i suitably comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of, various combinations of the disclosed elements, components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. In addition, the disclosure includes other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimed in future.