阅读说明：本技术 食物中的经表面反应碳酸钙 (Surface-reacted calcium carbonate in foods ) 是由 T·布德 A·黑克尔 L·沙尔玛 L·德米格尔 于 2018-05-09 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及包含水和/或至少一种可食用油和具有体积中值粒子尺寸d<Sub>50</Sub>为0.1-90μm的经表面反应碳酸钙的可食用组合物,包含该经表面反应碳酸钙的可食用涂层和/或填充物,至少部分地涂布有和/或填充有该可食用组合物的食物产品或药物产品或营养产品,用于生产至少部分地涂布有和/或填充有该可食用组合物的食物产品或药物产品或营养产品的方法,以及该经表面反应碳酸钙的用途,所述用途为在食物产品或药物产品或营养产品的可食用涂层和/或填充物中作为增白剂或不透明剂和/或甜度降低剂和/或热量降低剂,在食物产品或药物产品或营养产品的可食用涂层和/或填充物中作为二氧化钛的替代剂,以及用于减少在被至少部分地施加到食物产品或药物产品或营养产品的表面和/或被填充到食物产品或药物产品或营养产品中的可食用组合物的干燥时间。(The invention relates to a food product comprising water and/or at least one edible oil and having a volume median particle size d 50 Of surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μmEdible composition, edible coating and/or filling comprising the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, food or pharmaceutical or nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with the edible composition, a method for producing a food or pharmaceutical or nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with the edible composition, and the use of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate as a whitening or opacifying agent and/or sweetness reducing agent and/or calorie reducing agent in an edible coating and/or filling of a food or pharmaceutical or nutritional product, as a replacement for titanium dioxide in an edible coating and/or filling of a food or pharmaceutical or nutritional product, and for reducing the amount of titanium dioxide in an edible coating and/or filling applied at least partially to the surface of a food or pharmaceutical or nutritional product and/or filled into a food or pharmaceutical product Drying time of the edible composition in the product or nutritional product.)

1. Comprising water and/or at least one edible oil and having a volume median particle size d₅₀Edible composition of surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

2. An edible composition according to claim 1, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume median particle size d₅₀Is 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 40 μm, even more preferably 1.2 to 30 μm, and most preferably 1.5 to 15 μm.

3. An edible composition according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of 15m measured using nitrogen and the BET method²/g-200m²A/g, preferably of 20m²/g-180m²A/g, more preferably 25m²/g-160m²G, even more preferably 27m²/g-150m²G, and most preferably 30m²/g-140m²/g。

4. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

(i) The natural ground calcium carbonate is selected from marble, chalk, limestone and mixtures thereof, or

(ii) The precipitated calcium carbonate is selected from the group consisting of precipitated calcium carbonate having the aragonite, vaterite or calcite crystal form, or mixtures thereof.

5. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the at least one H₃O⁺Ion donorSelected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, acid salts, acetic acid, formic acid and mixtures thereof, preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, or selected from Li⁺、Na⁺And/or K⁺H of cation (b) at least partially neutralized₂PO₄ ^-From Li⁺、Na⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺And/or Ca²⁺Is at least partially neutralized HPO₄ ^2-And mixtures thereof, more preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid or mixtures thereof, and most preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is phosphoric acid.

6. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is present in an amount of 1.0 to 50.0% by weight, preferably 1.5 to 25.0% by weight, more preferably 2.0 to 15.0% by weight and most preferably 2.5 to 12.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible composition.

7. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the at least one edible oil is selected from palm oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, olive oil and mixtures thereof.

8. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the edible composition further comprises one or more additives selected from: frosting, starches, such as wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized acetylated distarch adipate and mixtures thereof; binders, such as gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof; waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof; preservatives, such as propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; antioxidants, such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof; stabilizers or texture modifiers such as agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof; a protein; emulsifiers, for example emulsifiers comprising sucrose esters or lecithin or sorbitan monostearate and mixtures thereof, flavourings, artificial sweeteners, sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixtures, maltose and mixtures thereof, and also polyols such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt and mixtures thereof, antifoams, surfactants, colourants, plasticisers and film-forming agents.

9. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the edible composition further comprises at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), preferably the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) having a weight median particle size d₅₀From 0.05 to 100. mu.m, more preferably from 0.1 to 75 μm, even more preferably from 0.25 to 50 μm and most preferably from 0.5 to 40 μm.

10. An edible composition according to any one of claims 1-9, wherein the edible composition is a food coating, a sugar coating, a sugarless coating, a nutrient coating, a food decoration, a food filling, a pharmaceutical coating or the like.

11. Comprising a volume median particle size d₅₀An edible coating and/or filling of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

12. A food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with an edible composition according to any one of claims 1-10.

13. Food product or pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product according to claim 12, wherein the food product is selected from cakes, biscuits, candies, cereals, cereal bars, potato chips, chewing gum, ice cream wafers etc, or the pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product is selected from tablets, mini-tablets, pellets, capsules, granules etc.

14. A process for producing a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with an edible composition according to any one of claims 1-10, the process comprising the steps of:

a) mixing water and/or at least one edible oil with a mixture having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H's, is mixed for obtaining an edible composition₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

b) Applying the edible composition obtained in step a) at least partially to the surface of a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product one or more times, or filling the edible composition obtained in step a) into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the at least partial application of the edible composition obtained in step a) to the surface of the food product or pharmaceutical product or nutritional product in step b) is performed by brushing or pouring, pan coating, curtain or dip coating, fluid bed coating, hot melt coating and/or press coating, or the filling of the edible composition obtained in step a) into the food product or pharmaceutical product or nutritional product in step b) is performed by injecting the edible composition into the food product or pharmaceutical product or nutritional product.

16. Having a volume median particle size d₅₀Use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm as whitening or opacifying agent and/or sweetness reducing agent and/or calorie reducing agent in an edible coating and/or filling of a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

17. Having a volume median particle size d₅₀Use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm as a replacement for titanium dioxide in an edible coating and/or filling of a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutritional product, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

18. Having a volume median particle size d₅₀Use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H, for reducing the drying time of an edible composition being at least partially applied to the surface of and/or filled into a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a food product comprising water and/or at least one edible oil and having a volume median particle size d₅₀An edible composition of surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, an edible coating and/or filling comprising the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with the edible composition, a process for producing a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with the edible composition, and the use of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate as a whitening or opacifying agent and/or sweetness reducing agent and/or calorie reducing agent in an edible coating and/or filling of a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product, as a replacement for titanium dioxide in an edible coating and/or filling of a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product, and for reducing the amount of a substance being at least partially applied to a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical productDrying time of the edible composition on the surface and/or filled into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutritional product.

Background

Various food products, such as cakes, biscuits, candies, cereals, cereal bars, potato chips, chewing gums, ice cream wafers, and the like, as well as pharmaceutical or nutritional products such as tablets, mini-tablets, pills, capsules, granules, and the like, are coated or filled with the edible composition. Typically, such compositions are applied to modify the appearance of the food product (i.e., for decorative purposes) to protect the food product (i.e., to resist or impart a particular property, such as sweetness, to the product).

Disclosure of Invention

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an edible composition, preferably free of titanium dioxide. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an edible composition which has a high whiteness and/or coating capacity, in particular similar or identical to that of titanium dioxide. It is a further object of the present invention to provide an edible composition wherein the amount of sugar and calories are reduced, preferably at a whiteness and/or coverage similar or identical to that of titanium dioxide. It is another object of the present invention to provide an edible composition that provides similar or the same whiteness and/or coverage as titanium dioxide, but avoids the use of excess pigment.

The foregoing objects, as well as others, are solved by the subject matter as defined herein in the independent claims.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a food product comprising water and/or at least one edible oil and having a volume median particle size d₅₀Edible composition of surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or moreSeed H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a composition comprising a polymer having a volume median particle size d₅₀An edible coating and/or filling of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with an edible composition as defined herein.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for producing a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with an edible composition as defined herein. The method comprises the following steps:

a) mixing water and/or at least one edible oil with a mixture having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H's, is mixed for obtaining an edible composition₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

b) Applying the edible composition obtained in step a) at least partially to the surface of a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product one or more times, or filling the edible composition obtained in step a) into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a particle having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μmUse as whitening or opacifying agent and/or sweetness reducing agent and/or calorie reducing agent in an edible coating and/or filling of a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a particle having a volume median particle size d₅₀Use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm as a replacement for titanium dioxide in an edible coating and/or filling of a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutritional product, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a particle having a volume median particle size, d₅₀Use of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H, for reducing the drying time of an edible composition being at least partially applied to the surface of and/or filled into a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

Advantageous embodiments of the use of the invention are defined in the respective dependent claims.

According to one embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume median particle size d₅₀Is 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably 1 to 40 μm, even more preferably 1.2 to 30 μm, and most preferably 1.5 to 15 μm.

According to another embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of 15m measured using nitrogen and the BET method²/g-200m²A/g, preferably of 20m²/g-180m²A/g, more preferably 25m²/g-160m²G, even more preferably 27m²/g-150m²G, and most preferably 30m²/g-140m²/g。

According to yet another embodiment, (i) the natural ground calcium carbonate is selected from marble, chalk, limestone and mixtures thereof, or (ii) the precipitated calcium carbonate is selected from precipitated calcium carbonate having the aragonite, vaterite or calcite crystalline form, or mixtures thereof.

According to one embodiment, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, acid salts, acetic acid, formic acid and mixtures thereof, preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, or selected from Li⁺、Na⁺And/or K⁺H of cation (b) at least partially neutralized₂PO₄ ^-From Li⁺、Na⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺And/or Ca²⁺Is at least partially neutralized HPO₄ ^2-And mixtures thereof, more preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid or mixtures thereof, and most preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is phosphoric acid.

According to another embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is present in an amount of 1.0 to 50.0% by weight, preferably 1.5 to 25.0% by weight, more preferably 2.0 to 15.0% by weight and most preferably 2.5 to 12.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible composition.

According to yet another embodiment, the at least one edible oil is selected from palm oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, olive oil and mixtures thereof.

According to one embodiment, the edible composition further comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of: frosting, starches, such as wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized acetylated distarch adipate (acetylated distarch adipate), and mixtures thereof; binders, such as gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof; waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof; preservatives, such as propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; antioxidants, such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof; stabilizers or texture modifiers (texture modifiers) such as agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof; a protein; emulsifiers, for example emulsifiers comprising sucrose esters or lecithin or sorbitan monostearate and mixtures thereof, flavourings, artificial sweeteners, sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixtures, maltose and mixtures thereof, and also polyols such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, lactitol and mixtures thereof, antifoams, surfactants, colourants, plasticisers and film-forming agents.

According to another embodiment, the edible composition further comprises at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), preferably the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) has a weight median particle size d₅₀From 0.05 to 100. mu.m, more preferably from 0.1 to 75 μm, even more preferably from 0.25 to 50 μm and most preferably from 0.5 to 40 μm.

According to yet another embodiment, the edible composition is a food coating, a sugar coating, a sugarless coating, a nutrient coating (nutra coating), a food decoration, a food filling, a drug coating, or the like.

According to one embodiment, the food product is selected from cakes, biscuits, candies, cereals (cereals), cereal bars, potato chips, chewing gums, ice cream wafers and the like, or the pharmaceutical or nutritional product is selected from tablets, mini-tablets, pellets, capsules, granules (grains) and the like.

According to one embodiment of the method, the at least partial application of the edible composition obtained in step a) to the surface of the food product or pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product in step b) is performed by brushing or pouring, pan coating (coating), curtain or dip coating, fluid bed coating, hot melt coating and/or press coating, and/or the filling of the edible composition obtained in step a) into the food product or pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product in step b) is performed by injecting the edible composition into the food product or pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

It is to be understood that for purposes of the present invention, the following terms have the following meanings:

within the meaning of the present invention, an "edible" composition refers to a composition that is taken orally.

"natural ground calcium carbonate" (GCC) in the meaning of the present invention is calcium carbonate obtained from natural sources (e.g. limestone, marble or chalk) and which is processed by wet and/or dry treatments such as grinding, screening and/or classification (e.g. by means of a cyclone or classifier).

"precipitated calcium carbonate" (PCC) in the meaning of the present invention is a synthetic substance obtained by precipitation after reaction of carbon dioxide with lime in aqueous, semi-dry or humid environments or by precipitation of calcium and carbonate ion sources in water. PCC may be vaterite, calcite, or aragonite crystalline forms. PCC is described, for example, in the following documents: EP 2447213 a1, EP 2524898 a1, EP 2371766 a1, EP 1712597 a1, EP 1712523 a1 or WO 2013/142473a 1.

The term "surface-reacted" in the meaning of this application will be used to indicate that the material has undergone a process comprising partially dissolving the material in an aqueous environment upon acidic treatment (e.g. by using a water-soluble free acid and/or acid salt), followed by a crystallization process that may occur in the absence or presence of additional crystallization additives. The term "acid" as used herein is meant to encompass a compound consisting ofAnd the meanings defined by LowryAcid of (e.g. H)₂SO₄、HSO₄ ^-) Wherein the term "free acids" simply means that these acids are in a fully protonated form (e.g., H)₂SO₄)。

The "particle size" of the particulate material other than the surface-reacted calcium carbonate herein is determined by the distribution of its particle size d_xTo describe. In which the value d_xThe following diameters are indicated: x% by weight of the particles, relative to the diameter, having a value of less than d_xOf (c) is measured. This means for example d₂₀The values refer to the following particle sizes: wherein 20% by weight of all particles are smaller than the particle size. d₅₀The value is thus the weight median particle size, i.e. 50% by weight of all particles are larger than this particle size. For the purposes of the present invention, unless otherwise specified, the particle size is specified as weight median particle size d₅₀(weight). Particle size was determined by using a Sedigraph from Micromeritics Instrument Corporation^TM5100 Instrument or Sedigraph^TM5120 instrument. Methods and apparatus are known to those skilled in the art and are commonly used to determine the particle size of fillers and pigments. At 0.1% by weight of Na₄P₂O₇Is measured in an aqueous solution of (a).

The "particle size" of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate herein is described as a volume-based particle size distribution. Evaluation of volume median particle size d Using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000laser diffraction System₅₀. D measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000laser diffraction System₅₀Or d₉₈The values indicate diameter values such that 50% or 98% by volume of the particles, respectively, have a diameter smaller than this value. Raw data obtained by measurement, in which the particle refractive index was 1.57 and the absorption coefficient was 0.005, were analyzed using Mie theory.

The term "particulate" in the meaning of the present application refers to a material consisting of a plurality of particles. The plurality of particles may be defined, for example, by their particle size distribution. The expression "particulate material" may include granules, powders, granules (grains), tablets or crumbs (crumbles).

The "specific surface area" (in m) of the material as used throughout this document²In/g) can be determined by the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET) method using nitrogen as the adsorption gas and by using an ASAP2460 instrument from Micromeritics. This method is well known to the person skilled in the art and is defined in ISO 9277: 2010. The samples were conditioned at 100 ℃ under vacuum for a period of 30 minutes prior to measurement. By mixing the specific surface area (in m)²In g) is multiplied by the mass of the material (in g) to obtain the total surface area of the material (in m)²In units).

In the context of the present invention, the term "pores" is understood to describe the spaces found between and/or within the particles, i.e. the spaces formed by the particles when they are packed together in their closest proximity contact (interparticle pores), e.g. in a powder or a compact, and/or the void spaces within porous particles (intraparticle pores), which spaces, when saturated with a liquid, allow the passage of the liquid under pressure and/or support the absorption of surface wetting liquids.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term "drying" refers to the process of: according to this process, at least a portion of the water is removed from the material to be dried, so that a constant weight of the "dried" material obtained at 120 ℃ is reached. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, a "dried" or "dry" material may be defined by its total moisture content, based on the total weight of the dried material, of less than or equal to 1.0% by weight, preferably less than or equal to 0.5% by weight, more preferably less than or equal to 0.2% by weight, and most preferably from 0.03 to 0.07% by weight.

For the purposes of this application, a "water-insoluble" material is defined as a material that: when mixed with 100ml of deionized water and filtered at 20 ℃ to recover a liquid filtrate, it provides less than or equal to 0.1g of recovered solid material after evaporation of 100g of the liquid filtrate at 95-100 ℃. "Water-soluble" materials are defined as materials that: which results in the recovery of more than 0.1g of solid material after evaporation of 100g of the liquid filtrate at 95-100 ℃. To evaluate whether a material is a water-insoluble or water-soluble material within the meaning of the present invention, the sample size is greater than 0.1g, preferably 0.5g or more.

A "suspension" or "slurry" in the meaning of the present invention includes undissolved solids and water, and optionally other additives, and generally contains a large amount of solids, and thus is more viscous and may have a higher density than the liquid used to form it.

Where an indefinite or definite article is used when referring to a singular noun e.g. "a", "an" or "the", this includes a plural of that noun unless something else is specifically stated otherwise.

When the term "comprising" is used in the present description and claims, it does not exclude other elements. For the purposes of the present invention, the term "consisting of … …" is considered to be a preferred embodiment of the term "comprising" or "comprising". If in the following it is defined that a group set (group) comprises at least a certain number of embodiments, this is also to be understood as disclosing a group set, which preferably consists of only these embodiments.

Terms such as "available" or "definable" and "obtained" or "defined" are used interchangeably. This for example means that unless the context clearly dictates otherwise, the term "obtained" is not meant to indicate that for example an embodiment must be obtained by, for example, a sequence of steps following the term "obtained", although the term "obtained" or "defined" always includes such a restrictive understanding as a preferred embodiment.

Wherever the terms "comprising" or "having" are used, these terms are considered equivalent to "comprising" as defined above.

Preferred embodiments of the edible composition of the present invention will be described in more detail hereinafter. It is understood that these embodiments and details also apply to the products, methods and uses of the present invention.

Edible composition

The edible composition of the present invention comprises water and/or at least one edible oil and has a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source.

Therefore, one requirement of the present invention is: the edible composition comprises a composition having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm.

In this regard, the present inventors have surprisingly found that such surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be used as a substitute for titanium dioxide in edible compositions, and thus may provide compositions that are free of titanium dioxide. Furthermore, the inventors have found that the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a high whiteness and/or coverage capability in an edible composition, which is similar or identical to titanium dioxide. In addition, the present inventors have surprisingly found that when the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is used in an edible composition, the amount of sugar and the amount of calories are reduced, preferably at a similar or the same whiteness and/or coverage capacity as titanium dioxide. Furthermore, the present inventors have surprisingly found that when the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is used in an edible composition, it has a similar or the same whiteness and/or covering power as titanium dioxide, but avoids the use of an excess of Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC).

H in the context of the present invention₃O⁺The ion donor is a bronsted acid and/or an acid salt, i.e. a salt comprising acid hydrogens.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a suspension of natural or precipitated calcium carbonate, (b) adding to the suspension of step (a) at least one compound having a pK at 20 ℃ of 0 or less_aA value, or a pK at 20 ℃ of 0 to 2.5_aAcid of value, and (c) treating the suspension of step (a) with carbon dioxide before, during or after step (b). According to another embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is obtained by a process comprising the steps of: (A) providing natural or precipitated calcium carbonate, (B) providing at least one water-soluble acid, (C) providing gaseous CO₂(D) reacting said natural or precipitated calcium carbonate of step (A) with the at least one acid of step (B) and with the CO of step (C)₂A contact, characterized by: (i) the at least one acid of step (B) has a pK associated with the ionization of its first available hydrogen of greater than 2.5 and less than or equal to 7 at 20 ℃_aAnd where the first available hydrogen is lost, a corresponding anion is formed which is capable of forming a water-soluble calcium salt, and (ii) after contacting the at least one acid with natural or precipitated calcium carbonate, there is additionally provided at least one water-soluble salt which in the case of the hydrogen-containing salt has a pK associated with the ionization of the first available hydrogen of more than 7 at 20 ℃_aAnd the salt anion is capable of forming a water-insoluble calcium salt.

The "natural ground calcium carbonate" (GCC) is preferably selected from calcium carbonate-containing minerals selected from marble, chalk, limestone and mixtures thereof. The natural ground calcium carbonate may comprise additional naturally occurring ingredients such as magnesium carbonate, aluminosilicates, and the like.

In general, the grinding of the natural ground calcium carbonate can be a dry or wet grinding step and can be carried out with any conventional grinding device, for example under conditions such that the comminution results mainly from the impact with the auxiliary bodies, i.e. in one or more of the following: ball mills, rod mills, vibratory mills, crushers, centrifugal impact mills, vertical bead mills, attritors, pin mills, hammer mills, pulverizers, shredders, delumpers, cutters (knife cutters), or other such equipment known to those skilled in the art. In case the calcium carbonate-comprising mineral material comprises wet-milled calcium carbonate-comprising mineral material, the milling step may be performed under conditions such that autogenous milling occurs and/or by horizontal ball milling and/or other such methods known to the skilled person. The wet-processed ground natural calcium carbonate thus obtained can be washed and dewatered by well-known methods, for example by flocculation, filtration or forced evaporation (before drying). The subsequent drying step (if necessary) may be carried out in a single step, for example spray drying, or in at least two steps. It is also common for such mineral materials to be subjected to a beneficiation step (e.g. a flotation, bleaching or magnetic separation step) to remove impurities.

"precipitated calcium carbonate" (PCC) in the meaning of the present invention is a synthetic material, typically by precipitation after reaction of carbon dioxide with calcium hydroxide in an aqueous environment or by precipitation of calcium ions and carbonate ions (e.g. CaCl)₂And Na₂CO₃) Precipitating from the solution. Other possible ways to produce PCC are the soda lime process, or the Solvay process, where PCC is a by-product of ammonia production. Precipitated calcium carbonate exists in three primary crystalline forms: calcite, aragonite and vaterite, and for each of these crystal forms there are many different polymorphs (crystal habit). Calcite has a triangular structure with typical crystallographic habit such as scalenohedral (S-PCC), rhombohedral (R-PCC), hexagonal prismatic, axial, colloidal (C-PCC), cubic and prismatic (P-PCC). Aragonite is a orthorhombic structure with a typical crystal habit of paired hexagonal prisms, and a wide assortment of elongated prismatic, curved lobate, steep pyramidal, chisel pointed, bifurcated trees, and coral or worm-like forms. Vaterite belongs to the hexagonal system. The PCC slurry obtained may be mechanically dewatered and dried.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the precipitated calcium carbonate is the following precipitated calcium carbonate: it preferably comprises aragonite, vaterite or calcite mineralogical crystals, or mixtures thereof.

The precipitated calcium carbonate may be used in combination with carbon dioxide and at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is preceded by grinding in the same way as for grinding natural calcium carbonate as described above.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate is in the form of particles having a particle size of 0.05 to 10.0 μm, preferablyA weight median particle size d of from 0.2 to 5.0. mu.m, more preferably from 0.4 to 3.0. mu.m, most preferably from 0.5 to 1.2. mu.m, in particular from 0.6. mu.m₅₀. According to another embodiment of the invention, the natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate is in the form of particles having a top cut particle size d of 0.15-30 μm, preferably 0.6-15 μm, more preferably 1.2-10 μm, most preferably 1.5-4 μm and especially 1.6 μm₉₈。

The natural ground calcium carbonate and/or precipitated calcium carbonate may be used dry or suspended in water. Preferably, the respective slurry has a content of natural ground calcium carbonate and/or precipitated calcium carbonate in the range of from 1 wt% to 90 wt%, more preferably from 3 wt% to 60 wt%, even more preferably from 5 wt% to 40 wt% and most preferably from 10 wt% to 25 wt%, based on the weight of the slurry.

The one or more H for preparing surface-reacted calcium carbonate₃O⁺The ion donor may be one that produces H under the conditions of preparation₃O⁺Any strong, medium or weak acid of ion or mixtures thereof. According to the invention, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor may also be one that produces H under the conditions of preparation₃O⁺An acid salt of an ion.

According to one embodiment, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor has a pK of 0 or less at 20 ℃_aOf (4) a strong acid.

According to another embodiment, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is pK at 20 ℃_aA medium strong acid with a value of 0-2.5. If the pK is at 20 ℃_a0 or less, the acid is preferably selected from sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or a mixture thereof. If the pK is at 20 ℃_a0 to 2.5, then H₃O⁺The ion donor is preferably selected from H₂SO₃、H₃PO₄Oxalic acid or mixtures thereof. The at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor may also be an acid salt, e.g. HSO₄ ^-Or H₂PO₄ ^-(which is through a corresponding cation such as Li)⁺、Na⁺Or K⁺At least partially neutralized), orHPO₄ ^2-(which is through a corresponding cation such as Li)⁺、Na⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺Or Ca²⁺At least partially neutralized). The at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor may also be a mixture of one or more acids and one or more acid salts.

According to yet another embodiment, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is a weak acid having a pK greater than 2.5 and less than or equal to 7 when measured at 20 ℃_aValues (associated with ionization of the first available hydrogen) and having the corresponding anion capable of forming a water-soluble calcium salt. Thereafter, at least one water-soluble salt is additionally provided, which in the case of a hydrogen-containing salt has a pK of greater than 7 when measured at 20 ℃_a(associated with ionization of the first available hydrogen) and its salt anion is capable of forming a water-insoluble calcium salt. According to a more preferred embodiment, the weak acid has a pK of more than 2.5 to 5 at 20 ℃_aAnd, more preferably, the weak acid is selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, formic acid, propionic acid, and mixtures thereof. Exemplary cations of the water-soluble salt are selected from potassium, sodium, lithium, and mixtures thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, the cation is sodium or potassium. Exemplary anions of the water-soluble salt are selected from the group consisting of phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, monobasic phosphate, oxalate, silicate, mixtures thereof, and hydrates thereof. In a more preferred embodiment, the anion is selected from the group consisting of phosphate, dihydrogen phosphate, monohydrogen phosphate, mixtures thereof, and hydrates thereof. In a most preferred embodiment, the anion is selected from the group consisting of dihydrogen phosphate, monohydrogen phosphate, mixtures thereof, and hydrates thereof. The addition of the water-soluble salt can be carried out dropwise or in one step. In the case of dropwise addition, the addition preferably takes place over a period of 10 minutes. More preferably, the salt is added in one step.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, acetic acid, formic acid, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is selected from hydrochloric acid,Sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, H₂PO₄ ^-(which is through a corresponding cation such as Li)⁺、Na⁺Or K⁺At least partially neutralized), HPO₄ ^2-(which is through a corresponding cation such as Li)⁺、Na⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺Or Ca²⁺At least partially neutralized), and mixtures thereof, more preferably, the at least one acid is selected from hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, sulfurous acid, phosphoric acid, oxalic acid, or mixtures thereof, and most preferably, the at least one H₃O⁺The ion donor is phosphoric acid.

The one or more H₃O⁺The ion donor may be added to the suspension as a concentrated solution or a more dilute solution. Preferably, the H₃O⁺The molar ratio of the ion donor to the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate is from 0.01 to 4, more preferably from 0.02 to 2, even more preferably from 0.05 to 1 and most preferably from 0.1 to 0.58.

As an additional alternative, the H may also be added prior to suspending the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate₃O⁺The ion donor was added to water.

In the next step, natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate is treated with carbon dioxide. If a strong acid such as sulfuric acid or hydrochloric acid is used for H of natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate₃O⁺The ion donor is treated, and then carbon dioxide is automatically formed. Alternatively or additionally, the carbon dioxide may be supplied from an external source.

H₃O⁺The treatment with the ion donor and the treatment with carbon dioxide may be carried out simultaneously, as is the case when strong or medium acids are used. H may also be carried out first₃O⁺Ion donor treatment, e.g. with a pK in the range of 0-2.5 at 20 ℃_aIs carried out with a medium strong acid, wherein carbon dioxide is formed in situ and, therefore, the carbon dioxide treatment will automatically react with H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is performed simultaneously, followed by an additional treatment using carbon dioxide supplied from an external source.

Preferably, the gaseous phase of the suspension is a gas phase of hydrogen peroxideThe concentration of carbon is such that the ratio (volume of suspension) to (gaseous CO) is, in terms of volume₂Volume) of 1:0.05 to 1:20, even more preferably of 1:0.05 to 1: 5.

In a preferred embodiment, H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment step and/or the carbon dioxide treatment step are repeated at least once, more preferably a plurality of times. According to one embodiment, the at least one H is added over a period of time of at least about 5 minutes, preferably at least about 10 minutes, typically from about 10 to about 20 minutes, more preferably about 30 minutes, even more preferably about 45 minutes, and sometimes about 1 hour or more₃O⁺An ion donor.

At H₃O⁺The pH of the aqueous suspension measured at 20 ℃ after the ion donor treatment and the carbon dioxide treatment naturally reaches a value of more than 6.0, preferably more than 6.5, more preferably more than 7.0, even more preferably more than 7.5, whereby the surface-reacted natural or precipitated calcium carbonate is prepared as an aqueous suspension having a pH of more than 6.0, preferably more than 6.5, more preferably more than 7.0, even more preferably more than 7.5.

Further details regarding the preparation of surface-reacted natural calcium carbonate are disclosed in the following documents: WO 00/39222a1, WO 2004/083316a1, WO 2005/121257a2, WO 2009/074492a1, EP 2264108a1, EP2264109a1, US 2004/0020410a1 and unpublished european patent application No.16181094.0, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Similarly, a surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate was obtained. As can be taken in detail from WO 2009/074492a1, the surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate is obtained by: reacting precipitated calcium carbonate with H₃O⁺And contacting in an aqueous medium with an anion that is soluble in the aqueous medium and capable of forming a water-insoluble calcium salt to form a slurry of surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate, wherein the surface-reacted precipitated calcium carbonate comprises an insoluble, at least partially crystalline calcium salt of the anion formed on the surface of at least a portion of the precipitated calcium carbonate.

The dissolved calcium ions correspond to being H relative to the precipitated calcium carbonate₃O⁺Dissolved calcium ions in excess of dissolved calcium ions naturally produced by ion dissolution, wherein the H₃O⁺The ions are provided only in the form of the counter ion of the anion, i.e. via addition of the anion in the form of an acid or non-calcium acid salt, and there is no further calcium ion or calcium ion generating source.

The excess dissolved calcium ions are preferably provided by the addition of a soluble neutral or acid calcium salt, or by the addition of an acid or neutral or acid non-calcium salt which generates a soluble neutral or acid calcium salt in situ.

Said H₃O⁺Ions may be provided by addition of an acid or an acid salt of said anion, or by addition of an acid or an acid salt which simultaneously serves to provide all or part of said excess dissolved calcium ions.

In a further preferred embodiment of the preparation of the surface-reacted natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate, the natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate is reacted with the acid and/or carbon dioxide in the presence of at least one compound selected from the group consisting of: silicates, silica, aluminum hydroxide, alkaline earth aluminates such as sodium or potassium aluminate, magnesium oxide or mixtures thereof. Preferably, the at least one silicate is selected from aluminium silicate, calcium silicate or an alkaline earth metal silicate. These components may be added to the aqueous suspension comprising natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate prior to the addition of the acid and/or carbon dioxide.

Alternatively still, the silicate and/or silica and/or aluminum hydroxide and/or alkaline earth aluminate and/or magnesium oxide component may be added to the aqueous suspension of natural or precipitated calcium carbonate when the reaction of the natural or precipitated calcium carbonate with acid and carbon dioxide has begun. Further details regarding the preparation of surface-reacted natural or precipitated calcium carbonate in the presence of at least one silicate and/or silica and/or aluminium hydroxide and/or alkaline earth aluminate component are disclosed in WO 2004/083316a1, the content of which is hereby incorporated into the present application.

The surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be kept in suspension, optionally further stabilized by a dispersant. Conventional dispersants known to those skilled in the art may be used. Preferred dispersing agents include polyacrylic acid and/or carboxymethylcellulose.

Alternatively, the above-described aqueous suspension may be dried, thereby obtaining a surface-reacted natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate as a solid in the form of a pellet or powder (i.e., dried or containing little water not in fluid form).

The surface-reacted calcium carbonate may have different particle shapes, such as the shape of a rose, a golf ball, and/or a brain.

According to one embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a specific surface area of from 15m2/g to 200m2/g, preferably from 20m2/g to 180m2/g, more preferably from 25m2/g to 160m2/g, still more preferably from 27m2/g to 150m2/g, most preferably from 30m2/g to 140m2/g, measured using nitrogen and BET methods. The BET specific surface area within the meaning of the present invention is defined as the surface area of the particle divided by the mass of the particle. As used herein, the specific surface area is measured by adsorption using BET isotherms (ISO 9277:2010) and in m²The/g is specified.

One requirement of the present invention is: the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume median particle size d of from 0.1 to 90 μm₅₀. According to one embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume median particle size d of from 0.1 to 75 μm, preferably from 0.5 to 50 μm, more preferably from 1 to 40 μm, still more preferably from 1.2 to 30 μm and most preferably from 1.5 to 15 μm₅₀。

It may furthermore be preferred that the surface-reacted calcium carbonate particles have a volume top-cut particle size d of 2-150 μm, preferably 4-100 μm, more preferably 6-80 μm, yet more preferably 8-60 μm and most preferably 10-30 μm₉₈。

Value d_xThe following diameters are indicated: with respect to the diameter, x% of the particles have a diameter less than d_xOf (c) is measured. This means that d₉₈The values refer to the following particle sizes: wherein 98% of all particles are smaller than the particle size. d₉₈The value is also referred to as "top cut". d_xValues may be given in volume or weight percent. d₅₀The (weight) value is thus in weightThe particle size, i.e. 50% by weight of all particles, is less than the particle size, and d₅₀The (volume) value is the volume median particle size, i.e. 50% by volume of all particles are smaller than this particle size.

Evaluation of volume median particle size d Using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000laser diffraction System₅₀. D measured using a Malvern Mastersizer 2000laser diffraction System₅₀Or d₉₈The values indicate diameter values of: 50% or 98% by volume of the particles have a diameter smaller than this value, respectively. Raw data obtained by measurement were analyzed using mie theory with a particle refractive index of 1.57 and an absorption coefficient of 0.005.

The weight median particle size is measured by sedimentation, which is an analysis of sedimentation behavior in a gravitational field. The Sedigraph from Micromeritics Instrument Corporation was used^TM5100 or 5120. Methods and apparatus are known to those skilled in the art and are commonly used to determine the particle size of fillers and pigments. At 0.1% by weight Na₄P₂O₇Is measured in an aqueous solution of (a). The samples were dispersed using a high speed stirrer and ultrasound.

Methods and apparatus are known to those skilled in the art and are commonly used to determine the particle size of fillers and pigments.

Specific pore volume was measured using a Micromeritics Autopore V9620 mercury porosimeter with a Laplacian throat diameter equivalent to 0.004 μm (. about.nm) with a maximum applied mercury pressure of 414MPa (60000psi) using mercury intrusion porosimetry measurements. The equilibration time used at each pressure step was 20 seconds. Sealing the sample material at 5cm³The chamber was used for analysis in a powder penetrometer. The data were corrected for mercury compression, penetrometer expansion and sample material compression using the software Pore-Comp (Gane, P.A.C., Kettle, J.P., Matthews, G.P. and Ridgway, C.J., "Void Space Structure of compatible Polymer Spheres and compatible Calcium Carbonate Paper-coating formulations", Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, 35(5), 1996, page 1753-.

The total pore volume seen in the cumulative invasion data can be divided into two regions, with invasion data falling from 214 μm to about 1-4 μm showing coarse filling of the sample between any agglomerated structures that have a strong contribution. Below these diameters is the fine inter-particle packing of the particles themselves. This region shows a double peak if they also have intraparticle pores, and the specific intraparticle pore volume is thus defined by taking the specific pore volume of the pores which are finer than the peak inflection point (i.e. finer than the double peak inflection point) invaded by mercury. The sum of these three regions gives the total pore volume of the powder but strongly depends on the original sample compaction/settling of the powder at the coarse pore end of the distribution.

By taking the first derivative of the cumulative invasion curve, a pore size distribution based on the equivalent laplace diameter is revealed, which necessarily includes the pore shielding. The differential curves clearly show the coarse agglomerate pore structure region, the interparticle pore region and the intraparticle pore region (if present). Knowing the range of intra-particle pore diameters, the remaining inter-particle and inter-agglomerate pore volumes can be subtracted from the total pore volume to give the desired pore volume of the individual internal pores in terms of pore volume per unit mass (specific pore volume). Of course, the same principles of subtraction are also applicable to separating any other pore size region of interest.

Preferably, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a porosity, as measured by mercury porosimetry, of from 0.1 to 2.3cm³In terms of/g, more preferably 0.2-2.0cm³Per g, particularly preferably from 0.4 to 1.8cm³In g and most preferably from 0.6 to 1.6cm³Specific pore volume of the particle.

The pore size in the particles of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, as determined by mercury porosimetry measurements, is preferably in the range of from 0.004 to 1.6 μm, more preferably in the range of from 0.005 to 1.3 μm, especially preferably in the range of from 0.006 to 1.15 μm and most preferably in the range of from 0.007 to 1.0. mu.m, for example in the range of from 0.004 to 0.6. mu.m.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate has a volume median particle size d of from 1.5 to 15 μm, preferably from 1.5 to 2 μm₅₀(ii) a A specific surface area of 30 to 140m2/g, preferably 40 to 60m2/g, measured using nitrogen and the BET method; and calculated from mercury porosimetry measurements0.2-2.0cm³In g, preferably 0.2-0.4cm³Specific pore volume of the particle.

Due to the intra-and inter-pore structure of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, it may be an excellent agent to deliver previously adsorbed/absorbed materials over time relative to common materials with similar specific surface areas. Thus, in general, any agent suitable into the intra-particle and/or inter-particle pores of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is suitable for transport by the surface-reacted calcium carbonate according to the invention. For example, active agents, such as those selected from the group consisting of: pharmaceutically active agents, biologically active agents, disinfectants, preservatives, flavoring agents, surfactants, oils, fragrances, essential oils, and mixtures thereof. According to one embodiment, the at least one active agent is used in combination with the surface-reacted calcium carbonate.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate comprises a water-insoluble, at least partially crystalline calcium salt of at least one acid anion, which is formed on the surface of the natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate. According to one embodiment, the water-insoluble, at least partially crystalline salt of the anion of the at least one acid at least partially, preferably completely, covers the surface of the natural ground or precipitated calcium carbonate. Depending on the at least one acid used, the anion may be sulfate, sulfite, phosphate, citrate, oxalate, acetate, formate and/or chloride.

For example, phosphoric acid, H₂PO₄ ^-Or HPO₄ ^2-As H₃O⁺The use of ion donors can lead to the formation of hydroxyapatite. Thus, in a preferred embodiment, the at least one water-insoluble calcium salt is hydroxyapatite.

According to one embodiment, the at least one water-insoluble calcium salt is hydroxyapatite, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate provides hydroxyapatite in a ratio by weight to calcite, aragonite and/or vaterite (preferably to calcite) in the range of 1: 99 to 99: 1, in the above range. Preferably, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate provides hydroxyapatite in a ratio by weight to calcite, aragonite and/or vaterite (preferably to calcite) of between 1: 9 to 9: 1. preferably 1: 7 to 8: 1. more preferably 1:5 to 7: 1 and most preferably 1: 4 to 7: 1, in the above range.

In a similar manner, other H₃O⁺The use of an ion donor may result in the formation of a corresponding water-insoluble calcium salt other than calcium carbonate on at least a portion of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate. In one embodiment, the at least one water-insoluble calcium salt is thus selected from octacalcium phosphate, hydroxyapatite, chlorapatite, fluorapatite, carbonate apatite and mixtures thereof, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate exhibits a ratio of the at least one water-insoluble calcium salt to calcite, aragonite and/or vaterite (preferably to calcite) of 1: 99 to 99: 1. preferably 1: 9 to 9: 1. more preferably 1: 7 to 8: 1. still more preferably 1:5 to 7: 1 and most preferably 1: 4 to 7: 1, in the above range.

According to one embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate comprises:

(i) specific surface area of 15-200m measured according to ISO 9277:2010 using nitrogen and BET methods²Per g, and

(ii) the specific pore volume of the intrusion in the particles is 0.1-2.3cm calculated from the mercury porosimetry measurement³/g。

It will be appreciated that the edible composition is typically provided in the form of a liquid composition which can be easily filled into and/or coated onto a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

Thus, the edible composition comprises water and/or at least one edible oil.

It is to be understood that the water may be any water suitable for human or animal consumption, such as drinking water, tap water, mineral water, spring water, and the like.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises at least one edible oil.

In the meaning of the present invention, the term "at least one" oil means that the oil comprises, preferably consists of, one or more oils.

In one embodiment of the invention, the at least one oil comprises, preferably consists of, one oil. Further optionally, the at least one oil comprises, preferably consists of, two or more oils. For example, the at least one oil comprises, preferably consists of, two or three oils. Preferably, the at least one oil comprises, preferably consists of, one oil.

It is to be understood that the at least one oil may be any oil suitable for human or animal consumption. For example, the at least one edible oil is selected from palm oil, sunflower oil, soybean oil, coconut oil, peanut oil, olive oil, and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the edible composition comprises water. This is advantageous in that the edible composition is preferably coated onto and/or filled into the product and then dried to obtain the respective edible coating and/or filling.

It will be appreciated that the amount of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate in the edible composition may vary within wide ranges and may depend on the composition to be prepared and/or the needs of the manufacturer and/or legal requirements.

According to an embodiment of the invention, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is present in the edible composition in an amount of 1.0-50.0% by weight, preferably 1.5-25.0% by weight, more preferably 2.0-15.0% by weight and most preferably 2.5-12.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible composition.

In this regard, the inventors have surprisingly found that the surface-reacted calcium carbonate provides similar or identical whiteness and/or covering power as titanium dioxide, but avoids the use of an excess of Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), i.e. in an amount of 30-50% by weight.

The edible composition may further comprise one or more additives. It is to be understood that the one or more additives may be any one or more additives suitable for human or animal consumption.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the edible composition further comprises one or more additives selected from the group consisting of: sugar frost; starch; a binder; a wax; a preservative; an antioxidant; a stabilizer or texture modifier; a protein; an emulsifier; a flavoring agent; artificial sweeteners, sugars, polyols, defoamers, surfactants, colorants, plasticizers and film formers.

For example, the starch may be selected from wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized acetylated distarch adipate, and mixtures thereof.

The binder may be selected from natural and/or synthetic binders suitable for use in edible compositions. For example, the binder is selected from gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof.

The wax may be selected from natural and/or synthetic waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof.

According to one embodiment, the preservative is preferably selected from propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof.

The antioxidant may be selected from the group consisting of Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof.

The stabilizer or texture modifier is preferably selected from agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises an emulsifier. Examples of suitable emulsifiers are emulsifiers comprising sucrose esters or lecithin or sorbitan monostearate and mixtures thereof. Such emulsifiers are well known in the art and are available from a variety of sources and are not described in more detail herein.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises a polyol. Examples of suitable polyols are mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, lactitol and mixtures thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises one or more additives selected from: a protein; a flavoring agent; a colorant; and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sodium cyclamate, saccharin, acesulfame potassium, stevia, mogroside or sucralose.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises one or more sugars. Examples of suitable sugars include fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixtures, maltose and mixtures thereof. The sugar or sugars may be in the form of rock sugar, brown sugar, icing sugar, syrup or invert sugar, preferably icing sugar.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises an anti-foaming agent. Examples of suitable defoamers include silicones, silanes such as Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), hydrophobic silicas, silicones such as dimethicone or simethicones; and mixtures thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises a surfactant. Examples of suitable surfactants include polyether modified silicone surfactants, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), polysorbates, poloxamers, and mixtures thereof.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises a plasticizer. Examples of suitable plasticizers include triethyl citrate, diethyl phthalate, diacetin, triacetin, dibutyl phthalate, dibutyl tartrate, tributyl acetate, castor oil, cetyl alcohol, cetearyl alcohol, fatty acids, glycerides and triglycerides and polyoxyethylene glycols, preferably having a molecular weight in the range of from 20020,000 g/mol.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible composition comprises a film-forming agent. Examples of suitable film forming agents include water swellable polymers such as cellulose derived polymers, acrylate based copolymers and mixtures thereof, and/or water soluble polymers such as cellulose derived polymers, homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl alcohol, homopolymers and copolymers of vinyl phenol, homopolymers and copolymers of ethylene oxide, homopolymers and copolymers of maleic acid, collagen, gelatin, alginates, starch, naturally occurring polysaccharides, and mixtures thereof. It will be appreciated that the water-swellable polymer is preferably water-insoluble.

Preferably, the water-swellable (and preferably water-insoluble) cellulose-derived polymer is selected from cellulose ester polymers such as cellulose acetate, cellulose acetate phthalate, cellulose acetate butyrate, cellulose acetate trimellitate and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose phthalate (HPMCP). Preferably, the water-swellable (and preferably water-insoluble) acrylate-based copolymer comprises an anionic, cationic and neutral copolymer. For example, the water-swellable (and preferably water-insoluble) acrylate-based copolymer comprises monomers (and comonomers) selected from: acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, methyl acrylate, ethyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, and ethyl methacrylate. In a preferred embodiment, the water-swellable (and preferably water-insoluble) acrylate-based copolymer comprises an anionic, cationic and neutral copolymer comprising a monomer (and comonomer) selected from methacrylic acid, acrylic acid and derivatives thereof and mixtures thereof.

Preferably, the water-soluble cellulose-derived polymer is selected from hydroxypropyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydrated cellulose and hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose. Preferably, the water-soluble naturally occurring polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of agar, alginates, alginic acid derivatives, carrageenan, chitin, chitosan, glucomannan, gellan gum, gelatin, guar gum, gum arabic, ghatti gum, carrageenan, tragacanth gum, locust bean gum, pectin, pullulan, starch and starch derivatives, tamarind gum and xanthan gum.

Such additives are generally well known in the art, and those skilled in the art will select only those additives deemed suitable for human or animal consumption.

It will be appreciated that the edible composition may comprise the one or more additives and amounts thereof depending on the edible composition to be prepared and/or the needs of the manufacturer. For example, the edible composition may comprise from 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 15% by weight, of starch; a binder; a wax; a preservative; an antioxidant; a stabilizer or texture modifier; a protein; an emulsifier; a flavoring agent; artificial sweeteners, and/or 20-90% by weight of sugar and/or polyol, wherein the% by weight is based on the total weight of the edible composition.

Preferably, the edible composition comprises 0.1-20% by weight, preferably 0.1-15% by weight of an emulsifier and/or 20-90% by weight of a sugar and/or a polyol, wherein the% by weight is based on the total weight of the edible composition and optionally one or more additives selected from the group consisting of: starch; a binder; a wax; a preservative; an antioxidant; a stabilizer or texture modifier; a protein; an emulsifier; flavoring agents and artificial sweeteners.

In one embodiment, the one or more additives comprise, preferably consist of, one additive. Further optionally, the one or more additives comprise, preferably consist of, two or more additives. For example, the one or more additives comprise, preferably consist of, two or three additives. Preferably, the one or more additives comprise, preferably consist of, one additive.

In one embodiment, the edible composition thus comprises, preferably consists of:

a) water and/or at least one edible oil, preferably water,

b) having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

c) One or more additives selected from the group consisting of starches, such as wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized acetylated distarch adipate, and mixtures thereof; binders, such as gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof; waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof; preservatives, such as propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; antioxidants, such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof; stabilizers or texture modifiers such as agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof; a protein; emulsifiers, for example emulsifiers comprising sucrose esters or lecithin or sorbitan monostearate and mixtures thereof, flavourings, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixtures, maltose and mixtures thereof, and polyols such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, lactitol and mixtures thereof.

In one embodiment, the edible composition comprises, preferably consists of:

a) water and/or at least one edible oil, preferably water,

b) having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

c) 0.1-20% by weight of an emulsifier, based on the total weight of the edible composition.

In a further alternative embodiment, the edible composition comprises, preferably consists of:

a) water and/or at least one edible oil, preferably water,

b) having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

c) From 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 15% by weight, of an emulsifier, based on the total weight of the edible composition, and

d) one or more additives selected from the group consisting of starches, such as wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized acetylated distarch adipate, and mixtures thereof; binders, such as gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof; waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof; preservatives, such as propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; antioxidants, such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof; stabilizers or texture modifiers such as agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof; a protein; flavoring agents, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixtures, maltose and mixtures thereof, and polyols such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, lactitol and mixtures thereof.

For example, the edible composition comprises, preferably consists of:

a) water and/or at least one edible oil, preferably water,

b) having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

c) From 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 15% by weight, of an emulsifier, based on the total weight of the edible composition, and

d) from 0.1 to 20% by weight, preferably from 0.1 to 15% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible composition, of one or more additives selected from starches, such as wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pre-gelatinized acetylated distarch adipate and mixtures thereof; binders, such as gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof; waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof; preservatives, such as propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; antioxidants, such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof; stabilizers or texture modifiers such as agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof; a protein; flavoring agent, preservative, artificial sweetener, and/or

e) 20-90% by weight based on the total weight of the edible composition of a sugar such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixture, maltose and mixtures thereof, and/or a polyol such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, lactitol and mixtures thereof.

It is to be understood that the total amount of components in the edible composition is 100% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible composition.

The edible composition may further comprise at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC).

For example, the edible composition may further comprise at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC).

For example, the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) is a wet ground natural calcium carbonate.

GCC is understood to mean calcium carbonate in naturally occurring form, mined from sedimentary rocks such as limestone or chalk, or metamorphic marble rocks, and which is processed by wet treatments such as grinding, screening and/or classification (for example by means of a cyclone or classifier). In one embodiment of the invention, the NGCC is selected from marble, chalk, dolomite, limestone and mixtures thereof.

"precipitated calcium carbonate" (PCC) in the meaning of the present invention is a synthetic material, typically by precipitation after reaction of carbon dioxide with lime in an aqueous environment or by precipitation of a source of calcium and carbonate ions in water or by precipitation of calcium and carbonate ions (e.g. CaCl)₂And Na₂CO₃) FromPrecipitating out from the solution to obtain the product. Other possible ways to produce PCC are the soda lime process, or the Solvay process, where PCC is a by-product of ammonia production. Precipitated calcium carbonate exists in three primary crystalline forms: calcite, aragonite and vaterite, and for each of these crystal forms there are many different polymorphs (crystal habit). Calcite has a triangular structure with typical crystallographic habit such as scalenohedral (S-PCC), rhombohedral (R-PCC), hexagonal prismatic, axial, colloidal (C-PCC), cubic and prismatic (P-PCC). Aragonite is a orthorhombic structure with a typical crystal habit of paired hexagonal prisms, and a wide assortment of elongated prismatic, curved lobate, steep pyramidal, chisel pointed, bifurcated trees, and coral or worm-like forms. Vaterite belongs to the hexagonal system. The PCC slurry obtained may be mechanically dewatered and dried.

For example, the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) is marble, more preferably wet ground marble.

It is to be understood that the amount of calcium carbonate in the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is at least 80% by weight, such as at least 95% by weight, preferably 97 to 100% by weight, more preferably 98.5 to 99.95% by weight, based on the total dry weight of the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC).

The at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) are preferably in the form of particulate materials and may have a particle size distribution as conventionally used for materials involved in the type of product to be produced. Generally, it is preferred that the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) have a weight median particle size d₅₀From 0.05 to 100. mu.m, more preferably from 0.1 to 75 μm, even more preferably from 0.25 to 50 μm, and most preferably from 0.5 to 40 μm.

Preferably, the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) has a top cut (d) of 80 μm or less₉₈). For example, the at least one ground calcium carbonate-containing filler materialThe material has top cut (d)₉₈) Is 35 μm or less, preferably 25 μm or less, more preferably 15 μm or less and most preferably 12 μm or less.

In one embodiment, the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is preferably at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC).

It is to be understood that the amount of the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), if present, is preferably higher than the amount of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate.

According to one embodiment, the edible composition thus comprises, preferably consists of:

a) water and/or at least one edible oil, preferably water,

b) having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, an

c) At least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), preferably at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC).

In a further alternative embodiment, the edible composition comprises, preferably consists of:

a) water and/or at least one edible oil, preferably water,

b) having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source,

c) one or more additives selected from the group consisting of icing, starches, such as wheat starch, rice starch, tapioca starch, corn starch, potato starch, pregelatinized acetylated distarch adipate, and mixtures thereof; binders, such as gum arabic, locust bean gum, and mixtures thereof; waxes, such as carnauba wax, montan wax, and mixtures thereof; preservatives, such as propionic acid, sorbic acid, benzoic acid and salts thereof; antioxidants, such as Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA), ascorbic acid, tocopherol, propyl gallate, octyl gallate and mixtures thereof; stabilizers or texture modifiers such as agar, gelatin and mixtures thereof; a protein; emulsifiers, for example emulsifiers comprising sucrose esters or lecithin or sorbitan monostearate and mixtures thereof, flavourings, preservatives, artificial sweeteners, sugars such as fructose, glucose, sucrose, glucose-fructose mixtures, maltose and mixtures thereof, and polyols such as mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol, isomalt, glycerol, maltitol, erythritol, lactitol and mixtures thereof, and

d) at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), preferably at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC).

The edible composition may be in the form of any composition that can be coated onto and/or filled into a food product, pharmaceutical product, or nutritional product. According to one embodiment of the invention, the edible composition is thus selected from the group consisting of food coatings, sugar coatings, sugarless coatings, nutrient coatings, food decorations, food fillings, drug coatings and the like, and mixtures thereof.

Edible coatings and/or fillings and other products

According to another aspect, there is provided a composition comprising a polymer having a volume median particle size d₅₀An edible coating and/or filling of a surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ andor supplied from an external source.

With regard to the definition of this surface-reacted calcium carbonate and its preferred embodiments, reference may be made to the statements provided above in discussing the technical details of the edible composition of the invention.

It is to be understood that the edible coating and/or filling is obtained from the edible composition described herein.

As regards the edible coating, it is preferably obtained by applying an edible composition as defined herein onto the product to be coated and drying the edible composition. Thus, the edible coating preferably has a water and/or at least one oil content that is lower than the water and/or oil content of the edible composition.

However, the final content of water and/or the at least one oil depends on the product to be prepared and/or the manufacturer's equipment and may thus vary within wide limits.

Preferably, the water and/or the at least one oil in the edible coating is present in an amount of 1.0-70.0% by weight, preferably 1.5-50.0% by weight, more preferably 2.0-30.0% by weight and most preferably 2.5-25.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible coating.

As mentioned above, the edible coating is preferably obtained from the edible composition. Thus, the edible coating may further comprise one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC).

With regard to the definition of the one or more additives, the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC), the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and preferred embodiments thereof, reference may be made to the statements as provided above in discussing the technical details of the edible composition of the invention.

Since the edible coating is preferably obtained by applying the edible composition onto the product to be coated and drying the edible composition, the content of the one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is higher than their respective content in the edible composition.

Additionally or alternatively, the edible filling is obtained from the edible composition.

Preferably, the edible filling is obtained by filling an edible composition as defined herein into the product to be filled and optionally drying the edible composition. Thus, the edible filling preferably has a water and/or at least one oil content similar to or lower than the water and/or oil content of the edible composition.

However, the final content of water and/or the at least one oil depends on the product to be prepared and/or the manufacturer's equipment and may thus vary within wide limits.

Preferably, the water and/or the at least one oil is present in the edible filling in an amount of 1.0-70.0% by weight, preferably 1.5-50.0% by weight, more preferably 2.0-40.0% by weight and most preferably 5.0-30.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the edible filling.

As mentioned above, the edible filling is preferably obtained from the edible composition. Thus, the edible filling may further comprise one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC).

With regard to the definition of the one or more additives, the at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC), the at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and preferred embodiments thereof, reference may be made to the statements as provided above in discussing the technical details of the edible composition of the invention.

Since the edible filling is preferably obtained by filling the edible composition onto the product to be filled and optionally drying the edible composition, the content of the one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) is similar to or higher than their respective content in the edible composition.

It is to be understood that the edible composition is preferably at least partially coated onto and/or filled into a food product, pharmaceutical product or nutritional product.

In another aspect, the invention thus relates to a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with an edible composition as defined herein.

With regard to the definition of the edible composition and its preferred embodiments, reference may be made to the statements provided above in discussing the technical details of the edible composition of the invention.

In the meaning of the present invention, the term "food product" refers to a nutritional product (nutrition) that is consumed to maintain life, provide energy or promote growth.

For example, the food product is selected from the group consisting of cakes, cookies, candies, cereals, cereal bars, potato chips, chewing gums, ice cream wafers, and the like.

In the meaning of the present invention, the term "pharmaceutical product" refers to a solid product manufactured for providing a medicament.

For example, the pharmaceutical product is selected from tablets, mini-tablets, pellets, capsules, granules and the like.

Within the meaning of the present invention, the term "nutritional product" refers to a solid product manufactured to provide nutritional compounds.

For example, the nutritional product is selected from tablets, mini-tablets, pellets, capsules, granules, and the like.

Method and use

In another aspect, the invention also relates to a method for producing a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with the edible composition.

The method comprises the following steps:

a) mixing water and/or at least one edible oil with a mixture having a volume median particle size d₅₀Surface-reacted calcium carbonate of 0.1 to 90 μm, wherein the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is natural ground calcium carbonate or precipitated calcium carbonate with carbon dioxide and one or more H's, is mixed for obtaining an edible composition₃O⁺Reaction products of ion donors wherein the carbon dioxide is passed through H₃O⁺The ion donor treatment is formed in situ and/or supplied from an external source, and

b) applying the edible composition obtained in step a) at least partially to the surface of a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product one or more times, or filling the edible composition obtained in step a) into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

With regard to the definition of the edible composition, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, water, the at least one edible oil and preferred embodiments thereof, reference may be made to the statements as provided above in the discussion of the technical details of the edible composition of the invention.

The surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be provided in any suitable liquid or dry form. For example, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be in the form of a powder and/or a suspension. The suspension may be obtained by mixing the surface-reacted calcium carbonate with a solvent, preferably water. The surface-reacted calcium carbonate to be mixed with a solvent, preferably water, may be provided in any form, for example in the form of a suspension, slurry, dispersion, paste, powder, wet cake or in the form of a press or granulation.

Since the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is mixed with water and/or the at least one edible oil in step a), it is advantageous to provide the surface-reacted calcium carbonate as concentrated as possible, i.e. the water content should be as low as possible, to avoid excessive dilution in step a), and therefore the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is preferably provided in powder form. In a further alternative embodiment, the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is provided in the form of a suspension and then mixed with water and/or the at least one edible oil.

In case the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is provided in dry form, the moisture content of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be between 0.01 and 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate. The moisture content of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate may, for example, be less than or equal to 1.0% by weight, based on the total weight of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, preferably less than or equal to 0.5% by weight, more preferably less than or equal to 0.2% by weight. According to another example, the moisture content of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be between 0.01 and 0.15% by weight, preferably between 0.02 and 0.10% by weight, more preferably between 0.03 and 0.07% by weight, based on the total weight of the surface-reacted calcium carbonate.

The mixing of the water and/or the at least one edible oil with the surface-reacted calcium carbonate may be performed in any manner known to the person skilled in the art. The mixing can be carried out under conventional mixing conditions. Those skilled in the art will adapt these mixing conditions (e.g., the configuration of the mixing tray and the mixing speed) according to their process equipment. It is to be understood that any mixing method suitable for forming an edible composition may be used.

Step a) is performed such that the edible composition obtained in step a) has a solids content of 1.0-50.0% by weight, preferably 1.5-25.0% by weight, more preferably 2.0-15.0% by weight and most preferably 2.5-12.0% by weight based on the total weight of the edible composition.

Where the process comprises mixing the water and at least one oil with the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, the mixing may be performed in any order. Preferably, the water and the at least one oil are combined and mixed to form a mixture, and then the surface-reacted calcium carbonate is added and mixed.

The mixing may be carried out at temperatures typically used to prepare edible compositions. Preferably, the mixing is carried out at a temperature of 15-100 ℃, more preferably 20-85 ℃ and most preferably 20-70 ℃, such as 20-45 ℃.

The method for producing a food product or a pharmaceutical product or a nutritional product at least partially coated and/or filled with the edible composition may further comprise providing one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC). The combining and mixing of the one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), water and/or the at least one edible oil and the surface-reacted calcium carbonate may also be performed under conventional mixing conditions. Those skilled in the art will adapt these mixing conditions (e.g., the configuration of the mixing tray and the mixing speed) according to their process equipment. It is to be understood that any mixing method suitable for forming an edible composition may be used.

Where the process comprises providing the surface-reacted calcium carbonate, water and/or at least one oil, and one or more additives and/or at least one Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) and/or at least one Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC), the combining and mixing may be performed in any order.

In step b) of the present method, the edible composition obtained in step a) is at least partially applied (or coated) one or more times onto the surface of a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product. Further optionally, the edible composition obtained in step a) is filled one or more times into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

The edible composition may be at least partially applied (or coated) onto the surface of the food product or pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product by any means known in the art suitable for at least partially spreading the composition onto the surface of the food product or pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product. The application/coating conditions (e.g. amount or coating speed) will be adapted by the person skilled in the art according to his process equipment.

For example, the application of the edible composition at least partially to the surface of the food product or pharmaceutical or nutritional product in step b) is performed by brushing or pouring, pan coating, curtain or dip coating, fluid bed coating, hot melt coating and/or press coating.

These methods are well known in the art and need not be described in more detail in this application.

Further optionally, the edible composition obtained in step a) is filled into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutritional product.

The edible composition may be filled into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutritional product by any means known in the art suitable for filling the composition into a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutritional product. The filling conditions (e.g. amount or filling speed) will be adapted by the person skilled in the art according to his process equipment.

For example, the filling of the edible composition into the food product or the pharmaceutical or nutritional product in step b) is performed by injecting the edible composition into the food product or the pharmaceutical or nutritional product.

These methods are well known in the art and need not be described in more detail in this application.

It is understood that the applying or filling step b) is carried out one or more times, preferably once. That is, if the applying or filling step b) is performed a plurality of times, step b) may be repeated one or more times.

In one embodiment, the method further comprises step c): the edible composition applied (or coated) onto or filled into the food product or the pharmaceutical or nutritional product is dried. Preferably, step c) is applied if the edible composition is applied (or coated) onto a food product or a pharmaceutical or nutraceutical product.

Drying of the edible composition may be carried out by any means known in the art suitable for drying food products or pharmaceutical or nutritional products. The person skilled in the art will adapt the drying conditions (e.g. air flow or hot flow) according to his process equipment.

Drying of the edible composition in or on the food, pharmaceutical or nutritional product in step c) is performed, for example, by air drying or by using a flow of hot or air.

It is therefore understood that an edible composition applied (or coated) onto or filled into a food, pharmaceutical or nutritional product comprises a smaller amount of water than an edible composition previously applied onto or filled into the product.

The scope and benefits of the present invention will be better understood based on the following examples, which are intended to illustrate certain embodiments of the invention, but are not limiting.

Drawings

FIG. 1 shows the coverage capacity of frosting only (ref.)

FIG. 2 shows the covering power of a sugar coating comprising 0.5% by weight of titanium dioxide (formulation 9, reference)

FIG. 3 shows the covering power of a sugar coating comprising 35% by weight of Natural Ground Calcium Carbonate (NGCC) (formulation 13, reference)

FIG. 4 shows the covering power of a sugar coating comprising 8% by weight of surface-reacted calcium carbonate (formulation 15)

FIG. 5 shows the covering power of a sugar coating comprising 4% by weight of surface-reacted calcium carbonate (formulation 17)

FIG. 6 shows coating with TiO₂Chewing gum core

FIG. 7 shows a chewing gum core coated with surface-reacted calcium carbonate

FIG. 8 shows cracking of the chewing gum coating

FIG. 9 shows a typical plot generated by the test method for gum coating cracking

FIG. 10 shows the effect of coating thickness on chewing gum cores

FIG. 11 shows the breaking force of coatings using various formulations

FIG. 12 shows the contrast ratio of an achromatic film

FIG. 13 shows the color characteristics of the film

Detailed Description