Patent attributes
Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is widely used as a chewing gum base in lieu of natural gums. It is necessary to protect chewing gum SBR with a food grade antioxidant stabilizer system. This invention discloses a chewing gum rubber composition (gum base) that utilizes carnosic acid from a Libiatae plant, such as rosemary or sage, as an antioxidant stabilizer. In the practice of this invention the chewing gum base also containg lecithin that can be used as an emulsifier for the carnosic acid. This invention more specifically discloses a chewing gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an elastomer plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural rosin esters and synthetic terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; (4) carnosic acid, and (5) lecithin, wherein said chewing gum base is void of sweeteners. The subject invention also reveals a chewing gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an elastomer plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural rosin esters and synthetic terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; (4) carnosic acid, and (5) lecithin, wherein said chewing gum base is void of flavoring agents. The present invention further discloses a chewing gum base comprising: (1) about 5 weight percent to about 95 weight percent of a rubbery elastomer; (2) about 0 weight percent to about 75 weight percent of an elastomer plasticizer selected from the group consisting of natural rosin esters and synthetic terpene resins; (3) about 1 weight percent to about 65 weight percent of a filler material; (4) carnosic acid, and lecithin, wherein said chewing gum base is void of colorants.
