Patent attributes
An exhausted-tobacco lozenge provided herein includes a body that is partially or wholly receivable in an oral cavity. The body includes a soluble-fiber matrix, exhausted-tobacco fiber, and one or more additives (e.g. nicotine or a derivative thereof) dispersed in the soluble-fiber matrix. In some cases, an exhausted-tobacco lozenge provided herein includes at least 40 weight percent of soluble fiber. In some cases, soluble fiber in exhausted-tobacco lozenge provided herein can include maltodextrin. The exhausted-tobacco lozenge is adapted to release the nicotine or a derivative thereof from the body when the body is received within the oral cavity of an adult tobacco consumer and exposed to saliva. A method of making exhausted-tobacco lozenges provided herein includes forming a molten mixture of at least 40 weight percent soluble fiber, exhausted-tobacco fiber, one or more additives (e.g., nicotine), and less than 15 weight percent water while maintaining a mixture temperature of less than 150° C. and portioning the molten mixture into a plurality of exhausted-tobacco lozenges. In some cases, the ingredients can be mixed to form the molten mixture in an extruder.
