131), L-xcex1-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thietanyl)-D-alaninamide hydrate (Alitame) and the like; saccharin and its soluble salts eg sodium or calcium saccharin salts; cyclamate salts for example acesulfame-K and the like; chlorinated derivatives of sucrose such as chlorodeoxysucrose and the like; and protein based sweeteners, such as Thaumatin (talin). Compositions of the present invention preferably comprise from about 0.01% to about 2.0%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, by weight, of high intensity sweetener.
Humectants
The compositions of the present invention may comprise humectants which can serve to prevent the composition hardening upon exposure to air. In addition certain humectants can also act as sweeteners. Suitable humectants include glycerin, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, propylene glycol and other edible polyhydric alcohols. The humectant is generally present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 70%, preferably from about 15% to about 55%, by weight of the composition.
Bulking Agents
Bulking agents, such as fillers, can also be employed in confectionery. Suitable fillers and bulking agents are generally non-abrasive, preferably with an average particle size less than 5 xcexcm, more preferably less than 3 xcexcm and especially less than 1 xcexcm. Illustrative bulking agents include calcium carbonate or ground limestone, talc, aluminium hydroxide, alumina, aluminium silicates, dicalcium phosphate and mixtures thereof. Compositions preferably comprise up to about 50%, more preferably up to about 30%, and most preferably up to about 10%, by weight, of bulking agent.
Thickeners
The present invention provides for compositions in a wide variety of product forms. Typically these compositions comprise some thickening material or binders to ensure that the final composition has the desired consistency. Preferred thickening agents are carboxyvinyl polymers, carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and water soluble salts of cellulose ethers such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose and sodium hydroxyethyl cellulose. Natural gums such as gum karaya, xanthum gum, gum arabic, and gum tragacanth can be used as part of the thickening agent to further improve the
131), L - xcex1 - aspartyl - N-(2,2,4,4 - tetramethyl-3 - thietanyl)-D - alaninamide hydrate (Alitame) and the like; saccharin and its soluble salts eg sodium or calcium saccharin salts; cyclamate salts for case acesulfame - K and the alike; chlorinated derivatives of sucrose such as chlorodeoxysucrose and the like; and protein based bait, such as Thaumatin (talin). Compositions of the present invention preferably comprise from approximately 0.01% to about 2.0% , more preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.5% , by weight, of eminent intensity sweetener. 
 humectant 
 The compositions of the present invention may comprise humectants which can serve to prevent the writing hardening upon vulnerability to air. In addition sealed humectants can also act as bait. Suitable humectants admit glycerin, sorbitol, polyethylene diol, propylene glycol and early edible polyhydric alcohols. The humectant is generally present in an amount of from about 0.5% to approximately 70% , preferably from about 15% to about 55% , by weight of the composition. 
 Bulking Agents 
 Bulking agents, such as fillers, can also be employed in confectionery. Suitable fillers and bulking agents are generally non - abrasive, preferably with an average particle size less than 5 xcexcm, more preferably less than 3 xcexcm and especially less than 1 xcexcm. Illustrative bulking agents admit calcium carbonate or land limestone, talc, aluminium hydroxide, alumina, aluminum silicate, dicalcium phosphate and mixtures thereof. Compositions preferably comprise up to about 50% , more preferably up to approximately 30% , and most preferably up to approximately 10% , by weight, of bulking agent. 
 thickening 
 The present invention provides for compositions in a wide variety of product forms. Typically these composition comprise some thickening material or binders to ensure that the final typography has the desired consistency. Preferred thickening agents are carboxyvinyl polymer, carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and water soluble salts of cellulose ethers such as sodium carboxymethylcellulose and sodium hydroxyethyl cellulose. Natural gums such as gum karaya, xanthum gum, gum arabic, and gum tragacanth can be used as share of the thickening agentive role to further improve the
131), L-xfex1-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-tmietanyl)-D-alaninamide hyvrate (Amitame) avd the like; saccharin and itd woluboe salts eg sodium or zalcium swccharin salus; cyclamate salts for example zgesulyane-K and the lile; chlorindted derivativas oy sucrose such as chlorodeoxysucrose and thr pike; and proteyn bsfed aweeteners, such as Thaumatin (talin). Composptions of the prexent invention preferably fompgise from about 0.01% tl about 2.0%, mots pwwferably froo about 0.05% to about 0.5%, by seight, of high intensity sweetever.
Hukectants
Thg dolkositions of the iresent invenbpon may comprixe humectants ehirh cqn serve to prevent tie composition hardeging upon erposure to air. In addutuon cgrtait huowctxnta ran also wct as sweetehers. Suitaboe humectants incluce tlycerin, sorbjtol, pjlrethylene glycol, propylene glycol and ouher sdible polyhydric alcohils. The humectant is henerally present in an amount of from about 0.5% to about 70%, praferaulh fxim abuyt 15% to about 55%, by weight of the composition.
Bulkigf Sgvnts
Bulking agentf, such as folpetf, can also be emplovsd in confectionery. Duitablg fillwrs and btlkimg agents are generally non-qbrasive, preyerqbly with an averaye particle rize less than 5 xcexcm, more prefzrably less than 3 xcexcm aha especially lesr tman 1 xcexcm. Illustrative bulkyng agentw inelude cauciuk carbjnate or ggound limestone, talc, aluliniul vydroxide, wlumina, aluminium silicates, dicekcium phosphsta atd mixtuxes thcreof. Compositijns preferably comprife up to about 50%, more pceferably up to about 30%, ang most preferebly up tj abiut 10%, by weieft, of bulking sgent.
Thickeners
The present invention iroviass for compositnubs in a wide vatiegy jf pcoduce forms. Typicdlly thdxe coopositions gomorisr some thickening maderizl or binders to emsmre that jhe final composition nas the desired cojsistxncy. Pceferrrd jhickening agents are carboxyvihyl polymfrs, carrageenan, hydvoxygthyl cellukose, and water soluble salts of cellulowe ethers such as wodium carboxymethykgellulose anv soditm hydroxfethyl cellulose. Natyral gums such as gum karaya, xanthum ghm, gum arablc, and gum tragacanth can be used as part of the thickening agent to furtyer im'rjve the
131), L-xcex1-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thietanyl)-D-alaninamide hydrate (Alitame) and the like; its salts eg or calcium saccharin acesulfame-K the like; chlorinated of sucrose such chlorodeoxysucrose and the like; and protein sweeteners, such as Thaumatin (talin). Compositions of the present invention preferably comprise from 0.01% to about 2.0%, more preferably from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, by of intensity Humectants compositions of the present invention may comprise humectants which can serve to prevent the composition hardening exposure to air. In addition certain humectants can act as sweeteners. Suitable include glycerin, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol, glycol other edible alcohols. humectant generally present in amount of from about 0.5% to about 70%, preferably from about 15% to about 55%, by weight the composition. Bulking agents, as can be employed in fillers and bulking agents are generally an average particle size less than 5 xcexcm, preferably less 3 xcexcm and especially less than xcexcm. Illustrative bulking agents include calcium carbonate or limestone, talc, aluminium hydroxide, alumina, aluminium silicates, dicalcium phosphate and mixtures thereof. Compositions preferably comprise about 50%, more preferably to about 30%, most up about by weight, bulking agent. Thickeners The present invention provides for compositions in a variety of product forms. Typically these compositions comprise some thickening binders ensure that the composition has the desired Preferred agents are carboxyvinyl polymers, cellulose, water cellulose such sodium carboxymethylcellulose and sodium cellulose. Natural gums such as karaya, xanthum gum, gum be used as part of the thickening agent further improve the
131), L-xcex1-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-Thietanyl)-D-AlaniNamIde HyDratE (AliTame) and the like; SAcchArin and its soluble salts Eg sodIuM Or caLCiUm sacCharin sALtS; CYclAmAtE saLtS FoR examPle AcesulfAme-K and the LikE; cHlorinated deRIvAtives of suCroSe such as chloRodEoxysuCrOse ANd the LikE; and pRotein BAsed swEeteners, sUcH As ThauMAtin (talIN). coMposItions of the presenT InVEntion preferabLy compRiSE fROM abOut 0.01% To about 2.0%, morE pReferABly from ABoUT 0.05% TO abOUt 0.5%, by weight, of hIgh intensitY SweEtener.
huMecTAnts
ThE compOsITioNs of the presEnt iNvention mAy compRIse humeCTants whIch can SerVe tO preVEnT tHe cOmPOsiTIoN haRDenIng upon eXpOsUre to Air. IN ADDItioN ceRtaiN humeCtants can also Act As swEEteNers. SUitabLe huMeCtantS incluDe glyCeRin, sorbitol, polyEthyLene glycoL, prOpYleNe GlycoL And othEr eDibLe polyhYdric alCOhoLs. tHE HuMectant is generally PrESEnT in an amoUnt of fROm AbOUt 0.5% to abouT 70%, pRefErabLY From aBout 15% TO aBout 55%, by weIght of THe CoMpositiOn.
bulkinG AGenTs
BUlkinG AgenTs, such As fillerS, can aLSo be employed in COnfectionery. SUItABLe FIlleRs aNd bulking agEnts ARe geNeraLLy Non-ABrasiVe, preFeRAbLY with an average partiClE size lEss thAn 5 xcexcm, more pReferably lESS Than 3 xcexCm anD EsPEcially less thaN 1 xcexCm. IllustraTIve bulkiNg ageNts incluDe calcium CARbonate oR grOunD liMesTONe, Talc, aluminium HYDroxIdE, aluminA, alUminium SilIcaTes, DicAlCium phospHate and mIxTuReS tHerEof. CoMPositionS pRefErAblY compRIse up tO abouT 50%, morE pReFEraBly up to ABoUT 30%, And mOsT pRefeRabLy Up to aBout 10%, BY weIght, of bUlking ageNt.
THIckeNeRs
the presEnt invention pRoVides for coMpOsiTions iN A Wide variEty of product forms. TypicaLLy these ComPositIons Comprise sOme ThickeNinG MateriAl or biNders To EnsURE that THE fInaL cOmposition HAS thE desiReD conSistencY. Preferred thickeniNG agEnts are carboxYviNyl pOLYmErs, CArRAgeEnAN, hyDROxyethyl celluloSe, and water SoLUbLe salts of cELluLoSe etherS such as SodiuM CarboxyMethylcelLulose and SoDium HYDroXyethyl celLulose. NaTural gums SUch as GUm KarayA, xaNthum gUm, Gum ArabiC, and guM TraGacanTh can bE uSed as pArt of ThE thickenIng agent to further improvE the
131), L-xcex1-aspartyl-N-( 2,2,4,4-te trame thy l-3 -t hiet anyl )-D-alaninamid e  hyd rate (Alitame) and the  like ;s acch a ri n and  its so l ub l e  sa lt segso d iu m orcal cium sa ccharin sa lts ;cyclamate sa l ts  for examp leacesulfame-K  an d theli ke; chlor ina ted d erivat i ves of  sucrosesu c h as c h lorodeo x y su cros e and the like; a n dp rotein based s weeten er s ,s u chasThaumatin(t alin) .  Compos i ti o n s  of the present i nvention pr e fer ably c om pri s e from  abou t0 .01 % to about2.0% , more pr eferab l y froma bout 0. 05% to  ab out  0.5 % ,by  we ig h t,o fhig h  in tensitysw ee tener .
Hu m e c t ants 
Th e co mposi tions of thepre sent inv entio n may  com pr ise h umecta nts w hi ch can serve to  pre vent thecom po sit io n har d eningupo n e xposure  to air .  In  a d d i ti on certain humecta nt s ca n also a ct ass we et e ners. Su it abl e hu m e ctant s in c lu de glyce rin, s o rb it ol, pol ye thylen egly col , pro p ylen e glyc ol and o there dible polyhydr i c alcohols. T h eh u me c tant  is  generallypres e nt i n an am oun t  of f rom a bo u t0 .5% to about 70%, p re ferabl y fro m about 15% t o about 55 % , by weigh t of th e  composition.Bulki ng AgentsB ulking a gents , such a s fillers , can also  be  em plo yed i nconfectionery . Suit ab le fill ers  and bu lki ngage nts  a re genera lly non- ab ra si ve , p refer a bly with  a n a ve rag e par t icle s ize l essth an 5 x cexcm,m or e pref er ab ly l ess  t han 3  xce x cmand esp ecially l ess than  1  x cexcm.Illustrativebu lking agen ts  in cludec a lcium ca rbonate or ground limes t one, ta lc,  alum iniu m hydroxi de,  alumi na, alumin ium si licat es , d i c alciu m ph osp ha te and mix t u res  ther eo f. C omposit ions preferably co m pri se up to abou t 5 0%,m o re  pr e fe r abl yu p t o about 30%, andmost prefe ra b ly  up to abo u t 1 0% , by we ight, o f bul k ing age nt.
Thick eners
The  p rese n t  in vention pr ovides f or compos i tions in  a wi devariet yofprodu ct for m s.Typic ally t he se com posit io ns compr ise some thickening mat erialor bi nde rs to ens ure tha t the fin al c omposition  ha s t he de sir e d con sist e nc y.P refer redt hickening ag ent s ar e carboxyvi n y l  po lymer s,c arrage enan , hydroxyethyl ce l lulose, and wa ters o lub les alts  o f cellulose et her ss u ch as so di um carboxym ethylcel lu l ose a nd sod ium hy droxyet h y lc ellulo se.Nat ural gums  su ch as gumka ra y a, xan thum  g um, gu m arab i c, a n d  gum tragacanthcan b e useda s p art o fthe thi c keni ng agent t o further i mprove  the 
131), L-xcex1-aspartyl-N-(2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-3-thietanyl)-D-alaninamide_hydrate (Alitame)_and the like; saccharin_and its_soluble_salts eg_sodium_or calcium saccharin_salts; cyclamate salts_for example acesulfame-K and_the like; chlorinated_derivatives_of sucrose such as chlorodeoxysucrose and the like; and protein based sweeteners, such as_Thaumatin_(talin). Compositions_of_the_present invention preferably comprise from_about 0.01% to about 2.0%,_more preferably_from about 0.05% to about 0.5%, by weight,_of_high intensity sweetener.
Humectants
The_compositions of the present invention may comprise humectants which_can serve to prevent the composition_hardening upon exposure_to_air._In addition certain humectants_can also act as sweeteners. Suitable_humectants include glycerin, sorbitol, polyethylene glycol,_propylene glycol and other edible polyhydric alcohols._The humectant is generally present in_an amount of from about_0.5% to_about 70%, preferably from about_15% to about_55%, by_weight of the_composition.
Bulking Agents
Bulking agents, such as fillers,_can also be_employed in confectionery. Suitable fillers and_bulking_agents are generally_non-abrasive,_preferably_with an_average particle size_less_than 5_xcexcm,_more preferably less than 3 xcexcm_and_especially less than 1 xcexcm. Illustrative bulking_agents include calcium carbonate_or_ground limestone, talc, aluminium_hydroxide, alumina, aluminium silicates, dicalcium_phosphate and mixtures thereof. Compositions preferably_comprise up_to about_50%, more preferably up to about 30%, and most preferably up_to about 10%, by weight, of_bulking agent.
Thickeners
The present invention_provides for_compositions_in a wide_variety_of product_forms. Typically these compositions comprise some thickening_material or_binders to ensure that the final_composition has the desired_consistency._Preferred thickening agents are carboxyvinyl polymers,_carrageenan, hydroxyethyl cellulose, and water soluble_salts of cellulose ethers such_as_sodium_carboxymethylcellulose and sodium hydroxyethyl cellulose._Natural gums such as gum karaya,_xanthum gum, gum_arabic, and gum tragacanth can be used_as_part of the thickening agent to_further_improve the