Food nanoemulsion compositions comprising a food safe nonionic surfactant, a hydrophobic food flavorant (e.g., an essential oil), a sugar alcohol kosmotrope, and water. The ratio of the sugar alcohol kosmotrope to the hydrophobic food flavorant is at least 8:1 by weight, and the composition advantageously requires little if any monohydric alcohols for stability and is also free of polyols in addition to the sugar alcohol. Such nanoemulsion compositions are formed from microemulsion concentrates with little or no kinetic energy input. The microemulsion phase inverts to the nanoemulsion upon dilution with additional water. Infinite dilution in water and oil is possible. The high ratio of sugar alcohol to flavorant controls the particle size distribution of the nanoemulsion composition and advantageously alters the organoleptic properties of the nanoemulsion to insert perception of the flavorant near the end of the palatal response.
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