TREATMENT OF TOBACCO

摘要

Methods of modifying the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of a tobacco material are described herein. One exemplary method comprises contacting a tobacco material with a composition comprising salt, sugar, enzyme, lactic acid bacteria, yeast, or a combination thereof to reduce the total bacterial content; curing the tobacco material; and fermenting the tobacco material in the presence of one or more microorganisms. The method can provide a fermented tobacco material having a tobacco-specific nitrosamine content that is reduced relative to a fermented tobacco material that has not been subjected to the disclosed method steps. In certain embodiments, the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of the fermented tobacco material is no more than that of the cured tobacco material. Tobacco-containing products including such treated tobacco materials are also provided.

主权项

1. A method of modifying the tobacco-specific nitrosamine content of a tobacco material, comprising:
contacting a tobacco material with a treatment composition, wherein the treatment composition comprises a salt, a sugar, an enzyme, a lactic acid bacteria, a yeast, or a combination of two or more of these, wherein said contacting provides a treated tobacco material having a reduced total bacterial content; curing the treated tobacco material to give a cured tobacco material; and fermenting the cured tobacco material in the presence of one or more microorganisms, wherein the one or more microorganisms are present in exogenous amounts to the cured tobacco material to provide a fermented tobacco material having a tobacco-specific nitrosamine content that is reduced relative to a fermented tobacco material that has not been contacted with a treatment composition and has not been fermented in the presence of said microorganisms.