ive played through the entire 10 minute course in a few of the modes and ive eaten every item (egg, diamond,key, and various fruits) that have appeared but i still didnt come across the crown. do i need to be playing in a specific mode?

you didn't eat enough "pellets". neither have we :(

You know how you get the fruits, right? When you cleaned one side of the labyrint a fruit appears on the other side. The first one is a cherry and the second one is a strawberry etc. The crown is fruit no 22. Just keep eating those pellets and then eat the crown!