What Are the Ingredients in Chewing Gum?

Chewing gum manufacturers keep their exact recipes under lock and key, but most chewing gum is made from the four basic ingredients of gum base, softeners, sweeteners and flavorings.

Gum Base

Gum base provides the rubbery texture of the gum and was originally made from the sap of spruce, chicle and other trees. Today, gum base is manufactured synthetically, usually as a mixture of man- made and natural rubbers.

Softeners

A glycerin- or vegetable oil-based softener is included to keep the gum from hardening on the shelf, and to help retain moisture when chewing.

Sweeteners

Sugar, corn syrup or synthetic sweeteners are added for taste. Xylitol, sorbitol, mannitol and aspartame are the most commonly used synthetic sweeteners.

Flavorings

Flavoring ingredients, like cinnamic aldehyde propylene glycol acetal, make up about 1% of gum. They are derived in labs to add flavors, like spearmint or cinnamon, and to prolong the life of the gum.

Other Chemicals

Gum may also contain other chemicals, like caffeine or nicotine, when being used in a military or medical situation.

References

• Patent Storm
• Chewing Gum Facts
• Cool Quiz