Is Extra Gum Halal? Quick Answer

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When you first read the title of this article, you probably thought, “Of course chewing gum is vegan… it’s chewing gum.” But believe it or not, people have somehow managed to incorporate animal parts into a lot of random things – and chewing gum is unfortunately one of them.

What’s not vegan about some chewing gum? Ingredients of animal origin such as gelatin, stearic acid and glycerin.

gelatin

Gelatin is made by cooking animal skin, tendons, cartilage, ligaments, and/or bones. Delicious. It usually comes from cows or pigs. I bet you didn’t think you might be snacking on cow bones the last time you freshened your breath with a stick of gum, did you?

Gelatin is typically used as a binding agent — and that’s why your “funniest” meat-eating friends (falsely) joke that they’re eating horse hooves when they’re eating jello or marshmallows.

stearic acid

This is a substance found in both plants and animals. When derived from animals, stearic acid comes from the fat of cows, pigs, sheep, dogs, and cats. It is usually used as a thickening agent.

glycerin

Glycerin is found in plant and animal fats and is sometimes used to make things like chewing gum, soaps, mouthwash, and more.

Luckily, some gum brands are cruelty-free. Here are lists of some vegan and non-vegan ones:

Vegan chewing gum brands?

5 rubber

B-fresh chewing gum

Big League Chew

darkness

Extra: Some flavors are vegan. Check the ingredients list again to make sure there is no gelatin listed.

Juicy fruits

Mentos Gum: Tropical flavor only.

NeuroGum Nootropic Energy Gum

Orbit: Some flavors are vegan. Check the ingredients list again to make sure there is no gelatin listed.

PUR rubber

Just rubber

Spry chewing gum

Tree hugger chewing gum

Gum brands that aren’t vegan?

Extra: Flavors containing ice crystals (which are covered with gelatin)

Icebreaker ice cubes

Orbit: flavors containing gelatin

stepping

trident

Next time you want a mint mouth, make sure the gum you want to buy doesn’t contain gelatin and that the package says the stearic acid or glycerin in the product is plant-based. After all, your mouth can’t be clean or fresh when you’re chewing someone in it.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. If you shop through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.

Is chewing gum vegan? Are there vegan chewing gum brands? We’ll cover all of that and more in this vegan chewing gum guide.

In this article you will learn…

Whether all chewing gum is considered vegan or not.

. Vegans should pay particular attention to one type of chewing gum.

should be special. My five favorite vegan chewing gum brands

Some major gum brands are also vegan.

are also vegan. Whether or not you should be concerned about “trace” ingredients.

Is chewing gum vegan?

Most chewing gum is vegan unless it contains gelatin.

Some older chewing gum labels contain “milk derivatives” such as casein like Trident White. (1)

However, it appears that such ingredients have recently been removed. (2)

Gum brands seem to change their ingredients all the time, so it’s always good to double-check.

As with anything with sugar, flavorings, and long lists of ingredients, there’s a risk that animal products might be found somewhere in the supply chain, but that doesn’t mean buying a pack of off-the-shelf chewing gum (without the gelatin) isn’t considered vegan.

In our opinion, every existing product causes damage at some level.

The most important thing is to avoid all labeled animal products in order to have the greatest impact on animal welfare and the planet.

New to veganism? You should check out this grocery list of foods vegans can eat.

Vegan chewing gum brands to buy

1. PUR rubber

PUR gum is advertised as 100% vegan and is an excellent option for vegans who want to avoid artificial sweeteners like aspartame, which is found in most large gums. It is also free from many of the major allergens including: gluten, soy, tree nuts and peanuts.

PUR manufactures a wide range of flavors including:

Cinammon

Fresh mint

pomegranate mint

wintergreen

peppermint

Green mint

Even if it doesn’t contain aspartame, that doesn’t mean it’s unsweetened chewing gum (yes, there is such a thing).

It’s sweetened with xylitol, which is a common ingredient in many dental health chewing gums. Xylitol is also diabetic friendly.

2. Tree chewing gum

For vegans looking for a chewing gum solution, you’ve come to the right place! Tree Hugger makes 100% vegan gum and has many different flavors compared to the other gums we have listed. The two flavors they make are (3):

citrus berry

Fantastic fruit

It’s also important to note that they recently removed beeswax from their gum.

These gummies have no artificial colors or flavors, but that means they contain real sugar in some form or way.

Probably not enough real sugar to warrant any nutritional health concerns for healthy people, but your dentist may not be very happy with you if you chew it all the time!

3. Neurogum Nootropic Chewing Gum

While we’re always skeptical of claims about supplements (and you should be too), we thought this gum might be worth listing just because it looks interesting and because it’s 100% vegan.

If you’ve never heard of a nootropic, it’s the latest trend in the supplement world that claims to improve brain function.

As with all supplements of this nature that promise performance enhancement, it’s always good to be skeptical.

However, this gum contains caffeine, and many people can vouch for caffeine’s performance-enhancing properties.

It also contains L-Theanine, which many report has excellent synergistic effects when combined with caffeine.

Again, we’re not citing any studies on the subject, so the jury’s still out, but we thought it would be interesting to at least show people that this type of gum exists.

4. Simply chewing gum

Side note: Are you trying to figure out how to go vegan in a healthy and sustainable way?

Check out this vegan starter kit

Known for their minimalist packaging, you may have seen Simply Gum on the shelves of Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s or even more traditional grocery stores. Since they advertise as 100% vegan, you can rest assured that they make every effort to source all plant-based ingredients, even if you’re not sure what they all are!

The packaging is quite unique as the gum doesn’t come individually wrapped, everything is in the box together. There is then a separate compartment for ‘post chew wraps’ so you can put your gum in a wrapper rather than tape it under the table (don’t do this)! The other thing that’s pretty cool about Simply Gum is that they have some pretty unique flavors such as:

Cinammon

mint

Fennel liquorice

Ginger

maple

Coffee

5. Spray gum

Although marketed as oral health gum, Spry gum is also a great option for vegans looking for gum with a simple breakdown of ingredients. The company specifically states that their glycerin is vegetable. It’s great that they do, as glycerin has the potential to be animal-derived (more on that in the Potential Non-Vegan Ingredients section). Spry gum is made in a variety of different flavors, including:

Cinammon

Fresh fruit

peppermint

Green tea

Green mint

peppermint

As an added bonus, Spry Gum is formulated to help with dry mouth and bad breath.

While we haven’t tested it for these specific purposes, we can say that the gum chews and tastes pretty good and is a great alternative to aspartame-based gum.

What types of gums should vegans pay special attention to?

If there’s one type of gum vegans should pay special attention to, it’s flavored gums.

We’ve found several instances of such chewing gum containing gelatin, so be careful when shopping.

Assessing the vegan status of popular major chewing gum brands

For the major chewing gum brands, we work with the information currently available on their website. Many manufacturers say this is subject to change and advise consumers to check current packaging or ask for updates.

Also, most of the big brands and flavors you see on the shelves are owned by Wrigley’s. Wrigley’s owns gum brands such as:

big red

double mint

darkness

extra

freedent

Hubba Bubba

Juicy fruits

orbit

winter fresh

Wrigley’s Spearmint

All of the nutritional information we analyze below can be found on this page of their website. (4)

It’s also important to note that Skittles, also owned by Wrigley, used to contain gelatin. Only in 2010 was gelatin removed from the formulation. It’s safe to assume that the company’s decision indicates that it’s moving away from animal products in its gum and candy products as demand for cruelty-free products grows.

However, they didn’t do this for everything. All of the Altoid’s flavors that we found still contained gelatin.

Orbit chewing gum

Based on the ingredient tables on their website (5), we determined that Orbit Gum does not contain any animal-derived ingredients. All of their gums we looked at contained glycerin, which is the same as glycerin. Our research shows that glycerin used in food is usually derived from plants (see FAQ). That being said, we’d add Orbit Gum to our accidentally vegan list.

Here’s what the synopsis for her chewing gum looked like:

SORBITOL, GUMBASE, XYLIT, GLYCEROL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, MANNITOL; LESS THAN 2% OF: SOY LECITHIN, HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, ACESULFAM K, SUCRALOSE, COLORS (RED 40, RED 40 LAKE), BHT (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS), ASPARTAME.

5-rubber

Similar to Orbit Gum, 5-Gum has a similar formulation. The only difference between the two is probably the branding, packaging, and presentation. Just like Orbit, Glycerin is the only ingredient that would raise red flags for us. The ingredient statement for their Ascent flavor is as follows:

SORBITOL, GUM BASE, GLYCEROL, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS; LESS THAN 2% OF: HYDROLYSATE OF HYDROGENATED STARCH, ASPARTAME, MANNITOL, ACESULFAME K, SOY LECITHIN, BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS).

big red

Big Red actually contained some real sweeteners as well as some artificial ones. That means it contains sugar, another “controversial” vegan ingredient that we shouldn’t overemphasize (see the linked article for more info). We didn’t see any gelatin in Big Red, so we’re adding it to our accidentally vegan list, too. It had the following ingredients list:

SUGAR, GUMBASE, CORN SYRUP, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS; LESS THAN 2% OF: GLYCEROL, ASPARTAME ACESULFAME, GUM ARABIC, SOY LECITHIN, MANNITOL, HYDROXULATED SOY LECITHIN, ACESULFAME K, COLORS (RED 40 LAKE, BLUE 1 LAKE), SUCRALOSE, BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS).

double mint

Just like Big Red, Doublemint is not a sugar-free chewing gum. It has a combination of sugar and artificial sweeteners, but no gelatin either.

SUGAR, GUMBASE, DEXTROSE, CORN SYRUP, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS; LESS THAN 2% GLYCEROL, ASPARTAME, GUM ARABIC, SOY LECITHIN, ACESULFAM K, COLOR (TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BLUE 1 LAKE, BETA-CAROTENE), BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS).

Eclipse rubber

Here’s their peppermint ingredient explanation:

MALTITE, SORBITOL, GUM BASE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, ACACIA; LESS THAN 2% OF: MANNITOL, GLYCEROL, ASPARTAME, SOY LECITHIN, COLOR (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), ACESULFAM K, CARNUBA WAX, BHT (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS).

extra

For extra nothing new. No gelatin found. With Extra Fruit Sensations, we weren’t sure because ingredient information wasn’t available. Here’s what their ingredient statement for mixed berries looks like:

SORBITOL, GUMBASE, GLYCERIN; LESS THAN 2% OF: NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE, CITRIC ACID, MAL ACID, ASPARTAMEUS ACESULFAME, SOY LECITHIN, MANNITOL, SUCRALOSE, COLORS (TITANIUM DIOXIDE, BLUE 2 LAKE, RED 40), ACESULFAME K, BHT (TO PRESERVE FRESHNESS ).

Juicy fruits

We were thrilled to see that Juicy Fruit’s sugar-free pellet chewing gum (ingredients below) contained no gelatin! That was great news as pellet gum has a greater chance of having it. This showed us that chewing gum manufacturers might not be including it in their products on purpose (or maybe found a cheaper alternative).

MALTITOL, SORBITOL, GUM BASE, NATURAL AND ARTIFICIAL FLAVORS, MANNITOL, ASPARTAME, COLOR (TITANIUM DIOXIDE), SOY LECITHIN, ACESULFAM K, CARNUBA WAX, BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS).

To wrap up our analysis of the major gum brands, we’ve struggled to find gum containing gelatin, so it seems like this is a dying practice. Peppermints and other confections were a different story. So don’t assume their other products don’t contain gelatin just because a brand makes gum without gelatin.

What potential non-vegan ingredients can be in chewing gum?

Notice & disclaimer on trace ingredients

As we state in much of our other content, we do not recommend worrying about ingredient traces, especially as a new vegan or someone trying to convince others to try the lifestyle. Making veganism seem overly complicated or nuanced can give people more excuses not to give it a fair try. However, it is important to be educated about the food supply, but please keep this in mind when trying to introduce the lifestyle to new people or even if it becomes too complicated for yourself.

The elimination of all specially labeled animal products is the ultimate goal.

gelatin

Out of this whole list, gelatin will be the most important ingredient. This is because unlike the others, gelatin will always be 100% animal derived. Other ingredients on this list may have multiple sources, and much like sugar, manufacturers are likely to source a combination of animal and vegan-friendly product.

Luckily, according to the gelatine is mainly only found in chewing gum

International Chewing Gum Association. It’s also super easy to identify on a rubber tag. However, we didn’t see any gelatin on Juicy Fruit’s Pellet Gum – so that’s a good sign! (6)

glycerin or glycerin

Glycerin is a common ingredient in chewing gum and can be of animal origin. However, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group, most glycerin used in food comes from plants. If the pack of gum you’re looking at doesn’t say it contains “vegetable glycerin,” all you can do is contact the company, but maybe don’t overcomplicate it and worry about “potential” for animal ingredients. See our “Trace Ingredient Notice and Disclaimer” below. (7)

Notice & disclaimer on trace ingredients

As a concerned vegan, it might be disheartening to learn that almost everywhere you turn there is a possibility of animal contamination. Given the complex world we live in, almost any product you would buy has the potential for unethical practices, animal or non-animal.

However, the goal of veganism does not have to be complicated or based on health. Many vegans still enjoy chocolate, Doritos, and even some types of takis — although we recommend not overdoing it and sticking mostly to whole foods.

By refraining from all labeled animal products, you are doing the world a great service. Any trace animal-derived ingredients used in chewing gum are likely a by-product of the animal industry and not its primary driver. If you don’t buy labeled animal products, all trace ingredients will likely go the plant-based route as animal ingredients become more expensive.

references

Toothpaste is an aid in daily personal hygiene. It is used with a toothbrush, which together help keep the oral cavity clean, bacteria-free and fresh-smelling. It is recommended to brush after every meal or at least twice a day to maintain a healthy mouth and overall general health. However, we often overlook the ingredients in the toothpaste products we use. Some of these may go against personal, religious or cultural beliefs. So let’s break down what types of ingredients are found in toothpaste, their uses, and alternative options that will help you avoid consuming products that contain anything that may contradict your beliefs.

Pork and its use in dental products:

Because it is cheaper to obtain glycerin from the fat of animal bones such as pork, it has been used in several brands of toothpaste to give the toothpaste its texture. In the past, pig hair was also used to make toothbrush bristles. Today, pork is used for its fat to obtain glycerin, which is used in many household products in the modern world.

Glycerin can come from different animals. The most common sources are tallow, a type of beef or mutton fat. Pork is also used to make over 40 products, including toothpaste. The fat extracted from its bones is used in the manufacture of many types of toothpaste to give it texture.

However, glycerin can also be obtained from plant and vegetable sources. The most common are soybeans and palm trees. It is made by heating triglyceride-rich vegetable fats, such as palm, soybean, and coconut oil, under pressure or together with a strong alkali, such as lye. This causes the glycerin to separate from the fatty acids and mixes with water to form an odorless, sweet-tasting, syrupy liquid.

Pigs also make a very important contribution to the world of manufactured and consumer goods. Pork by-products are sources of chemicals used in the manufacture of a wide range of products that cannot be duplicated through synthesis. In addition, pig skin is used extensively as high-quality leather for clothing, shoes and handbags, sporting goods, upholstery and more. In addition to toothpaste, there are many other household products that are made from pigs. These include insulin to treat diabetes, valves for human heart surgery, suede for shoes and clothing, and gelatin for food and non-food uses. Pork by-products are also important ingredients in the manufacture of water filters, insulation, rubber, antifreeze, certain plastics, floor wax, crayons, chalk, adhesives and fertilizers (USDA, 2016). Lard is defined as fat from pork bellies and is used in shaving creams, soaps, makeup, baked goods, and other foods.

Commercially available toothpastes and their ingredients:

While there are many well-known brands on the market that derive glycerin from animal fat, particularly pork, Sprinjene uses purely vegetable glycerin and is 100% halal and kosher.

Other harmful ingredients present in commercial toothpastes that are not present in any SprinJene product include:

sodium lauryl sulfate

The most common ingredient in toothpaste is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), or lauryl sarcosinate, which helps create a foamy foam in the mouth and removes dirt and grease from teeth.

flavors

The taste of toothpastes is due to the strong flavors and sweeteners that mask the taste of other ingredients and enhance the palatability of the toothpaste.

Aspartame is the most commonly used artificial sweetener, which is 200 times sweeter than sugar.

dyes and dyes

Blue, red, yellow and green are the popular colorants used in toothpaste.

antibiotics

Antimicrobial agents in toothpaste inhibit oral bacterial growth. Toothpaste contains triclosan, an antibacterial agent used to fight gingivitis.

thickener

Carrageenan, cellulose gum, guar gum, xanthan gum and gluten are used to thicken the toothpaste.

Humectants such as glycerin, propylene, glycol and sorbitol all prevent the toothpaste from losing water and help keep it moist. Xylitol is also used, which moisturizes and prevents tooth decay. It is more effective than fluoride in preventing tooth decay in children’s permanent teeth. It has not been determined to have any harmful effects.

preservatives

Sodium benzoate, methylparaben, and ethylparaben are the common preservatives used in toothpaste.

diethanolamine

(DEA) is found in foaming toothpastes.

SPRINKY NATURAL TOOTHPASTE

This is a brand of toothpaste that is exceptionally reliable and can take care of all your dental needs. One that is made entirely from natural ingredients and is free from harmful chemicals. It can be used by adults and children alike.

SprinJene toothpastes pride themselves on their patented black cumin and zinc formulation, which makes them unique and unlike any other toothpaste. This 100% natural toothpaste is made from a fabulous blend of ingredients that have immense benefits including:

Antibacterial

anti plaque

antifungal

antiphlogistic

In addition, it has wound-healing properties.

All of these attributes, along with the fact that it’s chemical-free, pork-free, cruelty-free, and 100 percent safe and natural, make SprinJene Toothpaste the ideal choice for you and your family.

Here is a list of the natural ingredients found in SprinJene Natural Toothpaste along with their medicinal benefits:

Black Cumin Seed (Nigella sativa): The chemical compound thymoquinone, isolated from N. sativa seed oil, blocks the growth of pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and kills the cells by enhancing the process of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and acting as an HDAC inhibitor.

Coconut Oil: Helps lubricate mouth surfaces to relieve dry mouth and may help prevent tooth decay following enzyme digestion

Zinc: Helps control the growth of bacteria, plaque and tartar, promoting healthy gums. ADA approved

Glycerin: Glycerin is a non-carcinogenic and non-GMO humectant that helps protect our formulas from bacterial growth and keeps the product moist.

Silica : Natural abrasives to aid in stain removal

Acacia Gum: A natural organic binder.

Xylitol and Stevia: They are both safe and natural non-cariogenic sweeteners. Stevia can help control blood sugar and insulin levels. It can also help in lowering blood pressure. Xylitol promotes saliva production and prevents tooth decay. It is also ADA approved.

In addition to these properties, SprinJene is a certified gluten-free toothpaste, making it 100% safe for people suffering from celiac disease and gluten allergies. Also halal certified, cruelty free and kosher.

References:

Winfield A.J., Richards R.M.E. Pharmaceutical practice. Churchil Livingstone, Edunburgh, London, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Sydney, Toronto: 1998. pp. 421–423. [Google Scholar]

(2) Mitsui T. New Cosmetic Science. Elsevier, Amsterdam, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, Shannon, Tokyo: 1997. pp. 480–490. [Google Scholar]

(3) Sweetman SC, Editors. Martindale: The Complete Drug Reference. 33rd edition. London: Pharmaceutical Press; 2002. [Google Scholar]

(4) Bruneton J. Pharmacognosy, phytochemistry, medicinal plants. Paris: Intercept Ltd.; 1999. pp. 45–52. 53-57. [Google Scholar]

(5) Matshuhiro B, Urzua C.C. Heterogeneity of carrageenans from Chondrus crispus. phytochemistry. 1992;31:531-534. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

(6) European Pharmacopoeia. 4th edition. Strasbourg: Council of Europe; 2002. [Google Scholar]

(7) Becker A, Katzen F, Püshler A, Ielpi L. Biosynthesis and application of xanthan gum: A biochemical/genetic perspective. Appi. microbiological Biotechnology. 1998;50:145-152. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

While many people think that vegans are extremely limited in what they can eat, the vegan diet actually leaves a lot of room for indulgence! From dark chocolate to vegan sours and jelly beans, there are many vegan sweets. Plus, many sweets that aren’t even marketed as “vegan” are completely free of pork gelatin and other animal products!

However, unexpected animal products are common ingredients in candy and packaged foods, so finding vegan-friendly sweet treats requires reading labels and ingredient lists. In this article, we cover how to recognize vegan sweets, what to look for, and some of the best vegan sweets when craving a vegan sugar fix.

Common animal products in candy

Traditional milk-based chocolates are among the most obvious non-vegan sweets. But there are a number of sneaky animal products (like the infamous pork gelatin!) that are commonly found in sweet treats that vegans should pay attention to on the labels. The most common of them are below:

Gelatin made from animal bones and tendons

casein or milk fat

lard

Refined Cane Sugar that can be processed with Charred Bone Fragments

Carmine, used in some artificial colors and confectionery glazes, made from beetles

E 904, E 120, 901, 904, 542, all of which are of animal origin

We know this list may seem intimidating, but we promise there are vegan sweets out there that conform to vegan diet ethics. To find them, remember that you must check the ingredient lists carefully, as these additives can easily be smuggled in where you would least expect it!

You may be wondering – are Jolly Ranchers vegan? What about nerds and gummy bears? Are Starburst vegan? Unfortunately, not all of our favorites are guilt-free…scroll down to find out more.

Ordinary sweets containing animal products

We hate breaking bad news, but there are a few sweets to watch out for if you’re trying to stick to a vegan diet. The following sweets notoriously contain animal products:

Gummy Bears (contains gelatine)

Sweetcorn (contains gelatin although they do vegan options)

Starburst (contains beef gelatin)

Gummy Worms (contains gelatin)

Red Candy (contains red dye made from the dried bodies of female bugs)

Nerds (contains pork gelatin)

Altoids (contains pork gelatin)

Sour, gummy and hard candies suitable for vegans

Now for the fun part! Sure, there are some sweets to avoid, but there are plenty more to keep enjoying. We’ve rounded up some of the best vegan sweets so you can sit back and relax while you feed your sweet tooth.

Below is a list of vegan-friendly sweets that are commonly found and that allow you to indulge whenever you feel like it without worrying about accidentally consuming pork gelatin or another animal product:

Chocolates that are vegan

While you probably wouldn’t consider chocolate to be vegan, many dark chocolates are actually vegan foods as well. This is because, in most cases, dark chocolate is actually completely plant-based and non-dairy.

If you’re a chocolate lover who can’t bear to go without your favorite sweets, you’re in luck. Some of the best vegan sweets are chocolate! Take a look at some popular brands to satisfy your chocolate cravings:

Crunchy cat candy bars

Newman’s own dark chocolate varieties

Kallari chocolate

Alter Eco dark chocolate varieties

Even vegans can live sweetly

While it’s easy to be vegan so that everything tasty is off-limits, as you can see, that’s certainly not the case. With a little research and vigilance, those who commit to a diet free of strictly vegan foods can still enjoy vegan sweets and many other indulgences.

However, it should be noted that companies occasionally change ingredients that are included in their products. Even if a candy has been listed at the top of the “Vegan Approved” list, always check the ingredients on the packaging before consuming to make sure their compliance hasn’t changed.

Vegans should also be aware that many products that contain animal products don’t necessarily sound like they do. It is important to get the most current information that you can get.

Luckily, we’ve done some of the hard work for you with our list of the best vegan sweets out there. Have fun snacking!

We manufacture chewing and chewing gums with long-lasting flavor and consistently high quality. This includes manufacturing our gum in immaculate, air-conditioned facilities and extensively testing all ingredients before they are admitted to any of our manufacturing facilities. After the raw materials meet our quality standards, the first production phase begins. We pride ourselves on making our gum locally in our NSW factory.

The process

1. Melting and mixing

Manufacturing our chewing gum begins with melting and purifying the gum base. The melted base is poured into a blender that can hold up to a ton of ingredients. Sweeteners and flavors are added at just the right moment and in just the right amount, then slowly blended.

2. Roles

From the mixers, a large “loaf” of chewing gum is sent through a series of rollers that form it into a thin, wide ribbon. Each pair of rollers is placed closer together than the previous pair, gradually reducing the thickness of the rubber. During this process, a light coating of finely powdered sugar or sugar substitute is added to prevent the gum from sticking and improve flavor.

3. Scoring & Conditioning

At the end of the rolling process, the endless ribbon of gum is then cut into a pattern for sticks, short thicker tabs, long rolled strips, or small rectangular gum cores, depending on the type of gum being made. The scored gum is then placed in a temperature controlled environment to cool and ensure the finished gum has the right consistency and stays fresh on store shelves.

4. Crushing & Coating

After tempering, the rubber cores are broken into individual pieces. The pieces are then fed to a spray dryer which forms the crunchy coating around the gum center. It rolls the pieces while a prepared syrup mix of filtered water, sweeteners, and coloring is sprayed onto the gum. This combination of tumbling and spray coating forms a candy shell around the soft gummy centers.

5. Packaging

After cooling and tempering, experienced employees break the logs into sections and feed them to the packaging machine. In a continuous process, the wrapping machine takes the sticks and wraps them, in some cases applying an outer wrapper and sealing the ends of the wrapper.

6. Packaging

Pellet style chewing gum is packaged using two basic methods. One is to place the pellets in the molded plastic compartments of a blister pack. The package is heat sealed with a foil backing and inserted into a cardboard sleeve. The second method is to line ten pellets in a row, wrap them in traditional packaging and seal both ends to ensure freshness. For our HUBBA BUBBA® Tape, a chewing gum band is rolled up and placed in a shell-like plastic packaging.

For more information please contact our customer care team on 1800 084 222 (within Australia).

no Chewing gum doesn’t contain the type of “alcohol” found in wine, beer, and spirits. However, many chewing gums contain bulk sweeteners known as polyols — or “sugar alcohols.” Although these substances have the same chemical name, their properties and properties are very different.

By way of background, a specific category of sugar substitutes used in chewing gum products are referred to as “polyols” (in Europe) and “sugar alcohols” (in the US and other parts of the world). These “sugar alcohols” are unrelated to the ethyl alcohol found in wine, beer, and spirits. Although they share the chemical term “alcohol”, their characteristics and properties are quite different.

1. Does chewing gum contain alcohol?

no Chewing gum doesn’t contain the type of “alcohol” found in wine, beer, and spirits.

2. What are sugar alcohols?

Sugar alcohols — also known as polyols — are bulk sweeteners used to replace sugar in sugar-free products. They offer richness and sweetness with a clean, cool and pleasant taste. They provide a third fewer calories than sugar, about 2.4 calories per gram. They do not contribute to tooth decay. On the advice of their healthcare provider, they may also be useful as a sugar alternative for people with diabetes.

3. Is it true that chewing gum can cause false breathalyzer readings?

Breathalyzer results can be affected by the consumption of food or drink before the test, and breathalyzer manufacturers are the best source of information regarding these potential effects.

In halal food additives

Halal certified xylitol

Xylitol E967 is a polyalcohol or sugar alcohol isolated from hardwoods or corn cobs. As a herbal ingredient, xylitol E967 is widely recognized as halal along with various other sugar alcohols (sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol and erythritol). Sugar alcohols are halal. They are approved for food use in Muslim countries.

Sugar alcohols (also known as polyol, polyhydric alcohol, or polyalcohol) are carbohydrates (sugar or starch) that have been modified to contain a hydroxyl group. It is this hydroxyl group that chemically classifies it as an alcohol. Sugar alcohols are commonly used as substitutes for sucrose (sugar) in foods, often in combination with high-intensity artificial sweeteners to counteract the low sweetness.

Some common sugar alcohols:

Arabit

isomalt

mannitol

erythritol

isomannite

ribit

Glycol Lactitol

sorbitol

Glycerine (glycerin)

maltitol

xylitol

What is Halal Xylitol E967?

It is a popular halal ingredient used in food and beverages. We have been supplying halal xylitol E967 for years.

The manufacturing process of Xylitol E967 complies with Islamic law and is free from pork products, alcohol and certain other ingredients.

Halal is an Arabic word meaning lawful or lawful. With regard to food, it is the standard of nutrition as prescribed in the Qur’an.

According to the official definition, halal foods are those that:

1. Free from any ingredient that Muslims are prohibited from consuming under Islamic law.

2. Processed, manufactured, produced, manufactured and/or stored using utensils, devices and/or machines that have been purified according to Islamic law.

All foods are considered Halal except for the following:

: Trident imported through official channels is halal certified, however unofficially imported Trident chewing gum may contain haram ingredients such as pork gelatin.

For some valid reasons, there is always a risk that the products are not halal over our heads, and it is equally important to ensure that local markets cater to precisely this need.

It’s not just local markets where non-halal food comes in; turns out that imported products can be haram as well.

It is very likely that Trident is haram. Mondelez International’s popular chewing gum is “non-halal certified”. A post on Trident’s Facebook page also confirmed this.

However, not being certified as Halal does not necessarily mean it is truly Haram.

An email to Consumer Services concerned about Trident Layers, a particular brand of chewing gum, stated that although alcohol was no longer in the chewing gum at the time of packaging, pork gelatin is used in the manufacturing process:

Dear Lazeena:

Thank you for contacting us about Trident Layers. We welcome your comments and inquiries as they provide valuable feedback on our brands.

Our Trident Layers products contain gelatine derived from pork.

Alcohol can be used as a carrier of certain flavors in our confectionery. In addition, our chewing gum, breath mints and cough drops are not kosher certified.

The final product (or any of our other confectionery) does not contain alcohol. The slightest traces of alcohol that may be used as a flavor carrier would evaporate during the manufacturing process and would not be present in the finished product.

Thank you for taking the time to contact us. We hope that you will continue to buy and enjoy our products.

sincerely,

consumer relations

And this is not the first time this has happened. Just recently, the popular toasted pastry “Pop Tarts” was allegedly banned from local markets because it also contained haram products.

Therefore, it is very important to inquire about the products you use and you can always choose the alternatives that are certified Halal.

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Interestingly, before World War II, chewing gum was made from chicle — in other words, the sap of the sapodilla tree — with added flavorings to give it an appealing taste. This material is easy to shape and becomes soft and supple when warmed in the mouth. After World War II, however, chemists learned how to make artificial chewing gum bases to replace chicle, using flavored and sweetened synthetic plastics, gums, and waxes that are more readily available.

So by now you might be wondering, “Is chewing gum plastic?” For the most part, if the gum isn’t natural and plant-based, the answer is yes. You’re not alone in asking this question either, according to a survey of 2,000 people in Iceland, a staggering 80% have no idea what regular chewing gum is made of and 85% have no idea that chewing gum contains plastic.

So what is chewing gum made of?

The ingredients in chewing gum vary from brand to brand and country to country. Additionally, interestingly, manufacturers don’t have to disclose any of the chewing gum ingredients on their products, so there’s no way of telling exactly what you’re taking. However, you may be wondering, “What are the ingredients in chewing gum?” – read on for the key ingredients used.

The main components of chewing gum:

• Rubber base

Chewing gum base is one of the main chewing gum ingredients found in chewing gum and is made up of three main components: resin, wax and elastomer. In short, resin is the main chewable part, while wax helps soften the rubber and elastomers help increase flexibility.

The gum base can contain a mixture of natural and synthetic ingredients. Perhaps most interestingly, depending on the brand, chewing gum bases may contain any of the following synthetic substances:

• Butadiene Styrene Rubber

• Isobutylene-isoprene copolymer (butyl rubber)

• Paraffin (via the Fischer-Tropsch method)

• Petroleum wax

• Synthetic petroleum wax

• Polyethylene

• Polyisobutylene polyvinyl acetate

Of concern is that polyethylene is often found in plastic bags and children’s toys, and polyvinyl acetate is one of the ingredients used in PVA glue. So it’s worrying that we all chew – and sometimes swallow – tons of gum that contains plastic every year!

Not only is this a problem for our bodies, the use of plastic in chewing gum also raises a plethora of environmental concerns. According to a study by Just One Ocean, plastic from chewing gum contributes 100,000 tons to plastic pollution every year! So what better time to make the switch to plant-based chewing gum alternatives?

• Sweeteners

Sweeteners are often added to chewing gum to create a sweet taste, and higher intensity sweeteners are said to prolong the sweetness effect. These chewing gum ingredients typically include sugar, dextrose, glucose/corn syrup, erythritol, isomalt, xylitol, maltitol, mannitol, sorbitol and lactitol to name a few – even beetroot juice is sometimes used.

More intense artificial sweeteners can also be listed as some of the ingredients in chewing gum and are found in 85% of all chewing gum. The most popular synthetic sweeteners are aspartame, acesulfame-k, saccharin, sucralose, neohesperidin, and dihydrichalcone.

It’s worth noting that there has been some controversy over the use of aspartame despite it being deemed safe by food safety authorities in the UK, EU and US. Over the years there have been concerns that it could be linked to problematic side effects and more serious conditions like cancer. Despite this, the NHS has not confirmed a link and research is still ongoing.

• Plasticizers

Softeners such as glycerin (or vegetable oil) are added to chewing gum to help retain moisture and increase the chewing gum’s flexibility. It is these ingredients used that help soften the gum when placed in the warmth of your mouth and create the signature gum texture.

• Flavors

Flavors are added to chewing gum to address the taste and can be either natural or synthetic. Some of the most popular bubble gum flavors include the classic peppermint and spearmint; However, food acids can be added to the gum base to provide other appealing flavors such as lemon or fruity alternatives.

• Polyol coating

The hard outer shell typical of chewing gum is created by a water-absorbing polyol powder dusting in order to maintain the quality and extend the shelf life of the product. This polyol coating breaks down easily once placed in the mouth due to a mixture of saliva and warm conditions.

Consider other chewing gum alternatives

Most of the chewing gum made today is made from gum base, which contains a mixture of polymers, plasticizers, and resins, and is mixed with food-grade plasticizers, preservatives, sweeteners, colors, and flavors.

However, there are now a number of alternative chewing gums on the market to appeal more to the environment and our stomachs, as they are plant-based and suitable for vegans.

Chewing gums are naturally plant-based, vegan, biodegradable, free from sugar, aspartame, plastic, artificial sweeteners and flavors and sweetened with 100% xylitol for healthy teeth.

YOU MUST NOT think of gelatin as a healthy food. Still, homemade natural jelly is one of the best things you can eat for healthy gums.

gelatin and gum tissue

Gelatin is made up of collagen. The collagen from natural jelly provides your body with the amino acids glycine and proline, which are important for the new synthesis of collagen in your gums. New collagen produced in your gums helps make your periodontal tissues firm and strong. Some components of the collagen in gelatin have been shown to help repair gum tissue and may also be beneficial in your body’s wound healing process.

Other benefits of gelatin

Natural gelatin is not only good for your gums, but also for your bones, teeth, cartilage, joints and digestive tract. Gelatin can help reduce wrinkles. how awesome is that Gelatin can also give you healthier skin and hair. It can even reduce cellulite! In addition, gelatin has been found to improve sleep and reduce stress.

Homemade gelatin

Try the following recipe to make your own healthy gelatin at home that’s low in sugar and free of artificial colors:

4 tbsp gelatin powder

1/2 cup boiling water

3 1/2 cups fruit juice

fruit

grated coconut

Mix the ingredients together, then chill in the fridge.

Enjoy your gum-healthy gelatin treats!

With all these health benefits, why shouldn’t we all eat gelatin? Make some gelatin for your gums. Gelatin can be obtained either in powdered form for your recipes or from bone broth.

To your dental health!

dr Ann Marie Gorczyca, Orthodontist, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California (925) 757-9000