Thursday, July 12, 2007
Chewing Gum - Make it Yourself!
The manufacture of chewing gum in the United States has come a long way from loggers chopping off wads of spruce gum for chewing pleasure, yet the base of the gum remains the sap of various rubber trees, or, in most cases, a synthetic substitute for such sap. Natural gum bases include latexes like chicle, jelutong, gutta-percha, and pine rosin. I ncreasingly, natural resins other than chicle have been used because chicle is in extremely short supply: a chicle tree yields only 35 ounces (one kilogram) of chicle every three to four years, and no chicle plantations were ever established. However, natural latex in general is being replaced by synthetic substitutes. Most modern chewing gum bases use either no natural rubber at all, or a minimal amount ranging from ten to twenty percent, with synthetic rubbers such as butadiene-styrene rubber, polyethylene, and polyvinyl acetate making up the rest.
After the latex used to form bases, the most common ingredient in chewing gum is some type of sweetener. A typical stick contains 79 percent sugar or artificial sweetener. Natural sugars include cane sugar, corn syrup, or dextrose, and artificial sweeteners can be saccharine or aspartame. Popular mint flavors such as spearmint and peppermint are usually provided by oils extracted from only the best, most aromatic plants. Thus, while the aroma of a stick of spearmint gum is quite strong, flavoring comprises only one percent of the gum's total weight. Fruit flavors generally derive from artificial flavorings, because the amount of fruit grown cannot meet the demand. For example, apple flavor comes from ethyl acetate, and cherry from benzaldehyde. In addition to sweeteners and flavorings, preservatives such as butylated hydroxytoluene and softeners like refined vegetable oil are added to keep the gum fresh, soft, and moist. Fillers such as calcium carbonate and corn starch are also common.
Federal regulations allow a typical list of ingredients on a pack of chewing gum to read like this: gum base, sugar, corn syrup, natural and/or artificial flavor, softeners, and BHT (added to preserve freshness). This vagueness is mainly due to the chewing gum manufacturers' insistence that all materials used are part of a trade secret formula.
How It's Made....
After the latex used to form bases, the most common ingredient in chewing gum is some type of sweetener. A typical stick contains 79 percent sugar or artificial sweetener. Natural sugars include cane sugar, corn syrup, or dextrose, and artificial sweeteners can be saccharine or aspartame. Popular mint flavors such as spearmint and peppermint are usually provided by oils extracted from only the best, most aromatic plants. Thus, while the aroma of a stick of spearmint gum is quite strong, flavoring comprises only one percent of the gum's total weight. Fruit flavors generally derive from artificial flavorings, because the amount of fruit grown cannot meet the demand. For example, apple flavor comes from ethyl acetate, and cherry from benzaldehyde. In addition to sweeteners and flavorings, preservatives such as butylated hydroxytoluene and softeners like refined vegetable oil are added to keep the gum fresh, soft, and moist. Fillers such as calcium carbonate and corn starch are also common.
Federal regulations allow a typical list of ingredients on a pack of chewing gum to read like this: gum base, sugar, corn syrup, natural and/or artificial flavor, softeners, and BHT (added to preserve freshness). This vagueness is mainly due to the chewing gum manufacturers' insistence that all materials used are part of a trade secret formula.
How It's Made....
Labels: chewing gum, DIY
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Uh-Oh - Can You Overdose on GUM?
A New Zealand doctor has "confirmed" a case of aspartame poisoning from excessive consumption of chewing gum.
When Ms Cormack, 25, of Wellington, began suffering crippling muscle cramps and tingling in her hands and feet about five months ago, she feared she was having a heart attack. She started suffering heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, depression and skin rashes, was unable to sleep and had to take sick leave. (source)
Despite various tests, and prescriptions on anti-inflammatories and Valium - the symptoms persisted... Until Ms Cormack ceased her 4 packet-a-day chewing gum habit. Her symptoms disappeared within 24 hours.
There are currently many foods that can result in adverse reactions in different people (nuts, dairy, soy, gluten, etc). For these people, the process of isolating the cause (typically through a lengthy elimination diet) is difficult.
However - we know these foods can cause reactions. With aspartame - authorities claim that there is no scientific evidence of any adverse health effects.
The debate over aspartame will continue for some time yet.
In the mean time - you must find what works for you. As far as artificial sweeteners are concerned - it's worth asking the question as to why everything we eat need be so sweet...
Source
When Ms Cormack, 25, of Wellington, began suffering crippling muscle cramps and tingling in her hands and feet about five months ago, she feared she was having a heart attack. She started suffering heart palpitations, anxiety attacks, depression and skin rashes, was unable to sleep and had to take sick leave. (source)
Despite various tests, and prescriptions on anti-inflammatories and Valium - the symptoms persisted... Until Ms Cormack ceased her 4 packet-a-day chewing gum habit. Her symptoms disappeared within 24 hours.
There are currently many foods that can result in adverse reactions in different people (nuts, dairy, soy, gluten, etc). For these people, the process of isolating the cause (typically through a lengthy elimination diet) is difficult.
However - we know these foods can cause reactions. With aspartame - authorities claim that there is no scientific evidence of any adverse health effects.
The debate over aspartame will continue for some time yet.
In the mean time - you must find what works for you. As far as artificial sweeteners are concerned - it's worth asking the question as to why everything we eat need be so sweet...
Source
Labels: artificial sweeteners, aspartame, chewing gum
