People are only just realising what chewing gum is made from - and it's gross

17 January 2023 , 11:05

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Having too much gum can lead to a joint disorder (stock photo) (Image: Getty Images/Science Photo Library RF)

Chewing gum is a much-loved breath-freshener for many people across the UK. Whether it's had throughout the day or after a meal, it can be a minty treat to chew on to get a nicer taste in the mouth. But a doctor has revealed one ingredient that's used to get the gum to taste so delightful and chewy and it makes for stomach-churning reading.

Whenever you chew on a piece of gum you might ask yourself how the manufacturers manage to make them so chewy. The doctor said this is all down to an ingredient called lanolin. This is not an ingredient found in your everyday food items as it is a waxy product that actually comes from sheep skin glands.

Lanolin is usually found in the skin glands of a sheep (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

It is normally found in skincare products fit for humans but there are not many food items which contain the little-known ingredient.

The manufacturers are not required to list the ingredient as it is used in the gum's base and is therefore considered a standardised ingredient but people were still shocked to learn of its inclusion in gum, the Sun reports.

Dr Saurabh Arora, founder of Food Safety Helpline, outlined the main ingredients used for the softeners and sweeteners of gum and explained that the softening ingredients of the gum tend to be glycerine and vegetable oil.

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However, sweeteners tend to be just sugar. The alternative to sugar, Aspartame, is considered the low-calorie option but this has its issues as well.

To start with it is about 200 times sweeter than sugar which means consuming it could lead to tooth decay and there is no evidence it can lead to weight loss.

On top of all that, having too much chewing gum could lead to something called Mandibular Joint Disorder which can affect the joints in the jaw connecting to the skull.

It comes as a result of too much chewing and can cause issues such as migraines and severe joint pain.

Dr Saurabh Arora also warned people to chose the flavour wisely as peppermint can cause gastric acid reflux.

Nevertheless, the doctor suggested that if used infrequently, gum should not cause any major issues and also stated that while lanolin is still used, many companies have started to use synthetic variations instead.

Freddie Bennett