Some friends were chewing Trident bubble gum recently at a long drawn meeting and they offered a piece to everyone so we could stay alert.The package as well as the gum itself are glowing pink. Knowing about Fooducate’s food label fetish, we got to take the empty pack home and analyze the ingredient list.

What you need to know:

There are no nutrients to speak of in this gum, and most others as well. Just 3.5 calories, no fat, no sugar, no vitamins and no minerals. But that’s also because we are talking about a really tiny serving size. Even kids’ bubble gums sweetened with sugar  have less than 30 calories.

Here is the ingredient list:

Sorbitol, Gum Base, Xylitol, Glycerin, Manitol, Artificial and Natural Flavoring, Soy Lecithin, Acesulfame Potassium, Aspartame, Sucralose, Red 40 Lake, BHT (To maintain freshness)

Gum base is a synthetic rubber, whose exact makeup is a trade secret. A gum base is usually composed of  an elastomer (synthetic rubbers), resin (more chemicals), wax such as paraffin, fats, emulsifier (keeps everything mixed together) such as lecithin, filler (provides texture) such as talc. Yummy.

Sorbitol, Xylitol, and Manitol are sugar alcohols. These are 60% as sweet as sugar and have 2.6 calories per gram compared to 4 for sugar. Not that it’s a big deal when we’re talking about a stick of gum. Sugar alcohols are not fully digested and may cause a laxative effect in some people. On the plus side, Xylitol is considered effective in prevention of dental carries, a fact embellished heavily by Trident and other manufacturers. On the package of this product there are no less than 3 acknowledgments: “cleans and protects teeth” – on the front of package and on the back, as well as on each individual gum wrapper.

Glycerin (Glycerol, E422) is a humectant (keeps things moist), solvent, sweetener and preservative. It used in foods and beverages as well as gum.

Artificial and Natural Flavoring are a trade secret so NO YOU CAN’T know what they are.

Soy Lecithin (E322) is an emulsifier, which means it helps keep all the goop mixed together and of uniform consistence.

Acesulfame Potassium (Acesulfame K, E950) is an artificial sweetener 200 times sweeter than sugar. It is often used in conjunction with aspartame (Nutrasweet) another artificial sweetener found in diet soft drinks. Both of these sweeteners are approved by the FDA despite several studies that have linked them to cancer.

Sucralose (E955) is an artificial sweetener 600 times sweeter than sugar. It is a synthetic chemical made by chemically reacting sugar (sucrose) with chlorine. It is considered safe.

Red 40 (Allura Red, E129) is the most widely used artificial food dye. It has been linked to hyperactivity in children. The UK Food Standards Authority has asked manufacturers to voluntarily phase it and other artificial colors out of foods.

BHT (E321) - a preservative that has been linked to cancer.

Summary – this is an odd cocktail of various chemicals and sweeteners that we’re supposed to be masticating on for hours on end in our mouths.

What to do at the supermarket:

Despite all of the above chemicals, we’re talking about tiny amounts of all these ingredients in each stick of gum, so don’t lose too much sleep over the nutrition issues.

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Fooducate reader Terri G asks: “Yoplait just came out with a new yummy treat. Yoplait Parfait. It’s really good. What can you tell me about it? Is it very bad, okay, good?”

Yes, Yoplait has  introduced a new product line a few weeks ago, called Yoplait Delights Parfait. They come in 4 different flavors, Chocolate Raspberry, Creme Caramel, Triple Berry Creme, and Lemon Torte.
There’s a definitive European touch to these treats, which Yoplait classifies under the SNACK category, in case anyone is wondering. If you have mistaken this product for yogurt, we invite you to learn together with us what’s inside the label. Read more…

flickr photo : PinkMoose

“No additives or preservatives” sounds like a promising claim on a food label. But you’ll be hard pressed to find products in the supermarket that don’t contain at least one food additive. Even organic products use them, and unless you bake your own bread, avoid all processed snacks, and drink nothing but water, you won’t be able to avoid them.

Food additives are natural and artificial substances added to food in order to improve and preserve its flavor and appearance.

Some additives, such as salt used to cure meats, have been around for millennia. In the 20th century, advances in chemical and food engineering brought endless innovations in additives, resulting in the products currently lining supermarket shelves all around the globe.

Below the fold is a rough categorization of additive types. Some additives belong to more than one category. For example, sugar is both a preservative and a sweetener. All additives are safe for consumption, according to the FDA. Consumer groups, though, are concerned about the effects of some artificial additives on human health. Read more…

This was the week of stevia, a new zero calorie sweetener, that got FDA approval as a safe food additive, and will shortly find its way into soft drinks and other products scattered about our supermarket aisles. If you are confused about all the different sweetening options out there, you are not alone. Once upon a time, it was either honey or cane sugar. But then came the industrial revolution…

(Grab a cup of coffee, take a deep breath, this is a long post) Read more…

flickr photo: TheTruthAbout...

That is the finding of a recent Duke University Study, says the New York Times:

The latest salvo comes from Duke University researchers, who have published a study that says Splenda — the grainy white crystals in the little yellow packets — contributes to obesity, destroys “good” intestinal bacteria and prevents prescription drugs from being absorbed.

Read the entire article…

The study was funded by the Sugar Association, which competes fiercely with the companies manufacturing artificial sweeteners. Interesting.

What you need to know:

Some studies have shown that artificial sweeteners may lead to various diseases, others have shown absolutely no problems. Over the years, many people have switched to lower calorie products that are artificially sweetened (i.e. diet soft drinks) as a means to reduce caloric intake and lose weight. But the average American is getting heavier with time. There are many contributing factors so it’s difficult to point the finger at just one.

What to look for at the supermarket:

If you are concerned about artificial sweeteners, avoid products with sucralose or aspartame on the food label. Be aware though, that their calorie count will be higher because sugar is being used.