Wrigley's Extra Sugarfree Chewing Gum, Refreshing Spearmint Flavour, Freshens Breath, With Xylitol, Helps with Oral Hygiene for Healthy Teeth and Gums 30 x 10 Packs

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Traditionally, polymers derived from natural sources, such as plants and trees, made chewing gums. However, today, synthetic polymers are generally used as they provide better texture and retain the flavors for longer. Is Gum Base Vegan? The reason being the variety of ingredients that can be used in its manufacturing. There are 46 FDA-approved ingredients that can be used to make the gum base. While the majority of these approved ingredients are vegan, a few are not. These primarily include: Gum base is the main ingredient in chewing gum. It gives gum its chewiness and texture. Gum base is usually made from latex, resins, and waxes. These ingredients can be from plant or animal sources. In the case of Extra Gum, the gum base is from synthetic sources, making it vegan friendly. Glycerol Knowing that animal testing is one of the biggest ethical issues veganism stands for, many vegans (prefer to) avoid products that contain artificial coloring. Please note that these are the Extra gum flavor options available in the US. The range of flavors varies in different countries. However, the core ingredients are likely to be the same, so those living outside the US can also use this article as a handy guide to evaluating the vegan status of an Extra gum flavor. Is Extra Spearmint gum vegan?

Natural flavors are derived from plants or animals, while artificial flavors are made synthetically. These flavors can be vegan or non-vegan depending on their source. In the case of Extra Gum, the flavors are vegan friendly. Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate However, as I said earlier, it all comes down to what veganism means to you. Is Any Extra Gum Flavor Truly Vegan? Artificial food colors are essentially vegan. They are made using various chemicals and are free of animal ingredients. However, they are not cruelty-free. There is strong evidence that artificial colors are tested on animals. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol that is often used as a sweetener in food. It is made from glucose and is found naturally in fruits, such as apples, pears, and peaches. Sorbitol is a vegan-friendly ingredient. Gum base Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. As they say, to each their own, the answer depends on every individual’s understanding of veganism and commitment to its philosophy.Having said that, most online sources classify Extra chewing gums as vegan-friendly simply because they do not contain any animal-derived ingredients. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener that is made from two amino acids: phenylalanine and aspartic acid. Aspartame is vegan friendly. Mannitol

However, the base ingredients are the same for all Extra gum flavors, so let’s take a look at them and find out if Extra gum ingredients are vegan-friendly or not. Extra Gum Ingredients Some hardcore vegans may want to avoid Extra chewing gums because of the presence of controversial ingredients, while others may not have an issue with their consumption because they are really hard to avoid. Hydrogenated starch hydrolysate is a type of sugar that is made from starches. It is often used as a food additive and sweetener. This ingredient is vegan friendly. AspartameThe FDA provides a list of the food colors approved for use in human food along with their sources and code that can come in handy for this purpose. If you want to avoid contributing to animal cruelty in any way, avoid Extra chewing gums that contain any of these artificial colors. So, Is Extra Gum Vegan or Not? In the case of Extra Gum, glycerol is most likely derived from pork fat, as this is the cheapest and most commonly used source. Is Extra Gum Cruelty Free?

Looking for some vegan-friendly chewing gum to take on the go? Here are some of my favorite chewing gum brands: While most online sources classify gum base as vegan-friendly, the truth of the matter is that it’s hard to determine the vegan-friendliness of this core gum compound. Glycerol is a sugar alcohol that is often used as a sweetener or preservative in food products. It can be derived from either animal or plant sources. Unless the label says that the glycerin is vegetable glycerin, it is likely of animal origin.

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Extra Gum is not vegan because it contains glycerol, which is usually sourced from animals, as it is cheaper and more common. Unless a manufacturer makes an explicit statement that its glycerol is vegetable glycerol, you should assume that it is sourced from animals. Is Extra Sweet Watermelon Gum Vegan? Soy lecithin is a type of fat that is found in soybeans. It is often used as an emulsifier in food. Soy lecithin is vegan friendly. Acesulfame K

Some even assert that when it is written as glycerol only, it is highly likely to be derived from an animal source. Are you wondering about the issue with palm-derived ingredients? Refer to my article Are M&M’s Vegan for a detailed discussion on it. § Flavors While both these sources are not US-specific, it can safely be presumed that Wrigley’s uses the same synthetic ingredients to manufacture gum base in the US to maintain the same quality of their chewing gums. § Sorbitol The issue here is that the gum companies do not list the ingredients of their gum bases, so you can’t really tell if they are vegan or not. Is Extra Gum Base Vegan?

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Mannitol is a type of sugar alcohol that is often used as a sweetener. It is made from glucose and is found naturally in fruits, such as apples, pears, and peaches. Mannitol is a vegan-friendly ingredient. Soy lecithin Animal testing is an outdated and cruel practice that needs to be stopped. This practice only leaves innocent animals disfigured, maimed, and dead. There are new ways to test the safety of these ingredients without harming animals. What Is Extra Gum Made Of? I have discussed this issue in some detail in my article on Sour Patch Kids . Give it a read to discover why these widely used ingredients have a controversial status in the vegan world. But, if you have been vegan for any length of time, you would know that it doesn’t work that way. You cannot determine the vegan status of any product just based on the presence or absence of animal ingredients or by-products.