Tag: Gum base ingredients

According to a 2021 EcoWatch report, 85% of people were unaware that most chewing gum contains plastic. This brings into question whether popular brands, including Trident gum, have plastic in it. The simple answer is yes; like many modern chewing gums, Trident contains synthetic materials that can be classified as plastic.

A 2025 UCLA study revealed that chewing gum can release hundreds of thousands of microplastic particles into your saliva, regardless of whether it is conventional or natural. This astonishing finding highlights a hidden truth about the ingredients used in many popular chewing gums on the market today.

While the earliest forms of chewing gum were natural tree resins, most modern gums contain a synthetic, rubbery substance in their 'gum base'. Although not made from recycled plastic bags, this gum base includes petroleum-derived polymers that are chemically similar to plastics found in everyday products.

Chewing gum is considered a food by the FDA, yet the chewy, non-nutritive gum base is often made from a complex and proprietary blend of synthetic and natural materials. For Extra gum, like most modern chewing gum brands, the gum base is a carefully formulated combination of food-grade polymers, softeners, and other additives to create its signature long-lasting chew and flavor.