Alexei Volkov
Chewing gum is made of plastic—specifically, polyvinyl acetate, a polymer. This is surprising to many, as gum is a food product. In fact, gum may be the only food that intentionally contains plastic. Plastic is used to give gum its chewy texture, and it is listed in the ingredients as gum base. While the FDA has deemed the use of plastic in gum safe for consumption, plastic gum contributes to pollution, as it is non-biodegradable and often not disposed of properly. Furthermore, a recent study found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into saliva, which are then ingested.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Plastic in chewing gum | Polyvinyl acetate, polyolefins, polyethylene terephthalates, polyacrylamides, polystyrenes, petroleum-based polymers, etc. |
| Chewing gum as a source of microplastics | A piece of gum weighing between 2 and 6 grams can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics into saliva. |
| Plastic pollution from chewing gum | Chewing gum contributes 100,000 tonnes of plastic pollution annually. |
| Eco-friendly alternatives | Glee Gum, Simply Gum, and other plant-based, biodegradable, plastic-free chewing gums are available. |
| FDA stance | The FDA has evaluated the safety of substances used to make chewing gum bases and has determined that certain substances are safe for consumption. |
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What You'll Learn
- Chewing gum contains plastic, specifically polyvinyl acetate, a thermoplastic
- Natural and synthetic gums both release microplastics into saliva
- Microplastics are released into saliva after 8 minutes of chewing
- The FDA considers the plastics in chewing gum safe for human consumption
- Chewing gum is not a pure enough plastic to be defined as one
Chewing gum contains plastic, specifically polyvinyl acetate, a thermoplastic
Chewing gum is one of the few food products that contain plastic. In fact, plastic is a key ingredient in most chewing gums, and it is listed in the ingredients as "gum base". This "gum base" is largely made of polyvinyl acetate, a type of plastic.
Polyvinyl acetate is a synthetic elastomer, which is a long polymer molecule with elastic properties. It is also used in the production of glue, plastic bags, and bottles. It is preferred in chewing gum production because of its elastic properties, which give the gum its chewy texture.
The presence of plastic in chewing gum has raised concerns about its potential impact on human health and the environment. Studies have found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastic particles per piece into saliva, which may then be ingested. While the potential health effects of ingesting microplastics are still being researched, the environmental impact is more certain. Chewing gum contributes significantly to plastic pollution, with an estimated 80-90% of chewed gum not being disposed of properly. This non-biodegradable waste ends up in landfills or photodegrades into microplastics, which can find their way into oceans and harm marine life.
However, it is important to note that there are eco-friendly alternatives to plastic-based chewing gum. Some brands, such as Glee Gum and Simply Gum, offer plant-based, biodegradable, plastic-free chewing gum with a lower environmental impact. Additionally, gum recycling initiatives are also emerging, aiming to transform chewed gum into usable rubber materials.
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Natural and synthetic gums both release microplastics into saliva
Chewing gum is one of the many everyday items that contain plastic. Plastic is a key ingredient in most chewing gums, listed in the ingredients as "gum base". Polyvinyl acetate, a type of plastic, is used to give gum its chewy texture. While the FDA has deemed the use of plastic in chewing gum safe for consumption, a pilot study by the American Chemical Society found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece into saliva and potentially be ingested.
In the study, researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five brands of natural gum, all of which are commercially available. They found that both synthetic and natural gums released similar amounts of microplastics into saliva. On average, they found that a gram of gum released 100 microplastic fragments, with some shedding more than 600. Given that a typical piece of gum weighs between 2 and 6 grams, a large piece of gum could release up to 3,000 plastic particles.
The act of chewing was found to be abrasive enough to make pieces of plastic flake off. After 8 minutes of chewing, 94% of the plastic particles collected during the tests had been released. This suggests that chewing one piece of gum for longer may be preferable to chewing multiple pieces for shorter periods to reduce exposure to microplastics.
The study's findings highlight the potential for chewing gum to contribute to the ingestion of microplastics, which have been found in human bodies and the environment. While the health effects of microplastics are not yet fully understood, the study draws attention to the presence of microplastics in chewing gum and the potential for increased ingestion through gum chewing.
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Microplastics are released into saliva after 8 minutes of chewing
Chewing gum is a product that intentionally contains plastic, with polyvinyl acetate being a key ingredient in most chewing gums. It is also used in the production of glue, plastic bags, and bottles. This plastic is what gives chewing gum its chewy texture, and it is listed in the ingredients as "gum base".
Despite the presence of plastic, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has evaluated the safety of substances used to make up chewing gum bases and has deemed them safe for consumption. However, a recent pilot study by the American Chemical Society found that the act of chewing gum can release microplastics into saliva, which can then be ingested.
In the study, researchers tested five brands each of synthetic and natural gum, with seven pieces from each brand chewed by one person. Saliva samples were collected periodically over 20 minutes to analyse the release rate of microplastics. The results showed that an average of 100 microplastics were released per gram of gum, with some individual pieces releasing up to 600 microplastics per gram.
Furthermore, the study found that after 8 minutes of chewing, 94% of the plastic particles collected during the tests had been released into the saliva. This suggests that prolonged chewing of a single piece of gum may be preferable to chewing multiple pieces for shorter durations to reduce potential exposure to microplastics.
While the health effects of ingesting microplastics are not yet fully understood, the study highlights the potential impact of chewing gum on human exposure to these tiny plastic particles.
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The FDA considers the plastics in chewing gum safe for human consumption
Chewing gum is one of the few foods that intentionally contain plastic. Plastic is a key ingredient in most chewing gums, listed in the ingredients as "gum base", which is largely made of polyvinyl acetate. While this may be surprising, the FDA considers the plastics in chewing gum safe for human consumption.
The FDA has stated that they have:
> "evaluated the safety of many substances used to make up chewing gum base. The 46 substances that we have reviewed and determined to be safe for this use can be found in our regulations."
The list of acceptable substances includes chicle and natural resins, as well as plastics and wood rosins. The FDA has reviewed the safety of chewing gum base constituents multiple times since at least 1960, and their most recent formal evaluation closed in April 2020. They also noted that:
> "We also reviewed studies that are more unique to substances like chewing gum bases. [...] We also evaluated the safety of any substances that were found to migrate out of the gum. As with any food ingredient, we revisit the safety of the use of an ingredient as appropriate when new safety information becomes available."
However, it is important to note that research on gum chewing and microplastics is still limited. A pilot study by the American Chemical Society found that chewing gum can release hundreds to thousands of microplastics per piece into saliva and potentially be ingested. The study found that both natural and synthetic gums released microplastics into saliva, with an average of 100 microplastics released per gram of gum.
While the FDA considers the plastics in chewing gum safe for consumption, the presence of microplastics in chewing gum is a concern for some.
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Chewing gum is not a pure enough plastic to be defined as one
Chewing gum is made of a variety of substances, including plastic. The "gum base" listed in the ingredients of chewing gum is largely made of polyvinyl acetate, a type of plastic. This is what gives chewing gum its chewy texture. However, chewing gum is not considered a pure plastic and is not typically classified as such.
While plastic is a key ingredient in most chewing gums, it is important to note that not all chewing gums contain plastic. There are some eco-friendly and natural chewing gum brands on the market that are plastic-free, such as Glee Gum and Simply Gum. These brands use plant-based polymers like tree sap to create a chewy texture without the use of plastic.
Additionally, the plastic content in chewing gum is not always accurately reflected on the packaging. In a study conducted by the American Chemical Society, researchers tested five brands of synthetic gum and five brands of natural gum, all of which released microplastics into saliva during chewing. However, the packaging of these gums did not list any plastics in the ingredients, simply using the term "gum base" or "gum-based". This lack of transparency makes it difficult for consumers to know the exact plastic content of the chewing gum they are consuming.
Furthermore, the presence of plastic in chewing gum has raised concerns about its environmental impact. Chewing gum contributes significantly to plastic pollution, with an estimated 80-90% of chewing gum not being disposed of properly. The non-biodegradable nature of plastic in chewing gum leads to the accumulation of microplastics in the environment, which can have harmful effects on marine life and potentially re-enter the food chain.
While the plastic in chewing gum may not be pure enough to solely define it as a plastic product, it is important to recognize its presence and potential impact. The consumption and disposal of chewing gum contribute to the growing issue of microplastics, highlighting the need for more sustainable and transparent practices in the chewing gum industry.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, plastic is a key ingredient in most chewing gums. The ingredient known as "gum base" in the list of ingredients is largely made of polyvinyl acetate, a thermoplastic.
Yes, according to a study presented at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society in San Diego, California, chewing gum releases hundreds to thousands of microplastics into saliva.
Chewing gum may be the only food that intentionally contains plastic, but it may not be the top source of the plastic that is showing up in human bodies and waste.
The health effects of microplastics are not yet fully understood. The FDA has evaluated the safety of many substances used to make up chewing gum bases and has determined 46 substances to be safe.
