Potentially dangerous chewing gum ingredients can be absorbed though digestion. They can also be directly enter your bloodstream through the mucous membranes in your mouth, bypassing your digestive system.
Common ingredients in chewing gum are linked to cancer, organ toxicity, weight gain and more include aspartame, BHT, calcium casein peptone, gum base and titanium dioxide.
1. Aspartame – Is found in most sugar free gum. Aspartame is metabolized inside your body into both wood alcohol (a poison) and formaldehyde (which is a carcinogen used as embalming fluid and is not eliminated from your body through the normal waste filtering done by your liver and kidneys). It's been linked to birth defects, cancers, brain tumors and weight gain.
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2. BHT (Butylated Hydroxytoluene) - BHT is so toxic it’s already been banned in many other countries. In the US, it’s often used as a preservative in chewing gum and other processed foods. BHT has been linked to organ system toxicity, including kidney and liver damage, hyperactivity in children and may be carcinogenic.
3. Calcium Casein Peptone (Calcium Phosphate) – is found primarily in Trident gum, it’s thought this ingredient may be used as a whitening agent or texturizer. Casein was previously linked to baby formula poisonings in China.
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4. Gum Base – What is “gum base” actually made out of? Investigators found it’s usually a blend of elastomers, resins, plasticizers and fillers. Most manufacturers do not reveal more specifics than this. After all, why would they want you to know that you’re potentially chewing on petroleum-derived paraffin wax, polyvinyl acetate (carpenter’s glue) and talc, which is linked to cancer.
5. Titanium Dioxide - Titanium dioxide is often used as a whitening agent in chewing gum, but it’s been linked to autoimmune disorders, asthma, and Crohn’s disease and is potentially carcinogenic. One study found children are highly exposed to titanium dioxide in confections, with chewing gum containing the highest levels.
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