Chewing gum is a popular habit for freshening breath, staying alert, and even reducing stress or anxiety in certain situations.
Studies suggest that chewing gum can improve focus and oral health, making it a favorite for many.
One of the most popular gum brands is Extra Gum. If you’re following a vegan diet, you might wonder whether Extra Gum fits your lifestyle.
The short answer is Extra Gum does not contain animal-derived ingredients and is generally considered vegan-friendly, but some ingredients may be controversial for strict vegans.
Let’s dive deeper into the ingredients and why there’s some debate.
Ingredients Found in Extra Gum
Extra Gum contains the following ingredients in all its varieties:
- Gum Base
- Sorbitol
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Glycerol
Additionally, it contains less than 2% of these ingredients:
- Colors
- Soy Lecithin
- Aspartame
- Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
- BHT
- Mannitol
- Acesulfame K
Ingredients to Be Aware Of
While many of the ingredients in Extra Gum appear to be plant-based or synthetic, some are worth noting for those who follow a strict vegan diet.
Sugar
Sugar is a common ingredient in gum and many other sweets. The issue for vegans lies in how refined cane sugar is processed. Bone char, derived from animal bones, is often used to bleach sugar into its pure white form.
Although there are no traces of bone char in the final product, its use in the production process makes refined cane sugar a contentious ingredient for vegans.
Unfortunately, the type of sugar used in Extra Gum isn’t specified, so it’s unclear whether it is processed with bone char.
Colors
Food colorings can also be controversial among vegans due to animal testing practices. Carmine, derived from insects, is a non-vegan coloring, but Extra Gum does not list carmine in its ingredients.
For this article, it’s assumed that the food coloring used is vegan unless stated otherwise.
Flavorings
Natural flavors can be derived from either plants or animals. In candies and gums, they are typically plant-based, but without clear labeling, the source of these flavors in Extra Gum remains uncertain.
Can Vegans Chew Extra Gum?
According to PETA, the gum ingredients that often come from animals include glycerin, gelatin, and stearic acid. Extra Gum removed these ingredients from all its flavors in 2019, making them free from obvious animal-derived components.
This change means that Extra Gum, including its Refreshers collection, could be considered vegan.
However, it’s important to note that some of the ingredients—like sugar and food coloring—might not meet the standards of strict vegans due to ethical concerns.
Final Thoughts
Determining whether Extra Gum is vegan isn’t entirely straightforward. While there are no clear animal-derived ingredients in the gum, some elements—like sugar and flavorings—lack transparency about their production processes.
Most sources suggest that Extra Gum is vegan, but the final decision depends on how strictly you interpret veganism.
For those who are comfortable with the potential inclusion of controversial ingredients, Extra Gum can be considered vegan-friendly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Flavors of Extra Gum Are Vegan?
All flavors of Extra Gum are believed to be vegan. However, it’s always a good idea to double-check the ingredients on the packaging.
Does Extra Gum Use Gelatin?
No, Extra Gum no longer contains gelatin. As of 2019, the ingredient was removed from all flavors, making the gum suitable for vegans.
Are There Any Gums That Are Not Vegan?
Yes, gums containing gelatin or stearic acid are not vegan-friendly. Brands like Juice Burst, Mentos 3 Layer, and Strawberry Squeeze often use these ingredients, so it’s important to check labels carefully.
