Today, most companies’ gum base is a proprietary blend of synthetic and natural ingredients: If a packet lists “gum base” as an ingredient, that gum most likely contains synthetic polymers. The FDA ...

From Sap to Synthetics Originally, chewing gum was made from the natural sap of the Sapodilla tree, known as chicle. This tree sap provided a chewy base, but over time, manufacturers shifted to ...

Chewing gum is made by first melting down the base of rubbers, waxes, and polymers (which are yes, plastic) or a natural base of tree sap. A syrup, like glucose, is then added to make the gum ...

Listen to more stories on the Noa app. By the time Wrigley began his business venture, Americans had grown accustomed to chewing gum sold as candy-coated balls or packaged sticks. The base of ...