Juicy Fruit is a well-known brand of chewing gum that has been around since the early 1900s. With its fruity flavors and smooth, chewy texture, it has remained a popular choice for gum-chewers of all ages. But one question that often comes up regarding Juicy Fruit is: does it contain sugar?
What is Juicy Fruit Gum?
Juicy Fruit is a type of chewing gum made by the Wrigley Company. It was first introduced in 1893 and has had several different fruit flavors over the years, including orange, lemon, pineapple, banana, and peach. Currently, the main flavors available are cherry, pineapple, watermelon, and blueberry.
Some key facts about Juicy Fruit gum:
– It has a soft, smooth texture designed for chewing, not just flavor.
– Each stick of gum contains about 10-15 calories.
– It is sweetened with artificial sweeteners, not actual fruit sugars.
– The gum base is made from a natural form of latex rubber.
– Juicy Fruit contains no fat, protein, or carbohydrates.
So while Juicy Fruit gum aims to provide a sweet, fruity taste and chewing experience, it does not actually contain natural sugars from fruit. Instead, it relies on artificial sweeteners to provide its signature flavors and sweetness.
Juicy Fruit Ingredients
To better understand if there is sugar in Juicy Fruit gum, let’s take a detailed look at the ingredients:
– Gum Base: This provides the chewy texture and bulk of the gum. It is a natural form of latex rubber.
– Sweeteners: The main sweeteners used in Juicy Fruit are sugar alcohols such as sorbitol, maltitol, and xylitol. These provide a sweet taste but are lower in calories than sugar.
– Natural and Artificial Flavors: These flavorings give Juicy Fruit its fruity taste and aromas. They can be derived from both natural fruits and artificial compounds.
– Acidity Regulators: Citric acid and malic acid give Juicy Fruit its tangy, tart flavors. They also help maintain the pH and texture.
– Softeners: Glycerol and vegetable oils give the gum a smooth, soft chew.
– Preservatives: BHT prevents the gum from becoming rancid.
– Colors: Titanium dioxide provides an opaque white color. Other colors like Red 40 provide fruit shades.
So while the ingredients list does include some natural flavors, Juicy Fruit gum contains no actual fruit sugars. The sweet taste instead comes from sugar alcohols that provide sweetness without added calories.
Sugar Alcohols in Juicy Fruit
The main sugar alcohols used to sweeten Juicy Fruit gum are:
Sorbitol: Sorbitol is about 60% as sweet as regular sugar but provides fewer calories per gram. It is considered a nutritive sugar alcohol. Consuming too much sorbitol can lead to gastrointestinal issues like gas, bloating and diarrhea.
Maltitol: Maltitol is 90% as sweet as sugar and has a similar taste. It has fewer calories than sugar and does not spike blood sugar levels as much. It can also cause digestive issues in large amounts.
Xylitol: Xylitol is as sweet as sugar but with 40% fewer calories. It does not raise blood sugar levels. Too much xylitol can cause diarrhea and gas. It is considered safe for teeth.
So while these sugar alcohols provide a sweet taste, they are considered “healthier” alternatives to regular sugar. But when consumed in large doses, they can still lead to gastrointestinal side effects like gas or laxation. Moderation is key.
Does Juicy Fruit Contain Natural Sugars?
While Juicy Fruit aims to provide sweet, fruity flavors, the gum contains no actual sugars naturally found in fruit. Here is a run-down of the common sugars found in fruit and their presence in Juicy Fruit:
| Fruit Sugar | Found in Juicy Fruit? |
|---|---|
| Glucose | No |
| Fructose | No |
| Sucrose | No |
| Maltose | No |
| Lactose | No |
As this table shows, Juicy Fruit gum contains none of the natural sugars found in sweet fruits – glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose or lactose. It delivers sweetness solely from the sugar alcohols mentioned previously.
Fruit Sugar Content vs. Juicy Fruit
To further illustrate the lack of natural fruit sugars in Juicy Fruit gum, let’s compare it to the sugar content of real fruits.
Below is a chart showing the grams of total sugar in one cup of select fruits versus one stick of Juicy Fruit gum:
| Fruit | Grams of Sugar per Cup |
|---|---|
| Strawberries | 7.4g |
| Apple | 19g |
| Grapes | 15g |
| Cherries | 19g |
| Juicy Fruit Gum (1 stick) | 0g |
As you can see, fruits naturally contain significant amounts of sugar. But a stick of Juicy Fruit gum contains 0 grams of sugar from fruit. The sweet taste instead comes from the sugar alcohols discussed earlier.
Does Juicy Fruit Contain Added Sugars?
While Juicy Fruit gum contains no naturally-occurring sugars, some sources indicate that it contains “added sugars.” What does this mean?
Added sugars refers primarily to table sugar (sucrose) that is added to foods during processing, preparation or at the table. Juicy Fruit gum contains no added table sugar, but the sugar alcohols used to sweeten it do count as “added sugars” on some nutritional labels because they are not naturally present and are added during processing.
So in an ingredient or nutritional sense, Juicy Fruit could be considered to contain added sugars from non-natural sweeteners. However, these added sugar alcohols are still considered healthier alternatives to table sugar. But the bottom line is that all of Juicy Fruit’s sweetness comes from sugar additives, not natural fruit sugars.
The Verdict: No Fruit Sugars in Juicy Fruit
After reviewing the ingredients list, sugar alcohol content, and nutritional information, it is clear that Juicy Fruit chewing gum contains no naturally-occurring sugars from fruit. The sweet fruity taste instead comes from:
– Sugar alcohols like sorbitol, maltitol, and xylitol
– Natural and artificial fruit flavorings
While these provide a sweet, fruity flavor, they are considered healthier alternatives to added table sugar. So for those looking to avoid sugar for dietary reasons, Juicy Fruit can be a good option. Moderation is still key, as over-consumption of sugar alcohols can lead to gastrointestinal issues.
So in summary – no, Juicy Fruit does not contain any actual fruit sugars. But it delivers sweetness through the use of non-caloric sugar alcohols. This makes it a flavorful, fruity chewing gum choice for those looking to limit sugar intake. So chew and enjoy Juicy Fruit guilt-free!
References
1. Wrigley Company. “Juicy Fruit Gum Nutrition Facts.” Accessed October 2022.
https://www.wrigley.com/us/en/brands/juicy-fruit.html
2. Dental Health Foundation. “Sugar Alcohols Fact Sheet.” Accessed October 2022.
https://www.dentalhealth.ie/dentalhealth/teeth/sugaralcohols.html
3. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. “FoodData Central.” Accessed October 2022.
https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
4. DiMeglio, Matt. “Do Chewing Gums Contain Sugar?” SF Gate, Demand Media, 25 Sept.
2018, https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/chewing-gums-contain-sugar-11206.html.
