The chewing gum business is one of the biggest industries in the United States. It has infiltrated every facet of society. Its history can be traced back to human beginnings, but gum only became widely produced and distributed in last 200 years.
History
The first patent was awarded to William Fenley Semple in 1869. Thomas Adams became the first person to invent a machine for chewing gum production, after being introduced to the idea by Mexican general Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna.
Flavors
Chewing gum is manufactured in many flavors. Some of the most common are spearmint, fruit and peppermint. Classic flavors include peach, raspberry, strawberry and watermelon.
Benefits
Chewing gum has benefits that go beyond enjoyment, such as freshening breath, relaxing the chewer, equalizing ear pressure during flights, reducing cravings for smokers and dieters, and moistening the mouth.
Ingredients and Process
Resins from tropical trees are the base for chewing gum, combined with synthetic materials. The rest of the ingredients are corn syrups, sugars, artificial colors and hundreds of flavorings.
A liquid is formed by heating the base mixture and combining all the byproducts. The mixture is then cooled and stored as a solid block. Colorings, flavors and sweeteners are added prior to packaging.
Companies
Several companies currently produce chewing gum. Wrigley's and Cadbury share 60 percent of the world's chewing gum market. The rest of the market is covered by more than 200 different companies, including Hershey, Perfetti Van Melle (Italy) and Lotte (South Korea/Japan).
Fun Facts
According to the National Association of Chewing Gum Manufacturers, the 1930s saw the first chewing gum cards. It also claims that the most-effective product to help remove gum from hair is peanut butter.
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