To some Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum reminds them of an updated version of the gum that used to come in packages of baseball cards. The flat, powdery gum taste that some remember can be found in Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum, but with the addition of longer lasting taste, and artificial sweeteners. Not all flavors pair well with mint, but in the case of Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum, the “bubble” flavor does taste pretty good with the addition of mint.
Despite it’s good taste and long-lasting flavor, Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum contains a number of ingredients that may not sit well in some bodies. If you have an intolerance to any of these ingredients, it’s best to skip this sugarfree gum.
Ingredients
The ingredients in Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum are not going to please anyone who likes natural foods.
Th gum is made mostly off Sorbitol, Glycerol, natural and artificial flavors. It also contains mannitol, xylitol, soy lechtin, aspartame, acesulfame K, sucralose, BHT, and red and yellow dyes.
Sorbitol
Sorbitol is also called glucitol, which is a sugar alcohol (Wikipedia.org) Nutritionally, one piece of Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum contains one gram of sugar alcohol.
For some people, ingesting sorbitol can trigger IBS symptoms (Foodintol.com). Sorbitol can also be used an a natural or unintentional laxative. Some believe that products containing Sorbitol, including Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum, should be labeled with a health warning.
The Center for Science in the Public Interest petitioned the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1999 to ” improve the existing warning label on processed foods that contain the sugar substitute sorbitol.” (Cspinet.org)
In bold the packaging reads, “Phenylketonurics: Contains Phenylalanine. Phenylalanine “makes up half of Aspartame.” (SweetPoison.com) Aspartame is an artificial sweetener.
Because some people are “PKU (Phenylketonuric) or sensitive to phenylalanine” (SweetPoison.com) Wrigley’s has included that particular ingredient in bold on the package. It does not come with any other “warning.” It’s just listed in bold.
The natural flavor in this sugarfree gum must be mint, since no other natural item is listed.
No Gluten
For anyone more interested in gluten than aspartame, they will be happy to know that Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum is free of gluten. Keep in mind that not all Wrigley brand gums are free of barley gluten, oat gluten, or wheat gluten.
Nutritional Information
Nutritionally, one piece of Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum contains less than five calories, zero grams of fat, and one carbohydrates in the form of sugar alcohol.
Taste
The taste of Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum is superior to other sugarfree gums. The Bubblemint flavor is definitely reminiscent of baseball card chewing gum, and the early bubble gyms made by Bubblicious.
Price
A three-pack of Orbit Sugarfree Bubblemint Gum at Wal-mart costs about $2.19 depending on where you live. One pack of this gum at a local drug store can cost up to $1.20 for 14 pieces of sugarfree gum.
Conclusion
If you have any conditions that make you sensitive to artificial sweeteners, avoid this gum. It is very tasty, and once you try it you may not be able to give it up.
Center for Science in the Public Interest, http://www.cspinet.org
Product Taste Testing at Home
Orbit Bubblemint Gum Packaging
Phenylalanine – Aspartame, http://www.sweetpoison.com/phenylalanine.html
Wikipedia, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sorbitol
Wrigley, http://www.wrigley.com/wrigley/products/products_orbit.asp
