Chewing Gum
Actives such as nicotine or fluorides are usually added in a strictly defined sequence in the gum mixer at the appropriate phase, usually just before solid sweetener addition or during the same towards the end of the mixing operation before flavouring and colouring. The gum is formed into strips on typical Gimple machines, Togum or similar for rolling and scoring then packaging or pellet sugar coating by panning for chiclet type products.
Sugarless gums usually require much more careful handling and the proportioning of crystallizing and anticrystallising phase ingredients is critical. These gums usually require a greater quantity of gums base and have different textural and elasticity properties during forming. The addition of actives is performed in a similar way to that used in regular sugared gums.
Teeth whitening, gums protection and plaque claims are made with patented usage of urea and other compounds. The latest technology uses anhydrous gum formulation in which plasticity and softness are assured for much longer shelf life periods than was previously possible. However since humidity conditions is necessary to condition the gum prior to packaging. The packaging material does not require as many protective properties and the approved intense sweeteners, but patented encapsulation is required to protect these materials and give good sustained release which is related to perceived flavour longevity. Encapsulation of the actives within the gum base during mixing can be problematical when sustained release is required during the chew out.