A pack of gum is tiny, but its ingredient list can be surprisingly long. If you have ever flipped one over in the checkout line and wondered what you were looking at, this guide is for you.
"Sugar-free" has a definition
In the U.S., "sugar free" is a regulated claim. Under FDA labeling rules, a food can use it only if it has less than 0.5 grams of sugars per serving. It does not mean "unsweetened," so the next question is always what the sweetness comes from.
Check the sweetener
Sugar-free gums are sweetened in different ways. Some use sugar alcohols such as xylitol or sorbitol, some use high-intensity sweeteners such as aspartame or sucralose, and some use plant-based options such as stevia. All of them have to be listed by name, so the ingredient list will tell you which one you are getting. Mastiqe is made without aspartame.
"Gum base" is a catch-all
Most labels list "gum base" as a single ingredient. It is the chewy part, and in conventional gum it is usually a blend of synthetic materials. Mastiqe is made with natural mastic, the resin of the mastic tree, which people were chewing long before gum base existed.
Look for what was added to keep it fresh or bright
Two things worth scanning for:
- BHT: a synthetic antioxidant often added to gum to keep it from going stale.
- Titanium dioxide: a colorant used to make coatings look bright white. The European Union stopped allowing it in food in 2022. It is still permitted in the U.S.
Both are allowed in American food within set limits. Whether you want them in your gum is a personal call. We leave both out.
The short version
Mastiqe is sugar-free, vegan and gluten-free, made with natural mastic and without aspartame, BHT or titanium dioxide. This article is general information, not medical or dietary advice. If you have a specific dietary need, check the full ingredient list on the pack.
