Avoid These Substances in Chewing Gum

You might encounter chemicals in chewing gum that are added to extend shelf life but are also suspected of being endocrine disrupters.

Research suggests that exposure to suspected endocrine disrupters could lead to reduced sperm quality, genital deformities, and early puberty.

We have tested 183 packs of chewing gum for two suspected endocrine disrupters.

We have also checked whether chewing gum contains the white pigment titanium dioxide, which was banned in food products in the EU two years ago.

Avoid BHA and BHT in Chewing Gum

We have examined chewing gum for the preservatives BHA and BHT, which are on the EU's list of substances that have shown endocrine-disrupting effects in animal studies.

In our test, 69 out of 183 packs of chewing gum contain BHA or BHT, earning them the lowest rating, the C-rating, in the test.

Many Good Choices of Chewing Gum

BHA and BHT are permitted in food, but it's possible to find chewing gum without these unwanted substances.

A total of 114 packs of chewing gum in the test are free from BHA and BHT.

The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals has tested chewing gum for suspected endocrine disrupters four times: in 2016, 2019, 2021, and 2024.

Over the years, there are signs that the unwanted substances BHA and BHT are slowly being phased out. However, it is not happening as quickly in chewing gum targeted children.

Children's Chewing Gum Can Contain Suspected Endocrine Disrupters

Regarding chewing gum marketed for children, the majority contain the suspected endocrine-disrupting additives BHA or BHT.

In the test, over half of the chewing gum targeted at children contains BHA or BHT. That is 37 out of 67 packs of chewing gum.

Children's chewing gum in the test was selected based on whether the product is specifically marketed to children on the packaging.

Children are generally more vulnerable to exposure to problematic chemicals. To minimize children's exposure to unwanted chemicals, it's good to keep an eye on the ingredients BHA (E320) and BHT (E321) on the chewing gum package.

Titanium Dioxide Is No Longer in Chewing Gum

Titanium dioxide has received significant attention in recent years. It is a naturally occurring pigment used to make foods like chewing gum appear stark white.

But now it is no longer found in food products throughout the EU. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) released a new risk assessment of titanium dioxide in May 2021 and how it is absorbed by the body.

They concluded that consumption of the substance could damage human genetic material (DNA), which led the EU Commission to ban the substance in food in 2022.

Our test of chewing gum in 2021 showed that several of the tested chewing gums contained titanium dioxide.

In the latest test after the ban took effect, all the chewing gums are free from titanium dioxide.

Manufacturers have complied with the ban and may have found another alternatives.

Individual Chewing Gum Packs Are Not Problematic

Chewing gum with BHA or BHT does not pose an acute risk, and the individual pack of chewing gum is not problematic on its own.

But you're exposed to unwanted chemicals from many different sources, which together can impact your health. This is especially true from the food you consume, but also from your indoor environment, personal care products, etc.

Researchers are concerned about our exposure to problematic substances from many different sources, also known as the "cocktail effect," and therefore, it's a good idea to choose chewing gum without unwanted chemicals.

About the test

The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals purchased chewing gum from various Danish stores.

We checked 183 different packs of chewing gum for the presence of BHA (E320) and BHT (E321).

BHA and BHT are permitted in chewing gum and other food products, but they are also suspected of being endocrine disrupters. Both substances have shown endocrine-disrupting effects in animal studies. BHA is listed on the EU's list of substances that have demonstrated endocrine-disrupting effects.

The test is a declaration test. This means that the ingredient lists were checked for unwanted chemicals, but the products were not analyzed to determine in which amounts the substances are present.
The Danish Consumer Council THINK Chemicals has conducted similar tests focusing on BHA and BHT in 2015, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

In 2021, the test also checked for the problematic pigment titanium dioxide, but this substance has since been banned in food, and titanium dioxide is no longer found in any of the chewing gum packs.
- 69 packs of chewing gum in the test contain BHA or BHT, suspected endocrine disrupters.
- 114 packs of chewing gum in the test do not contain BHA or BHT.
- Over the years, we've seen a general decrease in the number of packs of chewing gum containing BHA or BHT.
In 2019, 79 packs contained BHA or BHT, while 76 packs were without.

In 2016, 102 packs contained BHA or BHT, and 55 packs were without.
116 packs of chewing gum are not specifically marketed to children, and of those, 32 packs contain unwanted chemicals in the form of BHT or BHA.

84 packs of chewing gum are free from unwanted chemicals, which is the highest number since we first tested chewing gum in 2016.
The test reveals that over half of children's chewing gum contains unwanted chemicals in the form of BHT or BHA.

This is problematic because children are more vulnerable to exposure to unwanted chemicals.

55 percent of children's chewing gum packs contain BHA or BHT, but this is lower than previous tests.

In 2021, 57 out of 67 packs of children's chewing gum contained BHA, BHT, or titanium dioxide. Only 10 packs were without. Titanium dioxide is now banned, and we no longer find it in chewing gum.

In 2019, 57 packs were checked, and 37 packs contained BHA or BHT.

In 2016, 68 packs were checked, and 55 packs contained BHA or BHT.
Titanium dioxide is a naturally occurring pigment that was previously used to make chewing gum appear stark white.

In May 2021, EFSA (the European Food Safety Authority) published an assessment of titanium dioxide in food, which concluded it wasn't safe to use.

This was because it couldn't be ruled out that ingestion of the substance could damage human DNA, and it was suspected of being carcinogenic.

Therefore, the EU Commission has implemented a ban on titanium dioxide (E171) in food, which came into effect in 2022.