Xylichew gum and sugar alcohols

[skbird]

I am hypoglycemic and have been looking for a gum to chew that doesn't have sugar in it nor any aspartame/splenda/sucralose (they all make me sick). I had settled on a gum, Xylichew, that I get at my local health food store for a while now. I have been feeling lately like I'm getting some gluten sneaking in so I'm checking everything. I wrote an email to Xylichew to ask and this was the response:

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Dear Ms. Bird - Our chewing gum is not 100% guaranteed gluten free. If you should have any other questions please let us know.

Monica Loya
TUNDRA TRADING, INC.
(800) 505-3895
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The ingredients are: Sweeteners (Xylitol 70% weight), Gum Base (IE original latex from sapodilla tree), Natural Flavor, Gum Arabic, Lecithin, Glycerin, Beeswax, Carnaubawax.

I wasn't worried about the Xylitol because I know it's made from birch trees. I guess the natural flavor could be the culprit. I wrote an email back asking if it isn't considered 100% gluten free because it is manufactured in a plant where other gluten food is made or if it is because there actually could be gluten in the ingredients. I'll let you know if I find out.

In the meantime, does anyone have any suggestions of sugarfree gum w/o artificial sweeteners? I also have used Peelu gum, not as much a favorite of mine as Xylichew. It's ingredients are: sorbitol, gum base, maltitol syrup, natural oil of spearmint, lecithin, peelu extract, titanium dioxide, resinous glaze, carnauba wax.

I have read before that sugar alcohols/polyols can be gluten-containing, but since I know xylitol is made from birch I have not worried about it. Are there specific sugar alcohols (like sorbitol, maltitol, mannitol, erythritol, etc) that *are* specifically made from or could be made from gluten grains? I do use them in baking from time to time.

Thanks

Stephanie
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Stephanie

[skbird]

Wow, already got another reply. Here's what she said:

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Dear Ms. Bird - When I contacted our manufacturer they let me know that they knew that nearly all ingredients were gluten free however there were a couple that they could not say for sure. I'm not aware of them using their machinery to manufacture items with gluten in them so it's hard for me to say. If you have any other questions please let me know.
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So anyway, guess that means no more Xylichew.
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Stephanie

[nolaloverll]

I have been using Calci-Fresh Searmint from Estroven. The box states yeast, wheat, gluten, dairy & nut free. I don't chew it daily but the few times I have I've been fine. Hope this helps....it also has Vits C, D, K & Calcium.

[skbird]

Thanks!!! I've been dying for some gum. OK, not literally, but still would be really nice to have some.


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Stephanie

[skbird]

Darn! Checked the ingredients and it has sucralose (Splenda) in it. Can't have Splenda, it makes me sick.

Bummer!


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Stephanie

[nolaloverll]

I can't have Splenda either but my problem is with the maltodextrin in it. This gum has not caused me any difficulties that I can notice.

[skbird]

From what I understand about Splenda, only the baking splendas (in the yellow box) or the little packets have maltodextrin in them. But commercially manufactured stuff doesn't - the maltodextrin is what give it substance - if you had pure sucralose it would be like a drop of water compared with a packet of powdered stuff.

My problem with splenda seems to occur slowly over a few ingestions - even weeks of semi-regular consumption. I wasn't using the packaged kind last time I got sick on it either, it was just in ice cream and sodas.

What a bummer. Oh well, search continues.
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Stephanie

[strawdog]

Try looking for something made from chicle; I think I've seen it under the name "Jungle Gum."