Is Extra Spearmint Safe? Ingredient Analysis
Wrigley
Extra Spearmint is a dessert from Wrigley. It has a Zerotox safety score of 30/100, which means it has several flagged ingredients and may not suit cautious buyers.
The main ingredients worth reviewing are Gum Base, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate.
30 / 100
Why score is 30
The composition includes several synthetic additives such as aspartame and acesulfame K, which raise significant quality and safety concerns. The presence of BHT as a preservative also indicates a highly processed product.
Main concern
Aspartame and acesulfame K are artificial sweeteners that raise health concerns due to their synthetic nature.
Why it matters: This ingredient is flagged in our analysis based on regulatory and scientific sources. Check the Ingredients section for details and see Data sources for methodology.
Regulation status: Ingredient safety is assessed from EU/EPA/CIR and similar databases; formulations may vary. Always read the product label.
Pros
- Contains natural flavors which may enhance the overall taste experience.
- Glycerol serves as a humectant, helping to retain moisture in the gum.
Concerns
- Aspartame and acesulfame K are artificial sweeteners that raise health concerns due to their synthetic nature.
- BHT is a synthetic preservative linked to potential health risks, indicating a processed composition.
Who should avoid this product?
This dessert may not be the best fit for:
- people with sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivity
Ingredients breakdown
Each ingredient below is explained in the context of this dessert so the page answers more than a simple label list.
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Is Sorbitol safe in this dessert?
Medium
Sorbitol is used here as sweetener. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener in this gum. While it provides sweetness, it can cause digestive issues in some individuals when consumed in large amounts.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: SORBITOL
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Is Gum Base safe in this dessert?
Bad
Gum Base is used here as base. Gum base is a synthetic mixture that provides the chewy texture of the gum. Its exact composition is often proprietary, raising concerns about quality and safety.
Role in formula: base
Original: GUM BASE
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Is Glycerol safe in this dessert?
Medium
Glycerol is used here as humectant. Glycerol is used to retain moisture in the gum, enhancing texture. While generally safe, it is a processed ingredient.
Role in formula: humectant
Original: GLYCEROL
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Is Natural And Artificial Flavors safe in this dessert?
Bad
Natural And Artificial Flavors is used here as flavor. These flavors can be derived from various sources, but their synthetic nature raises concerns about transparency and potential allergens.
Role in formula: flavor
Original: NATURAL AND ARTIFICAL FLAVORS
Read the full ingredient profile for Natural And Artificial Flavors
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Is Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate safe in this dessert?
Bad
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate is used here as sweetener. This ingredient is a processed sweetener that can contribute to digestive discomfort and is often derived from corn or other starches.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: HYDROGENATED STARCH HYDROLYSATE
Read the full ingredient profile for Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
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Is Aspartame safe in this dessert?
Bad
Aspartame is used here as sweetener. Aspartame is an artificial sweetener linked to various health concerns, including potential neurological effects, raising significant safety issues.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: ASPARTAME
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Is Mannitol safe in this dessert?
Medium
Mannitol is used here as sweetener. Mannitol is another sugar alcohol used for sweetness. It can cause digestive issues in sensitive individuals, similar to sorbitol.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: MANNITOL
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Is Acesulfame K safe in this dessert?
Bad
Acesulfame K is used here as sweetener. Acesulfame K is an artificial sweetener that has raised concerns regarding its long-term health effects, contributing to the product's overall risk.
Role in formula: sweetener
Original: ACESULFAMEK
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Is Soy Lecithin safe in this dessert?
Medium
Soy Lecithin is used here as emulsifier. Soy lecithin is used as an emulsifier to maintain texture. While generally safe, it is a processed ingredient that may concern those with soy allergies.
Role in formula: emulsifier
Original: SOY LECITHIN
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Is Bht safe in this dessert?
Bad
Bht is used here as preservative. BHT is a synthetic antioxidant used to maintain freshness. It has been linked to potential health risks, raising concerns about its use in food products.
Role in formula: preservative
Original: BHT (TO MAINTAIN FRESHNESS)
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Is Turmeric safe in this dessert?
Good
Turmeric is used here as colorant. Turmeric is a natural colorant that provides a yellow hue. It is generally considered safe and may offer some antioxidant properties.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: COLORS (TURMERIC)
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Is Blue 1 Lake safe in this dessert?
Bad
Blue 1 Lake is used here as colorant. Blue 1 lake is a synthetic colorant that raises safety concerns due to its artificial nature and potential health effects.
Role in formula: colorant
Original: BLUE 1 LAKE
How we score
Our safety scores and ingredient breakdowns are based on regulatory and scientific sources. See Data sources & methodology and How Zerotox works for full details.
Product info
Product ID: 4151349
More from this brand: Wrigley products in Zerotox
Similar products: dessert in Zerotox database
Allergens detected: soy
Report / complain: You may report errors or complain about this product or its formulation to hello [at] zeroto.app . Published for transparency.