Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Mentos Fresh Mint Gum ultra-processed?

Sugar-free chewing gum Sold in the United States

Pack of Mentos Fresh Mint Gum

Yes, it's ultra-processed

  1. 1 Unprocessed
  2. 2 Kitchen staple
  3. 3 Processed
  4. 4 Ultra-processed

Signs of ultra-processing in its ingredients:

  • 25 ingredients
  • 16 additives

Less processed confectioneries

Less processed isn't automatically healthier, so compare the labels for what matters to you, such as sugar or salt.

Ingredients

Ultra-processing Processing signs are highlighted

Xylitol, chewing gum base, sorbitol, mannitol, glycerol, maltitol syrup, maltodextrin, contains less than 2 percent of (natural and artificial flavors), rice starch, aspartame, coconut oil (medium chain triglycerides), acesulfame k, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sucrose fatty acid esters, lecithin, green tea extract 0.1%, gum arabic, carnauba wax, xanthan gum, sucralose, bht to maintain freshness, blue 1 lake, blue 1

Additives: E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E322 Lecithins , E322i Lecithin , E414 Acacia gum , E415 Xanthan gum , E420 Sorbitol , E421 Mannitol , E422 Glycerol , E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose , E903 Carnauba wax , E950 Acesulfame k , E951 Aspartame , E955 Sucralose , E965 Maltitol , E965ii Maltitol syrup , E967 Xylitol

As written on the pack

Xylitol, chewing gum base, sorbitol, mannitol, glycerol, maltitol syrup, maltodextrin; contains less than 2 percent of: natural and artificial flavors, rice starch, aspartame, coconut oil (medium chain triglycerides), acesulfame k, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sucrose fatty acid esters, lecithin (soy), green tea extract (0.1%), gum arabic, carnauba wax, xanthan gum, sucralose, bht to maintain freshness, blue 1 lake, blue 1.

What makes it ultra-processed

Cosmetic additives

Added to change how the food looks, feels or tastes, not to keep it safe. A hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • E133 Brilliant blue FCF Brilliant blue FCF is a synthetic blue dye, listed in the US as FD&C Blue No. 1.
  • E322 Lecithins Lecithins are fatty substances extracted mostly from soybeans, sunflower seeds or eggs, used as emulsifiers to keep fat and water mixed, for example in chocolate.
  • E414 Acacia gum Gum arabic (acacia gum) is the hardened sap of acacia trees, used to stabilise flavour emulsions in soft drinks and to coat sweets.
  • E415 Xanthan gum Xanthan gum is a thickener made by fermenting sugar with the bacterium Xanthomonas campestris.
  • E420 Sorbitol Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener and to keep products moist.
  • E421 Mannitol Humectants are substances which prevent foods from drying out by counteracting the effect of an atmosphere having a low degree of humidity, or promote the dissolution of a powder in an aqueous medium.
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  • E422 Glycerol Glycerol is a sweet-tasting liquid used to keep products moist and soft.
  • E466 Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose Carboxymethyl cellulose is a thickener made by chemically modifying cellulose from wood or cotton.
  • E903 Carnauba wax Carnauba wax comes from the leaves of a Brazilian palm and gives sweets and coated chocolates their shine.
  • E950 Acesulfame k Acesulfame K is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, often combined with aspartame or sucralose.
  • E951 Aspartame Aspartame is a synthetic sweetener about 200 times sweeter than sugar, used in diet drinks and sugar-free products.
  • E955 Sucralose Sucralose is a sweetener made by chlorinating sugar.
  • E965 Maltitol Maltitol is a sugar alcohol made from starch, used as a sweetener in "no added sugar" sweets and chocolate.
  • E967 Xylitol Emulsifiers are substances which make it possible to form or maintain a homogenous mixture of two or more immiscible phases such as oil and water in a foodstuff.
  • Flavouring Flavourings are concentrated aroma preparations that add or intensify a taste.

Substances rarely used in home kitchens

Refined or extracted in factories, such as syrups made from starch or isolated proteins. The other hallmark of ultra-processed food.

  • Maltodextrin Maltodextrin is a white powder made by partly breaking down starch.
3 ingredients that would only make it processed

Kitchen staples like sugar, salt and oil. On their own they make a food processed, not ultra-processed.

  • Starch Starch extracted from cereals or potatoes, used to thicken.
  • Vegetable oil Vegetable oils are pressed or extracted from seeds, nuts and fruits.
  • Sweet snacks Products in the category "Sweet snacks" are at least group 3.

How the NOVA groups work

Among 76 sugar-free chewing gum

From least to most processed, this one ranks 66th. 99% of the sugar-free chewing gum here are ultra-processed.

Ranked by NOVA group, then by the number of ultra-processing signs, additives and ingredients. Our ordering, not part of NOVA.

All 76 sugar-free chewing gum, least processed first

About this information

  • Data from this product on Open Food Facts (barcode 0073390026615, last edited 8 October 2023), available under the Open Database License. If something is wrong or the recipe has changed, you can correct it there.
  • Photo: Open Food Facts contributors, CC BY-SA 3.0.
  • The NOVA group is an automated estimate from crowdsourced data: a missing or mistyped ingredient can change it.
  • General information, not medical or dietary advice. Check the pack if you have an allergy.