Is it ultra-processed?
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Is Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Spearmint ultra-processed?

100 grams Sugar-free chewing gum Sold in the United States

Pack of Mentos Pure Fresh Gum Spearmint

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:

  • 26 ingredients
  • 17 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, natural and artificial flavors 2%, aspartame, rice starch, coconut oil (medium chain triglycerides), acesulfame k, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sucrose, fatty acid esters, lecithin, green tea extract 0.1%, sucralose, gum arabic, carnauba wax, xanthan gum, bht, turmeric oleoresin, blue 1 lake, blue 1

Additives: E133 Brilliant blue FCF , E321 Butylated hydroxytoluene , 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, natural and artificial flavors 2%, aspartame, rice starch, coconut oil (medium chain triglycerides), acesulfame k, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sucrose, fatty acid esters, lecithin (soy), green tea extract (0.1%), sucralose, gum arabic, carnauba wax, xanthan gum, bht, color (turmeric oleoresin), 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.
4 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.
  • Sugar Sugar refined from sugar cane or beet.
  • 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 67th. 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 0073390014056, last edited 21 September 2026), 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.