MadSci Network: Other |
Hi Phil. Your question is most interesting and I'll do my best to explain. Let's go back to 1928 when one, Walter Diemer an accountant working for the Fleer Chewing Gum Co., in Philidelphia figured out how to create a gum, strong enough and elastic enough to stretch when filled with air. He used the only food dye on hand for the color-pink. To this day 'classic' bubble gum is pink. Unfortunately he never revealed the flavor ingredients, which is not surprising because these formulas are regarded as trade secrets, (much like the secret flavor component of Coca Cola's No. 7X). Keep in mind that out of about 2,000 food additves used in the industry as many as 1,700 of them are flavoring agents. Due to their safety and propriety the labeling of flavors need only be specified in general terms such as, artificial or natural flavors. However, your perception is accurate in that the predominant flavors of 'original' bubble gum is indeed fruity. It is a mixture of several natural and artificial fruit flavors. To simulate strawberry flavor, chemicals like ethyl methyl phenylglycidate can be used. Other flavors are sour apple for which sorbic and malic acids are used. Limonene has an intense citrus based flavor. The 'BananaBerry' bubblegum undoubtedly uses amyl acetate for the banana flavor. So you see food chemists have a great variety of chemicals to choose from to create that 'fruity' taste of bubble gum. I hope I've given you something to chew on. For more on this go to www.bubblegum.com/qanda/howmade or www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/story084.htm My reference book was 'When do fish sleep?' by David Feldman. Publisher Harper & Row.
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