For example, one piece of Extra brand gum weighs 2.5 g. Some types of gum released up to 637 microplastics per gram. Most of the microplastics detached from gum within the first 2 minutes of chewing.

I examined several types of gum and found that the most common weight of an individual piece of gum is 1.4g—that means that globally, a staggering 2.436 million tons of gum are produced each year.

In 2022, Mondelez International sold its U.S., Canadian and European gum business, including brands like Trident, Bubblicious, Dentyne and Chiclets, to Amsterdam-based Perfetti Van Melle.

Mars Inc., which owns the 133-year-old Wrigley brand, thinks it may have an answer: repositioning gum as an instant stress reliever rather than an occasional breath freshener.

Chewing this type of gum may decrease the risk of giving birth prematurely — doc admits: ‘It surprised us all’ By Tracy Swartz Published Nov. 15, 2024, 3:34 p.m. ET ...

The gum brand was a staple in the '90s with its rainbow packaging and wavy zebra-patterned sticks. But much like its fast-disappearing flavor, Fruit Stripes is now going away.