Gum Zu l'tova Of the many uniquely American inventions which we enjoy, chewing gum holds a special place in the world of Kashrus. While it is often maligned, the Kashrus issues involved in its production are fascinating. The recent "crisis" involving this masticated confection has shed new light on these concerns and should provide some interesting food for thought. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the need for reliable Kosher certification of chewing gum and to explain the Sheila which has bedeviled consumers of late. First, a bit of history. Chewing gum, in various forms, has been around since the 1860's. Rubber has been a much sought after commodity and until the first World War could only be obtained from natural plant latex. The latex from specific trees has certain desirable properties yielding the product to which we refer as rubber. In the search of new sources of latex, attempts were made to make use of chicle, a latex derived from the South American Sapodilla tree. Although chicle proved unsuitable for the manufacture of conventional rubber, Thomas Adams, Sr. found that he could make "chewing gum" from this product and founded a chewing gum company that bore his name. [Note: the name chiclets is derived from this source of latex.] Rubber was one of the first strategic raw materials, and Germany was forced to develop the first commercial synthetic rubber production during World War I due to the allied blockade. During World War II the United States, similarly deprived of its access to Asian rubber, undertook a program -- second only in scale to the nuclear bomb project -- for the development of a synthetic version of this vital raw material. Although perhaps not the "strategic" use originally envisaged, as we will see synthetic rubber finds its way into chewing gum with interesting Halachic ramifications. Chewing gum is made in two stages. The first involves the manufacture of the gum base. Gum base is made by mixing and heating some or all of the following ingredients: chicle, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, waxes, plasticizers and emulsifiers. (Bubble gum is formulated with rubber in order to give it greater strength.) The gum base, however, is tasteless and too brittle for use as is. The second step involves mixing the gum base (about 25%) with powdered sugar and corn syrup (about 70%), and adding flavorings, glycerin and coloring. The mixture is then extruded into the final gum product. Production of gum balls also involves adding a candy shell to the gum. The need for reliable Hashgacha for gum stems from many ingredient concerns. Plasticizers can be pure lard or tallow and emulsifiers are also often made from animal fats. Flavors and glycerin can also be completely non-Kosher. Even if all of the ingredients in a Kosher gum were acceptable, the equipment on which the product is made requires a Kashering from non-Kosher productions. Although the gum itself is not swallowed, these fats and flavors migrate from the gum into the mouth. Much to the delight of many consumers, Kosher gum has been around form some time. Great attention is paid to ensure that all fats, emulsifiers and flavors used for Kosher gum meet the most stringent standards of Kashrus. But what could be a problem with synthetic rubber? Isn't it essentially a petrochemical -- a product derived from petroleum? It is on this point that the tale turns. Certain chemicals used in the production of synthetic rubber are often derived from animal fats. Creating artificial rubber involves suspending and reacting very small bits of monomers (butadiene and styrene) in a soapy solution to create a rubber polymer. This soap is often made from fatty acids derived from animal fats. A recent inspection of a manufacturer of the synthetic rubber used to make the gum for several (but not all) brands of Kosher gum revealed that this company did indeed use both Kosher and no-Kosher fatty acids in the production of its various types of synthetic rubber. A great deal of concern was expressed as to the Kosher status of gum base containing a synthetic rubber which was made in a factory that uses ingredients of animal origin. Could any non-Kosher ingredients or equipment have compromised the Kashrus of the gum base rubber? The Sheila which were posed and the Tshuvos given are instructive as to a whole series of Halachic concepts. First it was noted that the fatty acid is Batul B'Shishim in the gum base. In addition, the gum base itself only constitutes about 25% of the finished gum. A number of Poskim suggested that the issue of Chaticha Na'asis Neveila doesnot come into play since the synthetic rubber is not a food. Further, at the time the fatty acids areused, the rubber is in a liquid state, and Chanan B'Lach in situations of Hefsed Meruba is Mutar. An additional Snif is that there is onlya Safek Issur Chanan D'Rabbanan since the company did maintain a stock of Kosher fatty acids for these productions. Some Poskim also felt that the synthetic rubber renders the fatty acid Pagum to the degree that it becomes Nifsal Me'Achilas Kelev, and thus Mutar. In addition, other Poskim held that the fatty acid itself is tasteless and therefore may be Batul B'Rov in its own right. Taking all of these factors into consideration -- and based upon the information available at the time -- it was determined that all of the product in question was indeed Kosher Al Pi Din and that there was no need to recall any product from the market. A conclusive decision as to the Halachic status of the synthetic rubber L'Chatchila, however, awaited further evaluation. The OU, working with the manufacturer and the Rav Hamachshir of the synthetic rubber, was recently able to resolve this issue. This author visited the plant and as it turned out there was a dedicated system for handling the Kosher oleic acid used to manufacture all food grade rubber in the plant. All oleic acid in the food grade systeem was Kosher, and each certified production was supervised by a Mashgiach. Although some of the equipment used to produce Kosher product was also used to make non-food grade rubber which used non-Kosher fatty aids, the chemicals used in the non-food grade product were so noxious as to make those products bitter and Nifsal M'Achilas Kelev. As such, none of the equipment on which they were produced could be considered non-Kosher. In addition, fatty acids are never used directly to make synthetic rubber. They are first saponified (turned into soap) with caustic solutions -- the quintessential Davar Pagum. While the soap is eventually neutralized in the final stages and some of the recovered fatty acids remain in the product, these recovered fatty acids were never intended for food use. As such, once they were Nifsal they would not compromise equipment, in addition to the fact that they contain other chemicals which render them bitter. In the final analysis, the gum was Mutar L'Chatchila. The issues raised and the concern for Kashrus demonstrated during the "Bubble Gum Crisis" are eloquent testimony to the Zehirus felt by the Kosher consuming public. So the next time you have a stick of Kosher gum, remember that both hit and the Sheilos involved are really something you can "sink your teeth into." |
This article is presented to you by the OU's Daf Hakashrus Online Project -
Rabbi Yosef Grossman - Editor. As always, you can send your general kosher questions to the OU Vebbe Rebbe
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