Canadian company introduces vitamin-infused gum
Sink your teeth into this.
A Hamilton, Ont.-based company is now selling a line of vitamin-infused chewing gum that promises fast, effective absorption of nutrients into the body.
VitaminGum contains 12 vitamins, including A, C, D, E, B-complex and Folic acid, and is free of sugar and aspartame.
"Chewing gum is a great delivery vehicle for nutritional ingredients as it allows for faster absorption into the blood stream via the mucous lining in the mouth – scientifically proven!" boasts the company website.
Company owner Brendan Koyer tells CTV the gum is for people who want a nutrition boost throughout their day -- but it's a far cry from a nutritional supplement.
While VitaminGum boasts 10 per cent of your recommended daily intake (RDI) for each vitamin listed on the pack, that percentage is for two pieces of gum, making the product a far cry from a nutritional supplement.
The gum, which was approved by Health Canada last October, is currently available in peppermint, spearmint and cinnamon flavours, and the company says they plan to expand their flavours in the future.
The Canadian business isn't the first to tap into the vitamin gum market -- Trident and Stride began selling their vitamin-infused gum in 2011.
Dietitian Chris Callaghan warns against relying on nutritional supplements -- be it in pill or gum form -- for achieving proper health. She tells CTV that the best way to access a broad spectrum of nutrients is through eating a balanced diet.