Beemans gum facts for kids
Beemans gum is a type of chewing gum that has been around for a long time! It was created by a doctor named Edward E. Beeman from Ohio. He first sold it in February 1890. Originally, the gum had a special ingredient called pepsin. This ingredient was thought to help with digestion. However, today's Beemans gum does not contain pepsin anymore.
Beemans gum became very popular with early pilots. They often saw it as a good luck charm before flying. For example, the famous pilot Chuck Yeager reportedly chewed Beemans gum before every flight he took.
The History of Beemans Gum
Beeman first claimed his gum contained pepsin powder. He said this ingredient would help people digest their food better. In 1898, the product became part of a company called the American Chicle Company. Later, in 1962, Warner-Lambert bought American Chicle. Beemans gum continued to be made.
However, sales of Beemans gum slowed down. Because of this, production stopped in 1978. But in 1985, the gum was brought back! This was part of a campaign to bring back old, popular items. The new Beemans gum was sold as a regular chewing gum. It no longer made any medical claims. It was sold alongside other classic gums like Clove and Black Jack.
The first wrapper for Beemans gum had a pig logo. Later, this was changed to a logo with Dr. Beeman's name in a fancy style and his picture. The modern wrapper is white and red with black and white letters.
For a while, Cadbury Adams made Beemans gum now and then. They sold it as a "nostalgia gum" along with Clove and Black Jack. In 2015, the company announced they would stop making these popular gums. But because many people still wanted them, all three brands were brought back again.
In 2019, a company called Gerrit J. Verburg, which imports a lot of candy, bought the special rights to Beemans gum. They started making it again. The gum is now made in Morocco, not in the United States. The packaging looks very much like the original, and the recipe is similar too. Gerrit J. Verburg Co. sells the gum in the United States from time to time.
Why Pilots Thought Beemans Gum Was Lucky
Pilots often believed Beemans gum was "lucky." This idea might have come from the gum's original claim. The company used to say the gum could help prevent seasickness. Pilots might have thought it could also help with airsickness during flights.
Chewing any type of gum can actually help your ears. It helps to equalize the pressure in your ears. This can be helpful when you are flying or going up and down in an airplane.
Today's Beemans gum does not contain pepsin anymore. It also doesn't have chicle, which was an early type of gum base. Instead, it's made with a modern recipe. This includes a sweetened and flavored synthetic gum base. The original medical claims, like "cures indigestion and sea-sickness," were never proven. Today, food and drug rules from the 1930s would not allow such claims.
Old Advertisements
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Beeman's Pepsin Gum - Advertisement - 1897
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An old Beeman's ad from the late 1800s.
