Certs facts for kids
| Certs | |
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| Formal name | Certs Classic Mints |
| Classification | Breath mint / Candy mint |
| Description | Breath mint / Candy mint |
| Form | Modified disc |
| Volume | 1.3 cm³ (approx.) |
| Mass | 1.7g (approx.) |
| Density | 1.3g/cm³ (approx.) |
| Ingredients | Sugar, corn syrup, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil†, flavor (with soy lecithin)†, magnesium stearate, copper gluconate†, color. († = ingredient of Retsyn) |
| Nutrition Information | Per mint: Calories 5, Fat 0g, Sodium 0g, Carbohydrates 2g, Sugars 2g, Protein 0g. |
| Active Ingredients | None |
| Flavors | Cinnamon, Mixed Fruit, Peppermint, Spearmint, Wintergreen |
| Sugar Free? | No |
| Manufacturer | Cadbury-Schweppes |
| Year introduced | 1956 |
| Slogans / Taglines | The Right Amount Of Mint |
| Related products | Certs Cool Mint Drops, Certs Powerful Mints |
| Hazards | food coloring |
Certs was a very popular breath mint in America for many years. It was the first breath mint to be sold all across the United States. You could find Certs in drug stores and convenience stores starting in 1956. However, Certs was stopped being made in 2018. This was likely because it contained an ingredient called partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, which is no longer allowed in food sold in the USA.
What Are Certs Mints?
Certs are known as mints, but they don't actually have oils from real mint plants. Instead, they contain something special called "Retsyn." This is a secret mix of copper gluconate, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, and flavoring. The copper gluconate is what gives Certs their famous little green specks.
Certs mints are not perfectly flat discs. They have a slight bump on the edge that goes down to a dip in the middle. Long ago, they used to be more like regular discs with slanted edges. Each Certs mint has "CERTS RETSYN" written on one side.
Different Kinds of Certs
Over the years, there were a few different types of Certs mints:
- Certs Powerful Mints: These were smaller mints, a bit like Tic Tacs. They came in peppermint, spearmint, and wintergreen flavors. The company called them "breath-freshening mints" to show they were extra strong.
- Certs Cool Mint Drops: These were oval-shaped mints. They had a liquid center that was said to be "intensely flavorful." You could find them in flavors like Cinnamint, Freshmint, and Peppermint.
In 2014, the company that made Certs stopped making the Classic Fruit flavor in Canada. Some fans even started a Facebook page to try and bring it back!
Certs in Advertisements
In the 1960s and 1970s, Certs had very famous TV commercials in America. These ads showed two young people arguing about what Certs really was. One would say, "It’s a breath mint!" and the other would argue, "It’s a candy mint!"
Then, a voice would come on and solve the problem by saying that Certs was "Two, two, two mints in one!" This phrase became very popular in America. Even the TV show Saturday Night Live made fun of these ads with a fake product called "Shimmer." In that skit, characters argued if it was a "floor wax" or a "dessert topping," and the announcer said it was "a floor wax and a dessert topping!"
Certs and the Law
In 1999, the United States Customs Service had to decide if Certs was a candy mint or a breath mint for tariff (tax) reasons. Candy and oral hygiene products were taxed differently.
The company that made Certs argued that the mints helped make more saliva, which washes away bad smells. They also said the flavors helped cover up bad breath. However, a court first decided that Certs was just a candy mint because it didn't have ingredients that kill germs. Later, a higher court disagreed and ruled that Certs was, in fact, a breath mint.
