# Chewing gum has taste like insecticide-smell after some chewing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-has-taste-like-insecticide-smell-after-some-chewing/599952>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 17, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-has-taste-like-insecticide-smell-after-some-chewing/599952 "2011-10-17T20:16:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-has-taste-like-insecticide-smell-after-some-chewing/599952/1 "2011-10-17T20:16:40Z")

</div>

Anyone else notice this? I chew sugar-free gum, right now I’m chewing a couple sticks of Extra Spearmint. I noticed, like I know I have before in the past, that there’s a flavor note that reminds me of how insecticide smells. It might be spearmint only.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-has-taste-like-insecticide-smell-after-some-chewing/599952/2 "2011-10-17T20:54:43Z")

</div>

> [@Revtim](#):
>
> Anyone else notice this? I chew sugar-free gum, right now I’m chewing a couple sticks of Extra Spearmint. I noticed, like I know I have before in the past, that there’s a flavor note that reminds me of how insecticide smells. It might be spearmint only.

I may just have extra-finicky taste buds, but I think there are quite a few brands of gum that develop odd, “off” flavors after chewing for a few minutes. Extra Spearmint reminds me of dill pickles. There was another citrus flavor that was fine at first but then started to taste like green peppers. Very odd!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-has-taste-like-insecticide-smell-after-some-chewing/599952/3 "2011-10-17T21:09:17Z")

</div>

That’s why you should stick to Fruit Stripe. Not a hint of flavour after eighteen seconds.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Sirreal72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Sirreal72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sirreal72)\
**Post date:** [October 17, 2011, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/chewing-gum-has-taste-like-insecticide-smell-after-some-chewing/599952/4 "2011-10-17T22:39:57Z")

</div>

Wonder if it has any citronella in it? It’s used as a flavoring agent as well as a natural insect repellent.