Beemans Gum

The History of Beeman's Gum!

Dr. Edward E. Beeman, an Ohio-based physician and researcher, created Beeman's famous chewing gum in the late 19th century by combining pepsin, an enzyme found in hog stomachs, with chewing gum. Because sales were not as strong as he had hoped, he created pepsin gum. (1) Some people say that Nellie Horton, his bookkeeper or local shopkeeper, depending on who you ask, suggested that he create a tasty pepsin chewing gum to boost sales. According to others, she was chewing White's Yucatan gum at the time.

Selling Beeman's Gum Wasn't Easy at First

Sales were poor for Beeman's manufactured gum, which was both tasty and individually wrapped. Beeman, a doctor, not a marketer, created Beeman's Chemical Company. The image of a pig on the package was offensive until Nellie Horton talked him out of it. By 1892, Beeman's bearded and, if I may say so, handsome face was on wrappers, advertisements, and newspapers. Beeman's success came from his good looks and edible ideas. Beeman's company was worth a million dollars at the time of his death.

Beeman's Gum Marketed to help with Stress?

The “American Chicle Company” formed by White in 1899 acquired Beeman’s and marketed “Adam’s Pepsin Gum,” which was said to alleviate nervous stress. Numerous notable people such as pilots, actors, athletes, and so on, were employed by the firm to advertise the advantages of the product. Nellie Horton, who assisted Beeman, was rewarded with stocks.

Modern Science Backs up the Claim That Chewing Gum Reduces Stress

The doc wasn't wrong! According to a study long-term chewing gum has been shown to reduce naturally occurring stress levels. With regard to heart rate and cortisol levels, research on chewing gum might provide further insight into whether such effects are visible at a physiological level. (4)

Sources:

1. “Dr. E.E. Beeman Dead Chewing: Chewing Gum King Gave Up Medicine to Become a Manufacturer,” New York Times, November 7, 1906. http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9E06EFD9173EE733A25754C0A9679D946797D6CF (accessed July 19, 2022)

2. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, “Beeman, Edwin E,” http://ech.case.edu/cgi/article.pl?id=BEE (accessed July 19, 2022)

3. Encyclopedia of Cleveland History, “Beeman, Edwin E,”

4. Allen AP, Smith A. Chewing gum: cognitive performance, mood, well-being and associated physiology. Biomed Res Int.