OLIGUM: Chewing gum with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

OLIGUM: The First Chewing Gum with Extra Virgin Olive Oil

In a significant milestone for the olive oil industry and functional product innovation, OLIGUM, a revolutionary functional chewing gum with anti-aging properties and enriched with microencapsulated extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), has been awarded the coveted Beyond Olive Oil Award by the Olive Oil World Congress (OOWC). This international recognition celebrates pioneering applications that extend the value and versatility of EVOO beyond its traditional culinary use, opening new frontiers for this ancient ingredient.

The development of OLIGUM is the fruit of the vision and rigorous research of Mónica Di María, a distinguished PhD researcher at the prestigious University of Palermo, Italy. Her disruptive proposal not only redefines the concept of functional products but also ventures into the promising field of edible cosmetics. Under the evocative slogan Chew Your Beauty, OLIGUM introduces a unique category of chewable products that promote comprehensive well-being. This innovative product is the result of a meticulous fusion of cutting-edge food science, rich Mediterranean tradition, and an unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.

The Engineering Behind the Efficacy: Polyphenol Microencapsulation

The true essence and efficacy of OLIGUM lies in its sophisticated polyphenol microencapsulation system. These compounds, known for their potent antioxidant properties and abundantly present in high-quality EVOO, are encapsulated so that their release occurs in a controlled and gradual manner during the chewing process. This advanced technological strategy not only optimizes the bioavailability and absorption of polyphenols in the body, but also significantly enhances their recognized anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects.

In this way, a product as common and accessible as chewing gum is transformed into an innovative and convenient functional delivery system for these valuable bioactive ingredients. Microencapsulation protects polyphenols from degradation, ensuring their stability and efficacy from production to consumption, representing a crucial advance in the formulation of functional foods.

A natural, healthy, and environmentally friendly composition

OLIGUM’s formulation goes beyond the mere incorporation of EVOO; It is enriched with a careful selection of natural ingredients, each providing additional and synergistic benefits:

• Sicilian lemon, mint, and rosemary: These natural extracts not only give OLIGUM a refreshing and pleasant sensory profile, but also provide recognized digestive properties, contributing to overall gastrointestinal well-being.
• Honey and plant fibers: Instead of artificial sweeteners, OLIGUM uses honey and plant fibers. These components act as natural sweeteners, providing a subtle sweetness and a pleasant texture, while also adding functional value to the product, such as providing dietary fiber.
• Chicza Gum: A key distinctive feature of OLIGUM is its Chicza gum base, a 100% biodegradable, plant-based ingredient directly extracted from the Mayan jungle. This choice underscores the product’s deep commitment to ecological sustainability and reducing environmental impact, marking a significant difference from conventional chewing gums that use plastic bases.

The commitment to sustainability also extends to the packaging design. OLIGUM is presented in a lightweight, reusable aluminum container. This material is not only eco-friendly but has also been selected for its superior ability to preserve the freshness and stability of the gum’s active compounds, protecting them from light and air, which is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the polyphenols.

EVOO Beyond the Kitchen

The “Beyond Olive Oil” competition, conceived as one of the pre-event activities for the highly anticipated OOWC 2026 to be held in Lisbon, has the fundamental purpose of catalyzing and fostering the development of products that expand the immense value of EVOO to new fields such as health, cosmetics, and technology. In this edition, proposals were received from various nations, but OLIGUM emerged as the clear winner, standing out for its solid commercial viability, undeniable technological innovation, and considerable potential to generate a positive impact on public health.

Ricardo Migueláñez, General Coordinator of the OOWC, wrote:or the spirit of this initiative by stating that OLIGUM embodies the spirit of this competition. It is a clear example of how an ancient ingredient, rooted in our history and culture, can acquire new meanings and applications in everyday life, presented in a modern, healthy, and eco-friendly format.

The jury panel, composed of experts from various disciplines, emphatically highlighted OLIGUM’s ability to transform a product as common and rooted in daily life as chewing gum, into an effective tool for promoting healthy habits. Additionally, they emphasized its significantly lower environmental impact compared to conventional chewing gum, which is manufactured using non-biodegradable plastic bases, making OLIGUM an option not only beneficial for the consumer, but also for the planet.

This recognition not only validates the research behind OLIGUM, but also opens the door to a new generation of EVOO-derived products that promise to merge tradition, science, and environmental responsibility.