In a move that can only be described as ‘lame’, Juicy Fruit chewing gum will be temporarily disappearing from supermarket shelves. 

The Mars Wrigley Confectionery company confirmed with 2GB radio that both Juicy Fruit and PK gum will be undergoing a massive change – with speculation that the gum is going sugar-free. On the surface – very good, thanks for helping our teeth. But scratch the surface and this means that the crunchy shell – AKA the best bit – will disappear from Juicy Fruit and PK chewing gum.

It also means that the original recipe, which we’ve known and loved for 131 years, will be scrapped in order to kick the sugar.

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2GB host Ben Fordham of Ben Fordham Live cited an insider who works at the factory in Asquith, NSW, who claims Mars Wrigley is making both Juicy Fruit and P.K chewing gums sugar free – a rumour that was neither confirmed nor denied by a Mars Wrigley spokesperson in the same segment, “We are currently working on an exciting new development for this range that will be available to Australian consumers from June this year.”

“While we’re working on this development, there may be stock shortages experienced in some areas of the country and we sincerely apologise to consumers for any inconvenience caused,” continued the spokesperson.

We don’t want to sound dramatic, but why change a good thing? Scrapping the original recipe and creating a shortage at the same time? Let us live!

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To put the slight into perspective, we have had Juicy Fruit since before the Wright brothers first took flight, and the invention of the teabag. It’s possible that Albert Einstein was chewing Juicy Fruit when he published the Theory of Relativity in 1905.

The new and “improved” Juicy Fruit is slated to hit shelves in June, 2024. Stay tuned.

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