Bubble Yum: the pioneer of soft bubble gum

Before Bubble Yum, bubble gum was hard. You'd chew it for ages before it softened up, and your jaw paid the price. All that changed in 1975 when Life Savers launched Bubble Yum: the first soft bubble gum on the market, supple from the very first bite, ready to blow big bubbles in seconds. A genuine revolution on school playgrounds — so big that sales eventually surpassed those of Life Savers candy itself. Here you'll find the real American versions imported straight from the States.

Where does Bubble Yum come from?

It all started with a homemaker in Fisk, Missouri, who invented a soft gum in her own kitchen and called it "rubber bubblegum." She gave some to her son to share with classmates, and the recipe caused a stir. She eventually sold it to the Life Savers company in St. Louis. In 1975, Bubble Yum officially launched — and it was a revolution. For the first time, bubble gum was soft right out of the wrapper, and consumers loved it.

But success came with a strange side effect. In 1977, a rumor spread across playgrounds: Bubble Yum was only that soft because it contained spider eggs. Sales dropped in New York and Chicago. Life Savers took out a full-page ad in the New York Times to set the record straight. The rumor was completely false, Bubble Yum bounced back, and sales eventually surpassed Life Savers candy. Nabisco bought Life Savers in 1981, and Hershey acquired the Bubble Yum brand in 2000.

What does Bubble Yum taste like?

Soft, sweet and fruity, with a chewy texture that makes big bubbles accessible to everyone. It's the easy-chew gum — the one that doesn't leave your jaw sore.

Bubble Yum flavors to discover

Bubble Yum Original — the classic bubblegum flavor since 1975.
Bubble Yum Strawberry — sweet strawberry.
Bubble Yum Watermelon — fresh, summery watermelon.
Bubble Yum Cotton Candy — the cotton candy flavor.

Frequently asked questions

What's the spider egg story?

In 1977, a completely false rumor spread on school playgrounds claiming Bubble Yum contained spider eggs. Life Savers had to take out a full-page ad in The New York Times to debunk it. The rumor faded; the gum stayed.