Gummi bear
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2008-07-16T22:17:13Z
Reywas92
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/* History */ rephrase with Han Riegel
{{Otheruses|Gummy (disambiguation)}}
[[Image:Gummy bears.jpg|thumb|[[HARIBO]]'s ''Gold-bears'' were first introduced in the 1950s in [[Germany]].]]
A '''Gummi bear''' (sometimes spelled '''gummy bear''') is a small, rubbery-textured [[confectionery]], roughly two centimeters long, shaped in the form of a [[bear]].
==Variations==
[[Image:gummy menagerie.jpg|thumb|There are many types of gummies]]
The success of Gummi Bears has spawned many gummi animals and objects: [[worm]]s, [[frog]]s, [[hamburger]]s, [[cherry|cherries]], [[cola]] bottles, [[shark]]s, [[hippopotamus|hippos]], [[lobster]]s, [[octopus]]es, [[apple]]s, [[peach]]es, [[orange]]s, and even [[Ampelmännchen]] and [[The Smurfs|Smurfs]].
==History==
The Gummi Bear originates from [[Germany]] where it is hugely popular under the name {{Audio|De-Gummibär.ogg|''Gummibär''}} ([[rubber]] [[bear]]) or {{Audio|De-Gummibärchen.ogg|''Gummibärchen''}} (little rubber bear). Hans Riegel of [[Bonn]] invented bear-shaped sweets and started the [[Haribo]] company in 1922, which first produced and introduced its Gold-Bear product in the 1960s. [[Trolli]] is another well-known gummi [[candy]] manufacturer and was the first to introduce gummi worms in 1981.
==Ingredients==
[[Image:Gummibärchen.jpg|right|thumb|German ''Gummibärchen'']]
The traditional Gummi Bear is made from [[sugar]], [[glucose syrup]], [[starch]], flavouring, food coloring, [[citric acid]], and [[gelatin]]. There are also some types of Gummi Bears made with [[pectin]] or [[starch]] instead of [[gelatin]], making them suitable for [[vegan]]s.
Gummi bears made with either [[bovine]] or [[porcine]] [[gelatine]] are not suitable for [[vegetarians]] and do not conform to [[kashrut]] or [[halal]] dietary laws. Those made with bovine gelatine are not suitable for [[Hinduism|Hindus]].
Large [[sour]] [[bear]]s are larger and flatter than Gummi Bears, have a softer texture, and include [[fumaric acid]] or other acid ingredients to produce a sour flavor. Some manufacturers produce sour bears with a different texture, based on [[starch]] instead of gelatin. Typically, starch produces a shorter (cleaner bite, less chewy) texture than gelatin.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
==Health issues==
[[Image:Kosher gummi bears.jpg|thumb|left|[[Vending machine]] for [[kosher]] gummi bears at the cafeteria of the [[Jewish Museum Berlin]].]]
Gummi bears ordinarily contain mostly [[empty calories]], but recently gummi bears containing [[vitamin C]], produced by manufacturers such as Bear Essentials,<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20060328212708/www.rainbowlight.com/product.aspx?id=CT9121a&mid=1261]</ref> are being marketed to parents of young [[child]]ren. [[Multivitamin]]s have also been produced in the form of gummi bears to motivate consumption by young, picky eaters.
Gummi bears, and other gummi candy, stick to [[tooth|teeth]] and may cause tooth [[decomposition|decay]].<ref>[http://dentalplans.lifetips.com/tip/100894/family-dental/family-dental-plan-tips/tooth-decay-in-minors.html Family Dental, Family Dental Plan, Family Dental Insurance<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However, gummi bears containing the [[dental caries|cavity]]-fighting additive [[xylitol]] (wood sugar) are now being tested.<ref>[http://www.komotv.com/news/story.asp?ID=39096 Want To Fight Cavities? Eat Gummi Bears! | KOMO-TV - Seattle, Washington | News Archive<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
There has been some concern that gelatin, a key ingredient in most gummi bears, may harbor [[prions]]. Prions are misshapen [[protein]]s that cause [[Bovine spongiform encephalopathy|BSE / Mad Cow Disease]] in cattle and [[Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease|CJD]] in [[human]]s.<ref>[http://www.mad-cow.org/~tom/gel_Roland.html Gelatin production and Prion Theory<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Based on studies, the United States FDA and various other national organizations and countries consider the risk of BSE transmission through gelatin to be minuscule as long as precautions are followed during the manufacturing process.<ref>[http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/vol7no1/pdfs/brown.pdf USDA Report]</ref><ref>[http://www.who.int/bloodproducts/publications/en/WHO_TSE_2003.pdf World Health Organization]</ref><ref>[http://www.fda.gov/opacom/morechoices/industry/guidance/gelguide.htm FDA]</ref><ref>[http://www.health.gov.au Australian Government DHA]</ref><ref>[http://www.afic.org/Short%20Briefing%20on%20BSE.htm Asian Food Information center]</ref>
==Flavours==
In the United States, [[Haribo]] gummi bears usually come in [[raspberry]] (red), [[orange]], [[strawberry]] (green), [[pineapple]] (clear), and [[lemon]] (yellow), however, many offshoot companies (typically the [[vegan]] or health-related gummi bears) may use more exotic flavors and colors.
==See also==
* [[Gelatine]]
* "[[I Am Your Gummy Bear]]"
* [[Jelly baby]]
* [[Disney's Adventures of the Gummi Bears]]
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
==External links==
{{commonscat|Gummy bears}}
*[http://www.haribo.com/planet/sprachauswahl.html Official website of Haribo] - original manufacturer
*[http://www.farleysandsathers.com/Products_Trolli.htm Official website of Trolli] - prominent knockoff manufacturer; now owned by Farley's and Sathers Candy Co.
*[http://www.candyusa.org/Candy/gummicandy.asp The History of Gummi Bears and Gummi Candy]
[[Category:Confectionery]]
[[ar:دب مطاطي]]
[[cs:Gumový medvídek]]
[[de:Gummibär]]
[[fr:Ours d'Or]]
[[he:גומונים]]
[[la:Ursa cumminea]]
[[lb:Gummibier]]
[[hu:Gumimaci]]
[[ja:グミ]]