Testing 80-year-old Topps Gum for National Bubblegum Day

Chewing Gum from 1946

Before it was known as a trading card company, Topps made bubble gum. It was a legacy in itself, with the company establishing a foothold in the gum world by 1946 after supplying literal tons of it to American troops during World War II. Demand followed those soldiers home after the war ended, with chewing gum becoming so popular that a sugar shortage in 1946 created news headlines.

The Burlington Free Press printed an October headline that read, “Shortage of Sugar Creates Gum Shortage,” featuring a quote from the Commerce Department cautioning that, “Until the sugar situation improves, the chewing gum industry faces continued restriction of output.”

Profiling the Fan Tan Gum company in July 1946, The Dayton Herald boasted that once the shortage was over, the Fan Tan plant would be capable of producing over 300,000 sticks of gum per day. “If Americans are known for anything,” the paper said, “it must be chewing gum.”

So, 80 years after a sugar shortage and consumer boom swept the nation, and in honor of National Bubblegum Day, I procured four pieces of Topps gum made in 1946 and set out to chew them. 

And then everyone stopped me. Well, almost everyone. 

The Quest to Chew 80-Year-Old Topps Gum

Dr. Jimmy Occhipinti runs the Rahway Dental group in New Jersey and has been in practice for over 30 years. While he extolled the virtues of the Topps gum having real sugar, he said, flat out, “You should not chew that gum.” Dr. Occhipinti pointed out that the old gum could attach itself to weak cavities or teeth, as well as causing chipping if it turned out to be too hard. 

Another doctor I talked to said not to do it under any circumstances, citing possible bacteria and unknown other elements that may have grown or developed in the gum over the years, as it’s not vacuum sealed, and there are elements inside that could cause illness. “What if some water got into the tub they stored it in?” he asked. Instead of suggesting a GI doctor to talk to next, he pointed me in the direction of an infectious disease specialist. 

Michael Salfino, infamous back-of-card writer for Topps, simply texted me back, “Don’t.”

But then the tide turned, a little. A physician’s assistant from Rochester, NY wasn’t as worried. “It probably won’t taste very good and it probably won’t even be chew-able — it might just disintegrate,” she said. “I don’t think it’ll kill you or make you sick, but it’ll probably taste gross.”

I even sought out the advice of the legendary LA Beast, who has chugged 122-year-old milk, eaten 90-year-old popcorn, and a lot more. “I would eat the gum,” he said. “80 year-old gum is probably healthier for a human than a 1992 Butterfinger candy bar, which tasted like acid chemicals.”

Fake Teeth, Real Topps History

At this point, I found myself at an impasse. The upside of it all was outweighed by thoughts of me in the hospital explaining why I was there. So, I decided not to chew the gum. But I still wanted to see what would happen.

Instead, I ordered two “dental models” with a plan: I’d soak the gum in water for a few minutes and wet the models, then “chew” the gum using the fake teeth like a bizarro puppet and what would might happened to my own teeth. 

And, of course, I recorded it all. Enjoy the video below, and happy 80th birthday to these four packs of gum! if you are grossed out by (fake) mouths, or ancient candy, consider yourself warned.

Topps Chewing Gum FAQs

• When did Topps begin selling chewing gum?
  • The Topps Company was founded in 1938 to manufacture and sell chewing gum, years before the first Topps trading card set was released.
• Do Topps trading cards still come with chewing gum?
  • No, standard Topps packs no longer have gum, though it was still included in mainline releases into the early 1990s.
• When did Topps begin producing trading cards?
  • The first Topps Baseball set was released in 1951, years after the company began producing gum.
• When is National Bubblegum Day?
  • National Bubblegum Day takes place on the first Friday in February every year.
• Is it safe to chew gum from vintage trading card packs?
  • No. Medical professionals strongly advise against chewing gum from old packs or that is past its expiration date, as doing so can cause dental issues or potential bacterial infections.

Key Facts

• National Bubblegum Day: February 6, 2026
• 80-year-old Topps chewing gum from 1946
• Celebrating Topps’ original history as a gum company before the debut Topps Baseball cards in 1951

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