Gummies turned hard & sugary - safe to eat?
Hey all! I've had my gummy vitamins for about 6 months (I know, I know, I stocked up on sale). They've gotten really hard and there's a white sugary coating on them now - they're sticking together too. They still smell okay. Are they safe to eat? I hate to waste them but don't want to risk it.
I've seen that happen with mine when they get old or if they get too warm then cool down. The sugar bloom is just the sugar crystallizing on the surface, like chocolate bloom. But if they're hard, they might have lost moisture. I think they're safe, but they might not taste as good. You could try cutting them up or chewing them more. But I'm no expert.
From a science perspective, the hardening is likely due to moisture loss and the sugar bloom is crystallization of the sugar from the gummy's surface. They are safe to consume as long as they haven't been contaminated or exposed to extreme temperatures. However, the texture change might affect how well they dissolve and absorb. If you're concerned about potency, you could always take more to compensate? Not really recommended though.
I'm a sleep-deprived parent, I'd just eat them. But check the expiration date - if they're past that, I'd toss them. Honestly, I've eaten gummies that were hard and they didn't hurt me. Maybe just soften them by putting the bottle in a warm water bath? But yeah, they're probably fine.