Allergy to Polo and Tic Tacs.....ingredient?

[chinadoll]

I have noticed that when I take a few of these sweets that I end up having almost diarohea (sp?) like movements... later in the day..!!!! anyone else?

[jay139]

this is because of the sweetner used in sugar free mints, probably the same sweetner in both, you usually have to eat a lot of them for the laxative effect to kick in if you look at the wrapper on sugar free polos it warns may have a laxative effect if eaten in large amounts

[jason1980]

yes I know someone it happened to - its the ingredient called Sorbitol I think is responsible for that.

[Ethel]

Sorbitol is the culprit - an artificial sweetener used in many foodstuffs - from ice cream to curries.

If you are sensitve to it you really should check the ingredients and avoid it.

[nickmo]

And try crushing Polos in a dark room and be amazed at the results.......scary!

Tic Tacs are rice flour so you may just have an allergic reaction to that, but the nasty sugar stuff is most likely.

[josaphine32]

sorry i have to ask as i dont buy polos what happens to them when you crush them in a dark room?

[Drisgirl]

If its spearmint then its common they cause diarrhoea.

[nickmo]

Hi josephine32 - It gives the game away and half the fun, but when Polos are crushed in a darkened room, triboluminescence can be seen.

[{Dakota}]

I'm gonna buy polos tonight to crush them! Does the room have to be pitch black??

[nickmo]

Hi dakota!

The darker the better to see the results. You don't need to wear an anorak for this by the way, and they won't light up the sky, but the effect is weird - the chemistry behind is apparently due to the crystals in sugar reacting to being rubbed together by the action of crushing. And its not a case of breaking a Polo and then standing back, but the result you see while breaking them - should be a blue light visible.

'The sweet tends to crack or break along planes that are oppositely charged. When these positive and negative charges try to get back together, these charges �jump� across the rift, like tiny lightning bolts.' quote about the reaction.

And triboluminescence is the result of light produced by friction - sparks in other words, like striking a match, etc. Don't know why they don't just say that, but a big word is darn impressive to drop into the conversation.

Happy cracking!

[miggymoo]

I think we will all be buying a pack of Polo's on the way home!! lol

[msemma]

Sounds like Sorbitol, I know somoeonw who's really intolerant to it. it's in a lot of things, even weight watchers beans, as if beans weern't going to get things moving anyway!