Certs is a breath mint (or, according to some, a
candyCandy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
mint) manufactured by the Cadbury-Adams Division of the Cadbury-Schweppes Corporation.
Long one of America’s most popular mints, Certs was the first breath mint to be nationally marketed in the United States, and has been a fixture at American drug stores and
convenience storeA convenience store is a small store or shop that sells items such as candy, ice-cream, soft drinks, lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines, along with a selection of processed food and perhaps some groceries. Stores that are part of gas stations may also sell motor oil, windshield washer fluid,...
s since its debut on the market in 1956.
Though classified as mints, Certs contain no mint oil.
| Certs |
 |
| Formal name |
Certs Classic Mints |
| Classification |
Breath mint |
| Description |
Breath mint |
| Form |
Modified disc |
| Volume |
1.3 cm³ (approx.) |
| Mass |
1.7g (approx.) |
| Density |
1.3g/cm³ (approx.) |
| Ingredients |
SugarSugar is a class of edible crystalline substances, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose. Human taste buds interpret its flavor as sweet. Sugar as a basic food carbohydrate primarily comes from sugar cane and from sugar beet, but also appears in fruit, honey, sorghum, sugar maple , and in many...
, corn syrupCorn syrup is a syrup, made using cornstarch as a feedstock, and composed mainly of glucose. A series of two enzymatic reactions are used to convert the cornstarch to corn syrup...
, partially hydrogenated cottonseed oilCottonseed oil is a cooking oil extracted from the seeds of cotton plant of various species, mainly Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium herbaceum...
†, flavor (with soy lecithinLecithin is any of a group of yellow-brownish fatty substances occurring in animal and plant tissues, and in egg yolk, composed of phosphoric acid, choline, fatty acids, glycerol, glycolipids, triglycerides, and phospholipids...
)†, magnesium stearateMagnesium stearate, also called octadecanoic acid, magnesium salt, is a white substance which is solid at room temperature. It has the chemical formula Mg2. It is a salt containing two equivalents of stearate and one magnesium cation...
, copper gluconateCopper gluconate is the copper salt of D-gluconic acid.- Uses :*Dietary supplement -- metabolizable copper to treat copper deficiency.*Used to treat acne vulgaris, common cold, hypertension, premature labor, Leishmaniasis, visceral postoperative complications.*Ingredient of Retsyn.- Side effects...
†, colorFood coloring is any substance that is added to food or drink to change its color. Food coloring is used both in commercial food production and in domestic cooking...
. († = ingredient of RetsynRetsyn is a trademarked name for a combination of copper gluconate and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, held by Cadbury Adams . It is an ingredient in Certs, Certs Cool Mint Drops, and Certs Power Mints....
) |
| Nutrition Information |
Per mint: Calories 5, FatFats consist of a wide group of compounds that are generally soluble in organic solvents and largely insoluble in water. Chemically, fats are generally triesters of glycerol and fatty acids. Fats may be either solid or liquid at normal room temperature, depending on their structure and composition...
0g, SodiumSodium is a metallic element with a symbol Na and atomic number 11. It is a soft, silvery-white, highly reactive metal and is a member of the alkali metals within "group 1"...
0g, Carbohydrates 2g, Sugars 2g, ProteinProteins are organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain and folded into a globular form. The amino acids in a polymer chain are joined together by the peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of adjacent amino acid residues...
0g. |
| Active Ingredients |
None |
| Flavors |
CinnamonCinnamon is a small evergreen tree belonging to the family Lauraceae, native to Sri Lanka, or the spice obtained from the tree's bark...
, Mixed Fruit, PeppermintPeppermint is a hybrid mint, a cross between the watermint and spearmint . The plant, indigenous to Europe, is now widespread in cultivation throughout all regions of the world...
, SpearmintMentha spicata is a species of mint native to much of Europe and southwest Asia, though its exact natural range is uncertain due to extensive early cultivation. It grows in wet soils...
, WintergreenWintergreen is a group of plants. Wintergreen once commonly referred to plants that continue photosynthesis throughout the winter...
|
| Sugar Free? |
No |
| Manufacturer |
Cadbury-Schweppes |
| Year introduced |
1956 |
| Slogans / Taglines |
The Right Amount Of Mint |
| Related products |
Certs Cool Mint Drops, Certs Powerful Mints |
| Hazards |
food coloring |
is a breath mint (or, according to some, a
candyCandy, specifically sugar candy, is a confection made from a concentrated solution of sugar in water, to which flavorings and colorants are added...
mint) manufactured by the Cadbury-Adams Division of the Cadbury-Schweppes Corporation.
Long one of America’s most popular mints, Certs was the first breath mint to be nationally marketed in the United States, and has been a fixture at American drug stores and
convenience storeA convenience store is a small store or shop that sells items such as candy, ice-cream, soft drinks, lottery tickets, newspapers and magazines, along with a selection of processed food and perhaps some groceries. Stores that are part of gas stations may also sell motor oil, windshield washer fluid,...
s since its debut on the market in 1956.
Description
Though classified as mints, Certs contain no mint oil. Instead, as has long been advertised, the mints contain
RetsynRetsyn is a trademarked name for a combination of copper gluconate and partially hydrogenated cottonseed oil, held by Cadbury Adams . It is an ingredient in Certs, Certs Cool Mint Drops, and Certs Power Mints....
, a mixture of
copper gluconateCopper gluconate is the copper salt of D-gluconic acid.- Uses :*Dietary supplement -- metabolizable copper to treat copper deficiency.*Used to treat acne vulgaris, common cold, hypertension, premature labor, Leishmaniasis, visceral postoperative complications.*Ingredient of Retsyn.- Side effects...
,
hydrogenated cottonseed oilCottonseed oil is a cooking oil extracted from the seeds of cotton plant of various species, mainly Gossypium hirsutum and Gossypium herbaceum...
, and flavoring. It is the copper gluconate in Retsyn which gives Certs its signature green flecks.
Not a true disk, a Certs exhibits a pronounced bulge emerging from the edge, subsiding to form a depression at the center. Certs were not always this shape. Prior to the current form, they were more regular discs with beveled edges. Each Certs is counterembossed on one side with the legend "CERTS RETSYN" in letters about 3 mm tall, approximately midway between center and edge, each letter oriented away from the center.
Certs are packaged in rolls of 12.
Nomenclature
Unlike Tic Tacs and
MentosMentos is a brand of mints, of the "scotch mint" type, sold in many markets across the world by the Perfetti Van Melle corporation. Mentos was first produced in the Netherlands during the 1950s. The mints are small oblate spheroids, with a slightly hard exterior and a soft, chewy interior...
, Certs, in standard American usage, takes the plural form for both plural and singular references. (e.g.: "Would you like
some Certs?" and "Would you like
a Certs?" both represent the most common use.)
Variations
Cadbury-Adams also manufactures
Certs Powerful Mints, available in peppermint and spearmint. Certs Powerful Mints are small, Tic-Tac-like mints. They are described by the manufacturer as a "breath-freshening mint" rather than simply a "breath mint," the description used for standard Certs.
Cadbury-Adams also offers
Certs Cool Mint Drops, described as a "breath drop." These medium sized oval-shaped mints are available in flavors named Cinnamint, Freshmint, and Peppermint. Certs Cool Mint Drops are packaged in slide top paper boxes and feature a liquid center which is claimed to be "intensely flavorful."
Certs advertising
In the 1960s and 1970s, Certs was heavily advertised on American television with a famous campaign featuring two attractive young people earnestly arguing over the proper classification of the mints. One participant would assert that "It’s a breath mint!" while the other would assay a rebuttal by stating that "It’s a candy mint!" This
taxonomicTaxonomy is the practice and science of classification. The word finds its roots in the Greek , taxis and , nomos...
dilemma would finally be cleared up by the unseen announcer, who would achieve synthesis by explaining that Certs is "Two, two, two mints in one!"
Widely held to be one of the most inane advertising campaigns of all time, the ads were commonly referenced in American pop culture. The tagline "It’s a BREATH MINT, BITCH!" satirized, by taking to ridiculous lengths, the intensity of the debate – seen as more than slightly absurd in light of the apparent unimportance of the issue in question.
Saturday Night LiveSaturday Night Live is a weekly late-night sketch comedy and variety show filmed in New York City. It made its debut on October 11, 1975, under a slightly different title. The show features a regular cast of comedy actors, joined by a guest host and musical act...
lampooned the ads with a fictitious product called "Shimmer" ("It’s a floor wax! It’s a dessert topping! It’s two, two, two products in one!'), and indeed the phrase "Two, two, two [
insert almost any word here] in one" remains an American idiomatic expression into the 21st Century.
The debate over whether Certs is in fact a breath mint or a candy mint
may finally be over. In 1999, the
United States Customs ServiceUntil March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties....
classified Certs as a candy mint for
tariffA tariff is a duty imposed on goods when they are moved across a political boundary.-History:...
purposes (candy is taxed differently from
oral hygieneTeeth cleaning is the removal of dental plaque from teeth, to prevent cavities , gingivitis, and periodontitis. It is part of a complete program of oral hygiene.-Brushing:...
products). In the ensuing suit before the
United States Court of International TradeThe United States Court of International Trade is an Article III court, with full powers in law and equity. The Customs Court Act of 1980 replaced the old United States Customs Court with the United States Court of International Trade. The Court has nine Judges, of whom no more than five can be of...
, Cadbury introduced expert testimony that Certs stimulate the flow of saliva, thus flushing bad odors from the mouth, and that its flavors and oils mask bad breath. But the court ruled that, since Certs do not contain antibacterial ingredients, they are, indeed, just a candy mint. On appeal, however, the ruling was overturned, fixing Certs’s status, at least as far as the United States Government is concerned, as a breath mint.