Discover effective methods on how to fix sticky gummies and prevent them from sticking together with our expert tips.
When gummies begin to stick together, it is often a sign that moisture balance, surface treatment, or storage conditions are not fully optimized. This challenge can appear in both standard confectionery products and fortified formats such as gummy vitamins.By understanding how ingredients and processing conditions influence surface behavior, manufacturers can maintain clean, free-flowing gummies with reliable handling characteristics.
Stickiness generally develops overtime when water migrates to the outerior of the gummy. Water activity plays a central role: if it remains too high not all the water is binded well and can results in wet surface after weeks or months in the packaging making the pieces more prone to clumping.
Inconsistent drying, especially in starch moulding environments, can influence the water balance and thereby a difference in quality across a batch. Less water in the final gummy often slows down the process of becoming sticky thereby choosing the right conditioning time before packaging is the an important factor.
Ingredient choices influence stickiness as well. Reducing sugars, acids, and some pectin systems may increase tack if not balanced correctly. In gummy vitamins, added nutrients can interact with water activity, requiring even more precise formulation control. For deeper technical background, refer to internal guides on water activity management and drying optimization for gummy production. Read our blog about ‘How to dry gummies?’
Proper Storage Techniques
Even well-formulated gummies can become sticky if storage conditions drift outside the ideal range. Temperature and relative humidity should remain stable. When the relative humidity remaind below 50% the gummies will not obtain moisture from the air. If the relative humidity in the environment is higher the gummies can obtain moisture from the air and thereby become stikcy. Summer and winter time can thereby influence the stability of the gummy because the factory and warehouse conditions can fluctuate with the weather conditions outside. This is particularly relevant during transport or warehouse holding, where micro-climates can form.
Packaging also contributes significantly to long-term stability. Moisture-barrier films, appropriate headspace conditions, and correct filling temperatures all help preserve the gummy’s texture throughout shelf life.
Using Coatings to Prevent Stickiness
Surface coatings form a protective layer that reduces tack and enhances flowability. Oil wax coatings are commonly used for standard gummies, offering a thin barrier that prevents direct contact between pieces. How the coating, also called glazing agent, is applied plays a crucial rol. For good dividing of the wax the residence time and mechanical shear force from gummies rotating are critical. The type of coating differce per gummy type, more or less wax, soft or harder waxes. The other coating option is a sugar sanding layer. The acid-sugar coating often gives stickiness and wet appearance issues over shelf life because acid is know to be hygroscopic. Want to know more about finishing, read our blog Perfecting the Sweet Finish: Sugar Coating Solutions
The specialists at the Tanis Innovation Center can support you with formulation, process, and equipment expertise. Explore our related technical blogs or contact us directly for tailored recommendations.
