A gum base comprising: a) a hydrophilic precursor component comprising hydrolysable units； and b) a copolymer of a hydrophilic monomer with a second monomer selected from vinyl acetate, isobutylene, isoprene, butyl rubber or styrene butadiene. This chewing gum base contributes to the ability of the chewing gum compositions and chewing gum products to degrade over time after chewing by imparting the chewing gum with increased hydrophilic properties.
