Campaigners are raising alarms over the presence of microplastics in chewing gum, urging Parliament to introduce stricter regulations to protect public health. On October 27, MPs Wera Hobhouse (Lib Dem, Bath) and Roz Savage (Lib Dem, South Cotswolds) joined young activists from the Kids Against Plastic group in a powerful demonstration outside Parliament.
The activists highlighted emerging research revealing that a single piece of plastic-based chewing gum can release more than 250,000 microplastic particles into the body within just one hour of chewing. This alarming discovery has prompted calls for government intervention to address what campaigners describe as a “hidden health hazard.”
To strengthen their cause, 45 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion introduced by Mrs. Hobhouse, demanding clearer plastic labelling on chewing gum packaging and greater accountability from manufacturers. Fifteen-year-old campaigner Inaaya Ijaz appealed directly to the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs: “Protect our health. Protect our planet. Put an end to billions of pieces of chewy plastic.”
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Amy Meek, co-founder of Kids Against Plastic, expressed concern over the health impacts, stating, “It’s pretty scary… we want to raise awareness of the microplastic exposure that can come just from chewing gum.”
Mrs. Hobhouse emphasized the urgency, noting that many gum chewers are young people, many under 25, who may unknowingly ingest harmful microplastics. She called for transparency, better labelling, and stronger regulation to empower consumers to make informed choices.
Highlighting possible measures, Ms. Savage proposed introducing health warnings on gum packaging similar to cigarette labels, implementing taxes on plastic-containing gum to fund environmental cleanup, and banning marketing to younger consumers. “Young bodies can’t process these toxins effectively, and starting young leads to dangerous chemical buildup over time,” she warned.
This campaign is part of the broader “Poisoned by Plastic” initiative, led by Kids Against Plastic and Nuud, seeking to expose plastic contamination in everyday products and advocate for public health and environmental safety.