Have you ever wondered what makes your gum so chewy?
You might wish you hadn’t.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Expert reveals the disturbing truth about chewing gum.
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An Australian sustainability expert and environmental advocate has shared in a now-viral video the horrific truth about chewing gum.
Lottie Dalziel said, “you’ll never want to chew on gum again, after watching this video”.
And it all comes down to the ingredients.
Lottie explained that “among the many eyebrow-raising ingredients in modern gum like petroleum glycerine, polyethylene and ceric acid, there are plasticises like polymers such as latex and polyvinyl acetate”.
Lottie explained these were basically plastics and added that when you are chewing gum it’s almost as though you are chewing plastic covered in flavours and colours.
“This is what gives gum that sticky, elastic texture that lets you chew on it for hours or even forever,” she explained.
“Each year over 100,000 tons of plastic waste is created from chewing gum alone, which is the equivalent of 374 trillion sticks of chewing gum.”
Lottie warned that given it was harmful to microwave your lunch in plastic containers, it was worth considering how harmful it could be to chew plastic for hours every day and suggested people swap their gum habit for breath mints instead.
Her video received more than 55,000 views, with people in the comments shocked but thankful for the information.
“Oh wow, I had no idea about this! Thank you for sharing, I need to change my ways pronto,” said one.
“Crikey! I chew gum after every meal and coffee etc,” said a second.
“I don’t think I ever want to chew gum again,” said a third.
“Should teach this at schools, am I right?” asked another.