New Jersey may soon make a stick of chewing gum the latest target of state regulation. A proposed bill, the “Protecting Against Microplastics Act,” would eventually ban the sale of chewing gum unless manufacturers can ensure their products contain no microplastics. It is a remarkably ambitious way to turn a trip to the checkout line into a chemistry lesson.
News12NJ framed the proposal this way: “HIDDEN PLASTICS: The gum you chew could soon come with a warning label, or disappear from New Jersey shelves altogether under a proposed crackdown on microplastics. #News12 #NewJersey” That is not exactly the sort of warning consumers expect from a pack of gum, but the bill reportedly covers more than candy.
Fox 5 News reported: “New Jersey lawmakers might soon burst your bubble with a new bill that could ban the sale of chewing gum across the state.” The bill targets potential health risks from intentionally added microplastics in everyday products. The proposed crackdown would also reach cosmetics, cleaning supplies and foodware, making this much broader than a gum-only fight.
The phaseout is set out over three years. During the first year, manufacturers would have to disclose microplastics on exterior labels. In the second year, labels would need to prominently state, “This product contains microplastics” in both English and Spanish. After three years, the proposal would impose a complete sales ban on the covered products. A label today, an empty shelf tomorrow, at least if the measure survives its legal and political battles.
The health argument centers on ingestion. The source article says research indicates that most microplastics in chewing gum are absorbed within the first 10 minutes of chewing. Health experts also note that tea bags and plastic water bottles are common sources of microplastic ingestion. Legal analysts expect candy and gum manufacturers to challenge the legislation as overly broad and overly demanding.
The New Jersey GOP attacked the proposal by pointing to other state problems: “Really? New Jersey has: ❌ The highest property taxes in America ❌ A $3 billion structural deficit ❌ 111,000 residents who left last year Democrats’ solution: ban chewing gum. Fines up to $25,000 a day for selling it. We wish we were making this up.”
Science Direct provided the research cited in the article, explaining: “Chewing gums typically contain plant-based or synthetic plastic polymers to improve their texture and flavor retention.” It also reported, “Analyzing microplastics released into saliva from 5 natural and 5 synthetic chewing gums, we found that each gram of chewing gum could release up to 637 microplastics, and 94 % of microplastics were released within the first 8 min of chewing.” The cited material also said polymer fragments can be released into the environment when gum is discarded improperly or ingested while chewing. It identified polyolefins, polyterephthalates, polyacrylamides and polystyrenes among the polymers found. The study reported similar numbers from synthetic and natural or plant-based gum, so switching varieties may not settle the dispute.
That leaves New Jersey with a proposal mixing public health warnings, bilingual labeling, a sweeping product list and potentially steep penalties. Supporters can argue the state is confronting a modern contamination concern. Critics can argue lawmakers are reaching for an easy visible target while placing another burden on businesses and consumers. Either way, a simple stick of gum has wandered into a much larger fight over regulation, personal choice and how far state government should go.
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