New Jersey lawmakers are pushing a bill that could eventually ban chewing gum.
Chewing gum could become harder to find in New Jersey should a proposed bill targeting products containing microplastics pass.
The legislation aims to reduce exposure to these tiny plastic particles, which can enter the body through everyday activities and are found in a variety of products.
Known as the Protecting Against Microplastics Act, the bill was introduced in September by Democratic state Assemblywomen Shama Haider and Margie Donlon.
Why Is New Jersey Considering a Chewing Gum Ban?
The legislation would require manufacturers to disclose the presence of microplastics in certain products, including chewing gum, cosmetics, cleaning products, tea bags, and pet food.
It defines microplastics as synthetic plastic particles no larger than five millimeters. Importantly, some chewing gum contains synthetic polymers in its base, and research suggests that chewing can release microplastics into saliva.
The proposed legislation would introduce new labeling requirements before eventually prohibiting the sale of targeted products containing microplastics or materials that could generate them.
Under the bill's proposed timeline, manufacturers would have three years after the law takes effect to comply fully. The first year would require companies to disclose microplastics on product labels, followed by more prominent warnings in English and Spanish during the second year. By the third year, affected products could no longer be sold in the state.
What Does Science Say About Microplastics?
Although concerns about microplastics have grown, their potential effects on human health remain an area of ongoing research.
Current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that the levels of microplastics and nanoplastics detected in food pose a risk to human health, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
For now, the legislation remains under consideration by the New Jersey Legislature. It would need approval from both chambers of the state legislature before being sent to the governor to become law. If approved, the bill would allocate $3 million toward research, pollution reduction, environmental testing, and enforcement.