New Jersey bill threatens to ban chewing gum

New Jersey is putting chewing gum on the chopping block. A new bill introduced last month in the New Jersey General Assembly proposes clear labels for products with intentionally added microplastics, including chewing gum, plastic silverware and cleaning products. I think it's good for the environment. After three years, it ramps up banning the sale of those items across the state. I'd have to chew a lot less gum. I do think it's a little bit of like government overreach. But at the end of the day, I agree. I think it's probably good to raise awareness of whatever it is and the things we're putting in our mouths and digesting. If you want to do something for the environment, there's many, many things you could do. This is not one of them. So come up with something better. It's all in an effort to crack down on the consumption of microplastics. Because we have found that the majority of microplastics from chewing gum are absorbed in the first 10 minutes of chewing that gum. Registered dietician Rachel Lustgarten says there's still a lot of research to be done in this area, but supports increased transparency through labeling. Increased awareness of microplastics in some of the foods that we eat. And it's not just gum, I'll add. We also ingest microplastics from tea bags. Also, a big culprit is plastic water bottles. The leaders behind the Protecting Against Microplastics Act explain it aims to provide transparency and limit plastic intake however they can before it comes to a ban. It certainly could be a bill that's successful, but we could also expect potentially challenges from these candy manufacturers or gum manufacturers saying that it's overbroad and it's unduly burdensome and it shouldn't be passed. Trial attorney Imran Ansari is clear the bill is still in its infancy and anything could happen. It remains to be seen if this could have the legs in terms of support from legislatures in the state and actually become good law. So what happens next? Well, this bill was referred to an assembly committee where it could be amended, it could face legal challenges, or it could just move forward as is. That would only be the case, though, if both houses within the state legislature approved this and passed it. That's when it would go to the governor's desk to be signed.