Mexican officials aren't listening to mom any longer. In response to a growing problem that is gumming up the streets in Mexico City, citizens have been told to either throw away or swallow their gum. But is that sound advice?
Over the past year, health issues surrounding Mexico have made national headlines and even some abroad. With the
salmonella outbreak related to Mexican tomatoes and peppers, that spanned across 43 states and Canada, killing possibly two and causing an outbreak of illness just over 1,400 people and their banning of meat from certain plants over
labeling laws, it is safe to say that there are some health issues in the country.
In what may be an effort to clean up their image, Mexico City officials are telling residents to "swallow it."
That's right: Swallow your gum!
Mexico, or the Mayan culture, is essentially where
modern day chewing gum was born. They used a substance called chicle, not to be confused with the cute packets of gum squares that some of us remember from childhood, made from "aromatic tar and smashed insect grease" to freshen their breath.
Although the ingredients have evolved to a much less organic base, citizens of Mexico City still love to chew. They love their gum so much, as explained by the
Associated Press:
The average square yard of Mexico City sidewalk has 70 blobs of discarded gum.
Historically, they have taken to the problem with the use of expensive equipment but they are fed up and are telling residents to either throw it away or swallow it.
According to the
Ask A Digestive Specialist at the Mayo Clinic, gum can not be broken down by the digestive system. However, the bolus of gooey stuff will eventually pass through the system as it was when it was swallowed. An old wives' tale, and probably more of a scare tactic than proven medical science, suggested that swallowed gum sat in your digested system for "7 years." That has been deemed false by the medical community.
However, according to Dr. Nick Desai at the Children's Hospital in Nashville, TN, chewing gum could potentially "get balled up with other objects and cause an intestinal blockage."
As shown to be the best form of health concern and care in our society, the scientifically proven method* of "absolutes" is revealed once again as the report shows that the official responded by saying that:
"he's always swallowed his gum -- and that it's never done him any harm."
*note to readers: the comment "scientifically proven method" is intended to be sarcasm and parallels with the same belief that safety concerns are irrelevant unless they directly affect an individual. We now have child safety caps on medicines and outlet covers, cabinet locks and other safety elements in place despite the many "always" and "never" claims. It is taught in
Psychiatric Nursing that this type of thinking is a precursor to irrational thought processes.
