A quick look on Mexico's sidewalks reveals at least 70 blobs of chewing gum per square yard, meaning that the concrete is virtually covered with the stuff. This is becoming a large problem for city authorities worldwide actually, which say that park benches, city malls and schools are all targeted, and they have to purchase expensive steam machines to rid of them. Mexico City's director for conservation of public spaces, Rocardo Jaral, started an all-out campaign against chewing gum, advising citizens either to throw it away, or to swallow it.

His announcement prompted immediate protests from medical experts, who said that swallowing a blob of gum from time to time is nothing to be alarmed about, if it's done by mistake. But making a habit out of it could have serious repercussions on that person's health, as it can lead to the formation of intestinal blockages, when the gum gets tangled up in other foods, and create obstructions.

Basically, the problem with gum in Mexico City is the fact that the town's historical, 700-year-old center has been recently renovated, and the porous concrete slabs that cover it make for a fairly decent gum trap. Getting the blobs off is a very difficult task, and workers employ expensive, German-built machines to do the job. Jaral announced that he would soon begin a massive clean-up campaign, which will be backed up by awareness programs, meant to educate the population on the matter.

An alternative to synthetics-based gum is the natural, degradable one, made from chicle, which turns to dust after it’s exposed to cold. This type of treat has been in use for centuries, with Ancient people using it to clean their teeth. While in a warm and moist environment, like the mouth, it remains elastic, but, when exposed to cooler temperatures, it solidifies and easily comes off benches and concrete slabs.

However, producing sufficient quantities of the stuff is fairly difficult, as Mexican cooperative farms only make about 300 tons each year, which is far less than the few thousand tons needed to supply the Mexican market alone. And some say that increasing production would be useless, as people who would buy bio-degradable gum probably already go the extra mile and dispose of their chewing gums in recycle bins.