False: A swallowed chewing gum stays in the stomach for seven years.

By: Sunil Kumar
June 29 2020

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False: A swallowed chewing gum stays in the stomach for seven years.

Fact-Check

The Verdict False

If one swallows a gum, it does not stay in the stomach for seven years as the body can safely pass the gum within a few days.

Claim ID 2c6bd1ff

If one swallows a gum, it does not stay in the stomach for seven years as the body can safely pass the gum within a few days.Most of the ingredients in chewing gum can be easily broken down by your digestive system. These include sweeteners, flavoring, preservatives, and softeners. It’s the gum base that is indigestible. The digestive system is built to digest what it can and pass anything that can’t be digested, in the stool. If someone swallows a gum, it passes through the esophagus into the small intestine. The small intestine absorbs sugars and nutrients. The indigestible portion of the gum moves from the small intestine through the colon. It passes through the rectum during the bowel movement.

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