YorkshireBizTalk

Sticky issue for gum companies

Today’s Guardian features a full-page advertisement from a city coalition, including Leeds and Bradford, who want the chewing gum industry and the government to help councils with the removal of gum from our streets. The Yorkshire Post quotes Alan Bradley, a cabinet member for street environment at Westminster Council, who states: “Westminster spent £100,000 a year on cleaning up gum alone.” This is evidence of the growing problem that councils have to spend more and more money on this problem and it shouldn’t even be necessary.

There are certain parts of the world that have completely banned chewing gum, such as Singapore. However, it has been discovered by certain dental groups that chewing sugar-free gum because it produces more saliva into the mouth, can actually improve your teeth. On the Wrigley wesbite, it states numerous benefits of chewing gum. Funnily enough, there were no problems with gum on this particluar site. In my opinion, I don’t believe there will be extreme measures such as banning gum in the UK (the likes of Vicky Pollard would be outraged) but the advertisement in The Guardian should hopefully have effect on the industry and possibly the government, which could result in some sort of action.

Leeds Council has brought in on-the-spot fines for improper gum disposal but I don’t know or have heard of anybody who has been issued with such a punishment. Personally, I think an officer would have more pressing matters on hand although it is vile when you either step or put your hand in someone’s used gum. (I have had the privilege of both experiences.)

I did a simple web-engine search for anti-gum in the UK and was pleasantly surprised with what I found. In February 2005, Leeds City Council did take action and handed out gum pouches for their 100 day clean-up campaign. Would it really be that difficult and expensive for multi-million pound companies such as Wrigley to include something along the idea of a pouch included in their products to dispose of their gum? I don’t think so. Do you?

Yorkshire Post criticises health chiefs over media monitoring

The Yorkshire Post has a story about the West Yorkshire Strategic Health Authority's research into its media coverage which the YP describes as "Big Brother style". It even thinks the issue important enough to warrant an editorial comment (not yet online).

What the Yorkshire Post fails to admit is that if the media was more responsible in reporting health related issues then this sort of activity might not be needed. But the fact is that the media does get it wrong and does does comment in what should be straight news stories.

It is essential that the public have confidence in the health service. They need to be reassured that they will get good treatment. If the media distorts this then it is the responsibility of the health authority to communicate professionally and try to ensure that the truth gets out.