Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has called for a nationwide ban on chewing gum, citing the widespread litter problem it causes on British streets. Speaking at the launch of his new book, BBQ, Oliver urged local authorities, including London Mayor Sadiq Khan, to take stronger action against gum littering.

Oliver described the streets as being covered with “a patchwork quilt” of discarded chewing gum, which he said was difficult to remove and damaged the appearance of public spaces. “If I could ban anything, it would be chewing gum,” he said. Oliver suggested that, unlike flavors or varieties of gum, the product itself should be prohibited unless it could be easily cleaned with existing cleaning methods, which he noted is not currently feasible.

A spokesperson for Mayor Khan confirmed that the mayor had been made aware of Oliver’s proposal but did not provide further comment on whether any measures might be considered.

Current regulations already make it illegal to spit out or discard chewing gum on pavements, with offenders subject to fines of up to £150. Despite these rules, gum litter remains a persistent issue. The pressure group 38 Degrees estimates that local authorities spend approximately £60 million annually to remove gum from streets across the country. This cleanup effort strains municipal budgets and resources, further fueling calls from public figures like Oliver to explore more stringent controls.