> This is a debate that Dave and I got into yesterday, and argued about for hours or something, because that's just the kind of cool people we are: Is chewing gum "food"?
>
> I say it is. Chewing gum is clearly not part of the set of items such as "telephones", "mountains", "lawyers", "Presbyterianism" or other blatantly non-food concepts. Moreover, I say it is part of the food subgroup "candy". Dave says it isn't food because you don't swallow it, except by accident, and it isn't candy because ... uh ... I'm not sure why it isn't candy, but he says it isn't. Apparently gum is in a separate group of its own which is basically called "gum".
>
> Opinions are welcome.
>
> Brunnen-"even though I know I'm right"G

Hmm...you put it in your mouth, leave it in there for a few seconds while chewing it/sloshing it around/sucking on it/whatever, and extract its flavor with your saliva, yet you don't swallow it...

Answer me this: if chewing gum IS food, does that mean that sunflower seeds are food as well?

Adam "or would mouthwash be a beverage?" Bomb