Chewing gum is food, but not apples

Chewing gum and mineral water qualify as food, European Union experts say - but not hallucinogenic mushrooms, live animals or an apple growing on a tree.

The EU takes over 70 words to say what it understands by 'food' in comments sent to an international body that sets food standards.

Chewing gum, it says, "should be considered as food even if only a part ... is actually ingested by the consumer".