You might be surprised by where plastic lurks in your meals.
Plastic in Our Food: A Growing Concern
“How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma’am?” While that might sound like a line from a comedy show, it’s actually becoming true, according to recent research.
Studies conducted in February 2024 found that 90% of animal and vegetable protein samples contained microplastics. These are tiny bits of plastic, ranging from less than 0.2 inches (5 millimeters) to 1/25,000th of an inch (1 micrometer) in size. If it’s even smaller than that, it’s called nanoplastic, and you’d need a super-precise measurement tool to see it. Even if you’re a vegetarian, you’re not safe. Another study from 2021 showed that fruits and veggies can soak up microplastics from the soil through their roots. These tiny plastic bits then travel through the plant to its edible parts.
Surprising Sources of Plastic Exposure
It turns out that even your table salt might be loaded with plastic. Researchers found that Himalayan pink salt, black salt, and marine salt were the worst offenders in a study from 2023. Sugar isn’t innocent either; it’s been found to carry microplastics, as mentioned in a 2022 study. Tea bags, often made with plastic, are also a big problem. A study from McGill University in Quebec, Canada revealed that brewing just one plastic tea bag can release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into your drink. And rice? Yes, it can contain plastic too. A study from the University of Queensland found that for every 100 grams (1/2 cup) of rice consumed, people could be eating several milligrams of plastic, with instant rice being the worst.
And let’s not overlook bottled water. Research from March 2024 showed that a liter of water can contain an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven different types of plastics, including nanoplastics.
Fruits and Vegetables Show High Plastic Content
Fruits and vegetables show high levels of plastic contamination. While many studies have focused on how plastics end up in seafood, fewer have explored their presence in vegetables and land animal proteins like beef and pork. A study from August 2020, published in Environmental Science, examined various fruits and vegetables and found between 52,050 and 233,000 plastic particles per gram, each smaller than 10 micrometers. To put this in perspective, each micrometer is about the size of a raindrop.
Apples and carrots were among the most contaminated fruits and vegetables, with over 100,000 microplastics per gram. Carrots contained the smallest plastic particles, while lettuce had the largest pieces of plastic but was the least contaminated vegetable overall.
By comparing these findings with how much of these proteins people eat, researchers estimated that the average American adult may consume between 11,000 and 29,000 plastic particles each year, with a maximum possible intake of 3.8 million microplastics per year.
Human Health Concerns
The presence of microplastics in human organs, blood, and breast milk has raised concerns about their potential impact on health. Recent studies have revealed their presence in various parts of the body, prompting further investigation into their effects.
Increased Health Risks
A study conducted in March 2024 found that individuals with microplastics in their neck arteries were twice as likely to experience heart attacks, strokes, or death within three years compared to those without. This highlights the heightened health risks associated with microplastic exposure.
Nanoplastics: A Major Concern
Understand why nanoplastics are particularly worrying for human health, according to experts.
Cellular Intrusion
Learn how nanoplastics can penetrate cells and tissues in vital organs, potentially disrupting important cellular functions.
Chemical Exposure
Discover how nanoplastics may carry harmful chemicals used in plastic production, posing additional health risks to humans.
Insights from Experts
Sherri “Sam” Mason, a sustainability expert, has highlighted the potential migration of chemicals from plastics into the human body. This raises concerns about the long-term health implications of microplastic exposure.
All Protein Sources Contain Microplastics
All kinds of proteins contain tiny bits of plastic. In a study published in Environmental Research in February, scientists examined many common protein sources. These included beef, different types of shrimp (including breaded ones), chicken breasts and nuggets, pork, seafood, tofu, and various plant-based meat substitutes like nuggets and fish sticks made from plants.
Among these, breaded shrimp had the highest amount of microplastics, with over 300 tiny plastic pieces per serving on average. Plant-based nuggets had fewer, with less than 100 pieces per serving, followed by chicken nuggets, pollock fish sticks, minimally processed White Gulf shrimp, fresh caught Key West pink shrimp, and a plant-based fish-like stick. The proteins with the least plastic contamination were chicken breasts, followed by pork loin chops and tofu.
Plastic is Everywhere Around Us
There are a lot of plastics in the world today, with around 16,000 different types of plastic chemicals. Out of these, about 4,200 are considered very harmful to people and the environment.
When these chemicals break down in the environment, they become tiny particles called microplastics and even smaller ones called nanoplastics. These particles are so tiny that it was hard for science to see them for many years. A recent study, using new technology, found that three popular brands of water sold in the United States contained between 110,000 and 370,000 nanoplastics per liter. This is a lot, considering that a liter is about the same as two 16-ounce bottled waters. (The study didn’t mention which brands of bottled water were tested.)
Previous research, using older technology, had found only about 300 nanoplastics in bottled water, along with larger microplastics.
Ways to Cut Down on Plastic
Experts suggest some easy ways to reduce your exposure to plastic. For instance, instead of drinking bottled water, it’s better to drink tap water from glass or stainless steel containers. This advice also applies to other foods and drinks that come in plastic packaging.
Plastics can break down into tiny bits that can end up in our food. Just like our skin sheds cells, plastics also shed small pieces, especially when we open plastic containers for our meals.
Here are some tips from experts to help you reduce plastic exposure:
- Try to avoid eating food stored in plastic containers. Look for foods stored in glass, enamel, or foil containers.
- Choose clothing made from natural fabrics and buy products made from natural materials.
- Avoid microwaving food in plastic. Heat food on the stove or use glass containers instead.
- Eat fresh food whenever possible and limit buying processed or ultra-processed foods wrapped in plastic.
