Watch Out for Microplastics in These Common Foods

Recent research has found a whole plastic spoon’s worth of plastic in human brains. Pretty wild, right? It’s estimated that people consume between 39,000 and 52,000 microplastic particles each year. If we add in how much we intake through inhalation, that number goes up to 74,000 to 121,000. 

Microplastics are everywhere. They’re in our water, our clothes and our kitchens. Experts have also found them in the foods we eat. OK, that sounds bad, but how bad is it?

“There is no officially established “safe” or “unsafe” level of microplastic intake. It makes sense to want your exposure to be as low as possible,” Dr. Joseph Mercola, board-certified family medicine osteopathic physician, said in an email. 

Microplastics can enter our food because of contamination from where it was grown, raised or processed. Mercola explained that plastic mulch in commercial agriculture, plastic seed coatings and irrigating with contaminated water are also ways microplastics can end up in food. Add in the plastic packaging, utensils and containers and eat a decent amount of microplastics. 

According to the US Food & Drug Administration, current evidence doesn’t suggest that the levels of microplastics in food are a risk to us. That said, you may still want to make a few easy swaps to minimize the microplastics you consume. These are some of the most common foods you’ll find microplastics.

Top 10 foods in your diet that have microplastics

Seafood

One of the most significant ways microplastics end up in our food is through the excess of single-use plastics that break down and find their way into the waterways and soil. When they reach the oceans, they end up in our seafood.

“Microplastics are then taken up by plankton and mistaken for food by fish and selfish. The tiny particles accumulate in the flesh, which then end up on our plates,” Mercola said.

A recent study published by Portland State University discovered a variety of microplastics in 180 out of 182 tested seafood samples. Microfibers are the most common type of microplastic present, but this isn’t the only type that ends up in our oceans.

Tea bags

Polypropylene, a synthetic plastic, is often used to make tea bags. Even if you intentionally grab the paper tea bags, there are still microplastics in them. The issue is that when you dip the tea bags into the hot water, there’s the potential that the tea bags may release microplastics into your tea. 

A study by researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona discovered that it’s not just a small amount of microplastics. Polypropylene tea bags can release particles in the billions, and nylon and cellulose tea bags release particles in the millions.

How to avoid it: You don’t have to stop drinking tea. Switch to loose-leaf tea and invest in a stainless steel diffuser to enjoy your tea free of microplastics.

Rice

Rice is also a hotspot for microplastics. A University of Queensland study found that for every half cup of rice, there are three to four milligrams of plastic. If you use instant rice packets, that number is four times higher, at 13 milligrams.

How to avoid: The study found that washing your rice can reduce plastic contamination by 20 to 40%, though it’s worth noting that the study used filtered water for rinsing.

Salt and sugar

Unfortunately, when you top your dinner off with a sprinkling of salt, you’re getting an unintentional side of microplastics. It’s hard to outrun salt. It’s in almost everything we eat, and our bodies need a certain sodium level to keep our fluids and electrolytes balanced.

Unfortunately, 90% of the 39 sampled salt brands worldwide contain microplastics. This likely results from environmental contamination and the production and packaging process, which includes plastic. Microplastics have also been found in sugar.

How to avoid: To minimize exposure to microplastics in your salt and sugar, you can buy them packaged in glass or cardboard.

Bottled water

Bottled water is one of the most well-known sources of micro and nanoplastics. One study estimated that around 240,000 plastic particulates in a liter of bottled water, which is equivalent to two standard water bottles. Most plastic water bottles you buy at the store are made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, so it wasn’t surprising to see it represented. Plastic particles break apart when the bottle is squeezed or exposed to heat.

PET plastic wasn’t the only type of nanoplastic found in plastic water bottles. Researchers have looked for seven plastic types, including polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride and polyamide, a kind of nylon. However, the seven types only accounted for 10% of the nanoparticles.

How to avoid it: Drinking tap water from a stainless steel or glass glass or container can reduce your risk of ingesting plastic particles.

Honey

You might not expect your honey jar to have microplastics, but it does, even if it’s in a glass jar. Microplastic fibers can be traced back to bees. One study that explored if microplastics ingested or carried by honeybees were then incorporated into hives found that bees can continue the dispersal of microplastics through honey.

How to avoid it: Buying honey from local beekeepers who often use more natural and sustainable harvesting methods may reduce the risks of microplastic contamination. 

Fruits or veggies

Fruits and vegetables are some of the most essential parts of a balanced diet. Unfortunately, they can also contain levels of microplastic contamination. One study that sampled fruit and vegetables found that apples were the most contaminated fruit, while carrots were the most contaminated vegetable. But how does this happen?

“Plants have been shown to uptake micro- and nanoplastics from soil through their root systems, thereby contaminating the edible portions,” said Mercola.

Not to mention, many grocery stores package fruit and vegetables in plastic to keep them fresh. Per the FDA, there’s not enough evidence to say that microplastics from plastic food packaging migrate into food. However, Mercola suggests you avoid it as much as you can anyway.

How to avoid it: Wash your fruit thoroughly, peel when possible and opt for local or organic produce.

Proteins

A recent study from researchers at Ocean Conservancy found that 88% of vegetable and animal proteins have some level of microplastics. However, highly processed proteins like plant-based alternatives, fish sticks or chicken nuggets have the most microplastics, suggesting the microplastic contamination partly comes from food processing. The study found that breaded shrimp has an average of 300 microplastic pieces per serving. Plant-based nuggets had 100 pieces per serving.

However, food processing isn’t the only way microplastics can get into these protein sources. Microplastics are in animal feeds and the environments where they’re raised. Plant-based alternatives can be contaminated through the soil or irrigation. 

How to avoid it: After reading that, you probably wonder what protein you should eat. The reality is that more research is needed to know the exact levels and their impact on our health. Our bodies need protein to function, so getting enough is important, no matter the source you get it from.

Read more: An Easy Protein Visual Guide to Help You Reach Maximum Muscle Gains

What does microplastics in food mean for you?

By now, you’re probably wondering if all foods contain microplastics. While I can’t say for sure, I can say that more research is needed to understand how eating foods with microplastics impacts us. The long-term health effects are still under investigation, though, as Mercola explained, it’s something to watch and act on if you can.

“Ingested microplastics have been found to accumulate in the circulatory system and various organs, including the brain, where they can cause inflammation and tissue damage,” said Mercola.

Other potential side effects are hormonal imbalances caused by the endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in plastics. Microplastics can also absorb other environmental toxins and introduce them into the body.

There’s no established safe level of microplastics, and we can’t reasonably completely outrun them; they’re everywhere and in everything. However, it’s a good idea to minimize exposure where you can.

Expert tips for reducing your microplastic intake:

• Watch your shellfish intake: Shellfish like mussels, oysters and scallops have higher levels of microplastics. While I’m not saying you need to cut them out completely, it’s something to moderate if you’re trying to be cognizant of microplastic exposure.
• Avoid plastic food storage containers: One of Mercola’s biggest suggestions is to avoid plastic food containers because of the “plasticizing chemicals” in the plastic. BPA and phthalates are endocrine-disrupting chemicals that can transfer from plastic to food. They’re fat-soluble, so it happens most easily with fatty foods. It’s best to store foods with fat in glass containers, though you can store dry foods in plastic if needed.
• Avoid plastic-wrapped foods: As often as you can, avoiding foods wrapped in plastics is best. This can be easier said than done, especially since fresh foods can be more expensive than frozen, processed alternatives. Though it’s something to strive for in areas you can make the switch.
• Get rid of plastic kitchen utensils: From the spoons we use to stir our sauces to the cutting boards we use to chop our vegetables, if they’re plastic, you’re ingesting microplastics. A good rule of thumb is anything plastic that comes in contact with your food should be swapped out for ceramic, glass, wood or stainless steel.
• Install a filter in your washing machine: If you can afford it, pay it forward by installing a special filter on your washing machine that will catch the microfibers before they make it to our sewage systems that are often used as fertilizer or leeched into the water. The PlanetCare 2.0 microfiber filter starts at $125.

We still have a lot to learn about microplastics and their long-term implications for our health as we ingest them. It might be hard to hear they’re in so many of our foods, though that shouldn’t deter you from eating well. 

Eating a balanced diet of protein, fruit and vegetables will ensure your body has enough fuel to function and thrive — microplastics or not.