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Microplastics in packaged F&B spark health concerns
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Monday, 20 October, 2025, 16 : 00 PM [IST]
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Dr. R. T. Patil and Bhushan Namdeorao Yengade
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In a troubling shift from oceanic pollution to everyday meals, microplastics—tiny fragments of plastic less than five millimetres in diameter—are increasingly being found in packaged food and beverages. Once considered an environmental problem limited to marine life, these particles are now turning up in bottled water, canned drinks, salt, snacks, tea, and even baby formula. As concern grows over their long-term health impact, scientists and health officials are calling for stronger action to confront this hidden threat.
How Microplastics Enter Our Food and Drinks
Microplastics can infiltrate food and beverages through several channels, many of which begin with the very materials designed to protect and package these products. Plastic containers, bottles, pouches, and wraps—staples in the food and beverage industry—slowly degrade when exposed to heat, friction, or pressure. This breakdown leads to the release of microscopic plastic particles into the food and drink they encase. For instance, bottled water stored in high temperatures may be more likely to contain microplastics due to the plastic leaching under heat stress.
Industrial food processing also plays a role. Equipment such as plastic tubes, conveyor belts, and filters often experience wear and tear, which can cause plastic particles to flake off and enter food during production. This issue is especially concerning in high-volume food manufacturing facilities where mechanical processes are continuous.
Airborne contamination adds another dimension to the problem. Microplastics are now so widespread in the environment that plastic particles from the air can settle on food during production, packaging, or storage—indoors and outdoors. These airborne particles can originate from industrial waste, urban dust, or even synthetic textiles.
Even seemingly harmless household items, like tea bags, contribute to the issue. Some popular brands use nylon or polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to make tea bags. When steeped in hot water, these bags can release billions of plastic particles directly into your drink. Given tea’s global popularity, this has become a major point of concern.
Scientific Evidence and Health Concerns
Scientific studies continue to uncover just how widespread and severe microplastic contamination has come to be. In 2018, an investigation by Orb Media found microplastics in 93 percent of bottled water samples from major global brands, with an average of 10.4 plastic particles per litre. In another study conducted by McGill University in 2019, researchers discovered that a single plastic tea bag could release up to 11.6 billion microplastics into a single cup of tea.
Sea salt is another everyday product affected by plastic pollution. Salt harvested from coastal areas often contains hundreds of microplastic particles per kilogram. Similarly, spices—especially those sourced from or processed near marine environments—are also found to carry microplastic residues.
Perhaps the most unsettling data comes from research on infant formula. A study from Trinity College Dublin revealed that preparing formula in plastic bottles could expose infants to as many as 16 million microplastic particles per litre. Given that infants are more susceptible to environmental toxins, this has sparked significant alarm in the medical and scientific communities.
The health effects of ingesting microplastics are still being studied, but early evidence is not reassuring. Some particles can lodge in the digestive system, causing physical irritation or inflammation. More worrisome, however, is the chemical content of these plastics. Many contain additives like phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which have been linked to cancer, reproductive issues, and endocrine disruption.
Animal studies have shown that microplastic exposure can lead to oxidative stress and impair immune function. Moreover, the discovery of microplastics in human placental tissue suggests that prenatal exposure is possible. This raises concerns about impacts on fetal development, such as developmental delays and long-term health complications.
Research, Regulation, and the Path Forward
In response to mounting evidence and public concern, governments and scientific institutions worldwide are stepping up their efforts. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have both issued reports urging more rigorous research into microplastic contamination in food and drinks. Their assessments emphasise the need for long-term studies to understand the risks more clearly.
In Europe, the Horizon 2020 research initiative is funding multiple studies on microplastics—examining their sources, movement through the food chain, and ways to reduce exposure. In India, researchers have documented plastic contamination in urban food markets, adding to the growing global understanding of the issue. New technologies such as Raman spectroscopy and FTIR spectroscopy are improving the detection and analysis of microplastics in food, providing better tools for regulators and scientists.
Some governments are responding with regulatory changes. Countries across the European Union have implemented bans on single-use plastics, aiming to reduce the amount of plastic waste that contributes to microplastic pollution. Agencies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) are revising food packaging guidelines to minimise contamination risks.
The urgency of this issue was notably highlighted during a seminar organised by the Association of Food Scientists and Technologists of India (AFSTI) – Mumbai Chapter in March 2025. The event, titled Breakthroughs in Food Packaging: Expert Talks, brought together food scientists, packaging technologists, and regulatory experts to discuss innovations and challenges in the sector. A significant portion of the scientific panel’s discussion focused on microplastic contamination arising from food packaging. Experts presented new research findings, case studies, and assessments of current materials, emphasising how even the most advanced plastic packaging solutions are vulnerable to degradation under specific conditions. The seminar underscored the urgent need for biodegradable alternatives, stronger regulatory oversight, and more consumer awareness about the invisible risks posed by microplastics in everyday packaging.
Innovative policy ideas are also emerging. Certain jurisdictions are considering mandatory labelling on food packaging to inform consumers of potential microplastic content. Others are calling for legal thresholds on allowable microplastic contamination in food products—based on evolving scientific data.
While government action is crucial, public awareness also plays a role. Consumers can make safer choices by avoiding plastic-packaged products, using alternatives like glass or stainless steel, and steering clear of plastic-based tea bags. However, individual efforts can only go so far. The scale of this crisis demands collective action from industries, policymakers, and global institutions.
As microplastics continue to move silently through our food systems and into our bodies, the need for urgent and coordinated responses becomes increasingly clear. From research labs to dinner tables, the fight against plastic contamination is no longer just about the environment—it’s about human health and the safety of future generations.
(Patil is former Director, ICAR-CIPHET, Ludhiana, and Bhushan Namdeorao Yengade is food technologist and founder, Binder Technology Consultancy , Mumbai)
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