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What food contains the most microplastics?


Well, it's not a secret for a while ... food contains microplastics. And because no one would willingly eat plastic, we mostly can not avoid it anymore. But some foods contain even more microplastics than others. Read further to learn which ones have the most of this unwanted "spice".

The amount of micropalstics in food is alarming. A study estimates that we could be eating and drinking as much as 5 grams of plastic a week. And you know what weigh 5 grams as well? A credit card. So in a year, you could be chowing down the equivalent of 52 credit cards.

Here are some of the foods that contain microplastics. Some of them are truly surprising ...

Fruit & Vegetables

A research from 2020 found microplastic in fruit and vegetables with highest levels of microplastics found in two "staples" of our homes: apples and carrots. But the rest of vegetables and fruit doesn't fall back much, as microplastics were found in pears, broccoli, lettuce, potatoes, radishes, and turnips. And pretty much in every other crop ...

Salt

The most common condiment of our food is hiding a secret spice, as researchers have found microplastics in pretty much every sample tested. And to make it even more surprising, a study has shown that Himalayan pink salt is even worse, as it contains more microplastics than regular salt. In fact, the study showed that terrestrial salt contains more microplastics than sea salt. Go figure ...

Tea

Tea is considered a healthy beverage. But again, research has shown that even tea isn't immune to these pesky little micro troublemakers. The main reason are tea bags that are made using plastic and are heat-sealed, as that makes tea bags from breaking. The good news is that lately brands are stopping using plastic in their tea bags.

Water

Ok, so tea contains microplastics. We should simply drink water, right? Well ... it's been proven thap tap water contains microplastic. But if you thought you could get away with bottled water, here's some news for you ... Bottled water contains even more microplastcs, actually twice as much as tap water. Overall, drinking water is considered the largest source of microplastics in our bodies.

Oh and if you're thinking to simply ditch the microplastic-infested water and start drinking only beer and wine, we have bad news for you as well ... Both contain microplastics.

Rice

Rice feeds a good portion of our planet. Not only with nutrients, but also with microplastics. A study found that microplastic is found in packaged rice and it's not related to packaging alone, as the amount of microplastics is pretty much the same if rice is packed in paper or plastic. Here's a tip: avoid pre-cooked rice as it contains up to four times the amount of microplastics. So it's still best to cook your own. And another tip that researchers found can make a difference: washing rice before you cook it removes 20% to 40% of microplastics from it.

Seafood

If you've been following us for a while, this one shouldn't come as a surprise to you. Oceans are heavily polluted with microplastics so it's quite logical that fish and shellfish contain microplastic. If you can't give up on your seafood treats, do consider only consuming seafood that doesn't include the animal's stomach. So it's good to avoid food like mussels, oysters, shrimp, prawns, and other sea life that filters sea water, as they are likely to contain more microplastics compared to (for example) a fillet of a bigger fish.

Meat and "meat"

It doesn't matter whether it's meat or a meat alternative - it's all spiced with microplastics, a study conducted in 2024 shows. Microplastics have been found in 90% of samples, including pork, beef, and chicken. And even meat alternatives like tofu and other plant-based "meat-like" food contain pretty much the same amount of microplastics as fish. In defense of tofu: among meat and non-meat proteins it does contain the lowes amount of microplastics.

One thing we should add here though: foods that are more processed tend to contain even more microplastics. So it makes sense to make your protein based meals from scratch and avoid processed meals.

A shocker for the end

Honey contains microplastic. This was quite a shock for us. You want an even more surprising finding from the study? Honey from bees in rural areas contains more microplastic than honey coming from urban bees.



Yes, there is a way to prevent microplastics in the environment

We can all make a difference at home! By filtering wastewater from washing machines, we can reduce microfiber pollution by 98%. It's easy to use and it can truly make a difference!

Dušan Matičič
Dušan Matičič

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