8 Common Foods Likely to Contain Microplastics
Mar 24th 2026 ยท United States
Microplastics appear across the food chain through production, processing and packaging; current evidence on health risk is incomplete but simple choices can lower ingestion.
- Microplastics have been detected in many foods including seafood, tea, rice, salt, bottled water, honey, fruits and vegetables, and processed proteins.
- A study found microplastics in 180 of 182 seafood samples and some bottled water tests detected up to about 240,000 plastic particles per liter.
- Tea bags made from polypropylene, nylon or cellulose can release millions to billions of plastic particles when steeped in hot water.
- Rice, salt and sugar contain measurable microplastics, and rinsing rice reduced contamination by 20 to 40 percent in laboratory conditions.
- Highly processed proteins and breaded seafood often show higher microplastic counts, reflecting contamination from processing and animal feed.
- There is no established safe intake level and health effects are still under study, although microplastics have been found in human organs and can carry toxins or endocrine disrupting chemicals.
- To reduce exposure, avoid plastic food storage and utensils, choose loose leaf tea and glass or stainless containers, wash and peel produce, limit shellfish and consider water and laundry filters.