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Current knowledge and challenges in the characterization of microplastics and their contamination sources in animal-based foods.
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This review pulls together existing research showing that tiny plastic particles show up in everyday animal foods like milk, meat, fish, honey, and eggs, often coming from processing and packaging. However, testing methods vary so much between studies that scientists can't yet agree on how much microplastic we're really eating or how worried we should be. More standardized testing is needed before clear health guidance can follow.
Microplastics are emerging contaminants in the food chain, raising concerns about human dietary exposure. This review critically assesses their occurrence in animal-based foods, including milk and dairy products, meat, fish, honey, and eggs, focusing on analytical approaches used for detection, identification, and quantification, as well as on reported contamination levels. Evidence indicates widespread contamination in animal-based foods, although concentrations, polymer types, particle size, and morphology vary considerably depending on food matrix composition, environmental exposure, processing conditions, and packaging. Spectroscopic techniques, particularly Fourier Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopy, represent the most widely applied methods for polymer identification; however, significant methodological heterogeneity limits inter-study comparability and data harmonization. Reported concentrations span several orders of magnitude due to analytical variability and matrix effects. Processing and packaging are key contamination sources. Despite increasing evidence, regulatory frameworks remain limited and lack harmonized standards, highlighting the need for methodological standardization, improved exposure assessment, and mitigation strategies.
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Microplastics in food - a critical approach to definition, sample preparation, and characterisation
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This review critically examines how microplastics in food are defined, extracted, and analyzed across different studies, finding significant inconsistencies that make it hard to compare results. The lack of standardized methods for isolating and identifying microplastics in food means that contamination levels may be over- or underestimated. The authors call for unified research methods to enable credible assessments of how dietary microplastic exposure affects health.
Micro- and nano-plastic contamination in foods and potential risk to human health
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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about micro- and nanoplastic contamination in food, covering sources, occurrence, and analytical detection methods. Researchers found that while various foods, especially seafood, contain measurable levels of microplastics, the health risks to humans remain difficult to assess due to inconsistent research methods. The study calls for standardized approaches to better evaluate dietary exposure and potential health impacts.
Microplastics contamination in food products: Occurrence, analytical techniques and potential impacts on human health
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Researchers reviewed the occurrence of microplastics in a wide range of food products — including drinking water, seafood, honey, salt, and vegetables — and the health effects of ingesting them, which include inflammation, gut microbiome disruption, hormone disruption, and increased cancer risk. The review calls for standardized detection methods and a multi-pronged strategy combining source reduction, better recycling, and biodegradable plastic alternatives.
Microplastics in Food and Dairy Products. Analysis of Existing Methods of Concentration and Extraction
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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are showing up more and more in our environment—and possibly in the food we eat, including dairy products like milk and cheese. This review paper looks at the scientific methods researchers use to detect and measure these particles in food, and finds that current testing methods struggle to reliably catch the smallest particles (under 100 micrometers, thinner than a human hair). The takeaway: scientists still don't have great tools to tell us exactly how much microplastic is in our dairy products, so it's too early to know the real health risk—but better detection methods are needed to find out.
The Environmental Pathways and Veterinary Health Implications of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Comprehensive Evaluation of Emerging Contaminants from a One Health Perspective
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This review examines how microplastics and nanoplastics enter animal-based food products including milk, poultry meat, and eggs, and what this means for both veterinary and human health from a One Health perspective. Researchers found that these particles have been documented in various livestock products, but significant gaps remain in understanding contamination from raw, unprocessed sources. The study emphasizes the need for standardized detection methods and farm-to-fork monitoring to identify real contamination sources and develop effective control strategies.
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