We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
(Micro)Plastic Foreign Bodies in Food and Feed: Notifications in the European Union
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers analyzed notifications of plastic foreign bodies in the European Union's Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed from 2020 to 2023. They found that visible plastics became the third most common foreign body type reported, after glass and metal, with contamination likely originating during food processing and packaging. The study highlights microplastic contamination of the food chain as a growing concern for consumer safety.
Plastic particles, including microplastics, are increasingly common contaminants of the food chain, raising concerns over human health effects. The objective of this work was to contribute to a better understanding of their presence in food and feed based on notifications of plastic foreign bodies in the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of the European Union. Visible plastics accounted for 25 notifications per year from 2020 to 2023 (four years), becoming the third most common foreign body after glass and metal. Contamination is likely to originate during processing and packaging. Even though these results confirm the presence of plastics in the European food chain, notifications provide limited information and only visible particles may be reported. Regulations must establish active monitoring and limits for plastic particles in foods and feeds (e.g., in an amendment to Commission Regulation (EC) no. 1881/2006), including for smaller particle sizes (i.e., microplastics). However, the establishment of regulations is limited by knowledge gaps in analytical methods, foodstuff contamination, and toxicity. Research studies should prioritize knowledge gaps needed to support regulatory action and, ultimately, human health protection.
More Papers Like This
Emerging Threat of Food Contamination by Microplastics and its Influence on Safety and Human Perspective
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how widespread plastic use across industry has made microplastic contamination of food a serious public health concern, with particles entering the food supply through environmental pathways including runoff, wastewater, and air. Addressing this threat requires tighter regulations, better food supply monitoring, and public education on exposure risks.
Plastics and microplastics in our food: how, how many and why
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how plastics and microplastics enter the food supply, covering sources of contamination, the scale of dietary exposure, degradation products, and analytical capabilities for measuring food contamination. Researchers synthesize evidence on microplastic occurrence across diverse food categories and assess gaps in understanding long-term health risks. The paper provides a broad overview of food safety concerns associated with plastic contamination.
Microplastics in Foods: An Emerging Food Safety Challenge
AI summary Read the abstract
Tiny plastic particles called microplastics are showing up in many of the foods we eat every day, and scientists are just starting to understand what this means for our health. This review pulls together existing research on how these particles get into food and what risks they might pose, though much is still unknown about long-term effects on the body. It's a reminder that microplastic contamination is an emerging food safety issue worth watching, even as researchers work to figure out exactly how worried we should be.
[Review of Methods and Risk Assessment of Microplastics from Food Sources].
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines methods for detecting and assessing the risks of microplastic contamination in food, covering exposure pathways from raw materials through processing and packaging. Researchers summarized analytical techniques for identifying microplastics in food products and evaluated approaches for assessing human health risks from dietary exposure. The study emphasizes the need for standardized detection methods and more comprehensive risk assessment frameworks for food-borne microplastics.
Food Contamination with Micro-plastics: Occurrences, Bioavailability,Human Vulnerability, and Prevention
AI summary Read the abstract
The study reviews the occurrence, bioavailability, and potential health impacts of microplastics in food, noting that contamination has been detected in foodstuffs and beverages worldwide. Researchers highlight that current data on dietary microplastic exposure remains insufficient for comprehensive risk assessment, and call for standardized methodologies to better evaluate the threat to human health.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.