Retraction notice to “Are there plastic particles in my sugar? A pioneering study on the characterization of microplastics in commercial sugars and risk assessment” [Sci. Total Environ. 837 (2022) 155849]

RETRACTED: Are there plastic particles in my sugar? A pioneering study on the characterization of microplastics in commercial sugars and risk assessment

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Researchers analyzed five brands of commercial sugar for microplastic contamination and found plastic-like particles present in the samples. The study characterized the types and sizes of particles found, suggesting that food processing and packaging may introduce microplastics into everyday food products. Note: this paper has been retracted, so its findings should be interpreted with caution.

Retraction notice to “Adverse Impacts of Microplastics on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Crop Health in Agricultural Systems” [Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 17, 2025, 100528]

A Spoonful of Sugar: Human Exposure to Microplastics Through Consumption of Processed Sugarcane

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Researchers found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in both white and brown sugar, likely coming from equipment used during processing rather than the plants themselves or packaging. Based on typical sugar consumption, people could be ingesting far more plastic from sugar than from salt or other foods previously studied, a reminder that everyday pantry staples may be a bigger source of plastic exposure than we realized, though more research is needed to understand what this means for our health.

Detection and Characterization of Microplastics in Commercial Sugar Types: a New Challenge for Quality Control

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Researchers investigated the presence, concentration, and potential sources of microplastics in commercially available sugar products using spectroscopic characterization. Microplastics were detected across multiple sugar types, highlighting food-grade sugar as an overlooked route of human microplastic exposure and calling for improved quality control methods.

Hidden Pollutants in Food: Evidence of Small Microplastic Particles (100–5 µm) in Refined Sugar from the Italian Market

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Researchers analyzed samples of refined sugar from the Italian market and detected small microplastic particles ranging from 5 to 100 micrometers in size, confirming that microplastics are present in a widely consumed everyday food product. The findings add to growing evidence that humans are routinely ingesting microplastics through common foods, even highly processed ones like refined sugar where contamination pathways are not immediately obvious. This raises questions about cumulative dietary exposure and the need for food safety standards around microplastic contamination.