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Hidden pollutants in food: Evidence of small microplastic particles (100–5 µm) in refined sugar from the Italian market
Summary
Researchers analyzed refined white sugar from major Italian brands for microplastic contamination using a novel approach that avoids chemical digestion. The study found that the majority of detected particles were smaller than 20 micrometers, with PVC as the most abundant polymer, highlighting a gap in current EU regulatory frameworks that do not fully address this size fraction in food monitoring.
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants increasingly reported in food, including sugar. This study presents a novel analytical approach enabling the detection of MPs < 20 µm without chemical digestion, preserving particle integrity through simple dissolution in ultrapure water. White sugars from major Italian brands and distributors were analyzed using µ-FTIR for MPs ≥ 50 µm and µ-Raman for particles between 5 and 50 µm. The µ-Raman results are semi-quantitative and based on sub-sampling of 34 % of the filter area. While µ-FTIR detected relatively few MPs, µ-Raman revealed that the majority of particles fell below 20 µm, with a strong predominance in the 5-10 µm range. PVC emerged as the most abundant polymer, followed by PE, PS, PP and PET. The presence of MPs in a widely consumed product raises questions regarding food safety and human exposure. The predominance of MPs < 20 µm - a fraction not fully addressed by current EU regulatory frameworks - underscores the need for harmonized, standardized methodologies for monitoring MPs in food.