Microplastics and Nanoplastics in Food

The environmental burden of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) has been increasing exponentially due to increased production and consumption of plastic owing to its characteristics like ease of handling, adaptability, cost-effectiveness, pliability, reusability, etc. However, one of its several characteristics, the nondegradability of plastic, leads to its persistent presence in the environment. MNPs not only burden the air, water, and soil but also accumulate in animals and enter the human food chain, owing to their smaller size. The major routes of contamination of food by MNPs include soil, production water, the food processing environment, and the air. Several fruits and vegetables, bottled water, packed foods, seafood, and beverages are reported to contain substantial amounts of MNPs that pose a health risk to humans and animals. Therefore, it is highly recommended to identify and analyze MNPs in the environment as well as food samples, for which several identification and analysis techniques such as microscopy, vibrational spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and many more are recommended. This chapter gives an overview related to several aspects of MNPs, such as its primary and secondary sources, its route of contamination, food reported to be contaminated with MNPs, its possible mechanism, and popular techniques employed for its identification and analysis.