We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Systematic evaluation of food design, treatments, packaging and storage conditions on microplastic concentrations in complex matrices
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers systematically tested how food type, packaging material, thermal treatment, and storage time affect microplastic contamination in milk, plant-based milk, and orange juice, finding that acidic foods and plastic packaging contributed the most microplastics while heat treatment and storage duration had little effect. Orange juice averaged 62 microplastic particles per 100 mL, with the majority under 50 micrometers — too small to see with the naked eye.
• Systematic evaluation of microplastics in multiple food samples pre-consumption. • Matrix-specific digestion protocols developed for milk, plant milk and juice. • Acidic food and plastic packaging contributed more to microplastic levels. • Thermal treatment or storage time showed no significant effects. • FTIR imaging with chemometrics overcame matrix interferences. Worldwide, 44 % of plastic products are used as packaging materials, exposing humans to micro(nano)plastics potentially through food ingestion. Here, we evaluated the microplastic concentrations throughout the pre-consumption phase, considering the effects of food design (milk, plant milk and orange juice), treatment (thermal), packaging (glass and polypropylene) and storage duration (0, 90 and 180 days). Due to the rich organic matter in food samples, >12 digestion protocols were tested and optimized to establish matrix-specific digestion protocols. Microplastics (> 10 μm) from milk, tiger nut milk and orange juice samples were quantified using micro-Fourier-transform infrared (µ-FTIR) imaging. The microplastic concentrations were 37 ± 34 n/100 mL milk, 18 ± 19 n/100 mL tiger nut milk, and 62 ± 68 n/100 mL orange juice samples, suggesting that acidic food environments released more microplastics. PP was the most frequently detected polymer, followed by polyethylene terephthalate fibers and polystyrene, indicating the contribution from plastic packaging and the ambient environment. No significant difference was observed among thermally treated and non-treated, or various storage duration groups for the three food types. A majority (69 %) of detected microplastics were below 50 µm. Chemometric analyses revealed spectral interference from the matrix with the IR spectra of plastic polymers. This study provides the first systematic evaluation of the MP concentrations across multiple food types during commercial food processing, packaging and storage steps pre-consumption, that determined human exposure to microplastics via food intake to guide future mitigation strategies.
More Papers Like This
Micro- and nanoplastics: Contamination routes of food products and critical interpretation of detection strategies
AI summary Read the abstract
This review evaluates current methods for detecting micro and nanoplastics in food and beverages, from sample preparation to chemical identification. The authors highlight significant challenges including detection sensitivity limits, interference from food matrices, and a lack of standardized protocols. Better analytical tools are needed to accurately assess how much microplastic contamination people are actually consuming.
Microplastics in Foods and Beverages
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines microplastic contamination across a wide range of food and beverage products, describing the detection techniques used to identify microplastic particles and summarizing findings on which products are most affected. The authors also discuss the potential health consequences of human dietary microplastic ingestion.
Unbottling the risk: Microplastic release and health hazards from bottled drinks
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in 14 commercial beverages—including water, milk, cola, juice, and vinegar—under varied temperature and storage conditions, and assessed toxicological risks. Microplastic concentrations varied significantly by beverage type and storage conditions, with higher temperatures and longer storage times increasing particle release from packaging materials.
Nanoplastic Contamination Across Common Beverages and Infant Food: An Assessment of Packaging Influence
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers quantified nanoplastic contamination across diverse commercial beverages and infant foods—including juices, milk, and purees—using pyrolysis-GC-MS, with particular attention to packaging material contributions. Nanoplastics were detected in all tested products, with packaging source strongly influencing contamination levels, and infant food products showed concerning nanoplastic burdens given young children's heightened vulnerability.
Determination of microparticles, in particular microplastics in beverages
AI summary Read the abstract
This study reviewed and tested methods for detecting microparticles including microplastics in beverages, addressing a gap in food safety monitoring. The research is relevant to understanding human exposure to microplastics through drinking water and packaged beverages.
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.