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Nano- and Microplastics Migration from Plastic Food Packaging into Dairy Products: Impact on Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, and Metabolism
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This review examines how nano and microplastics migrate from plastic food packaging into dairy products like milk and infant formula. The plastic particles can interfere with how the body digests and absorbs proteins, fats, and carbohydrates, and may disrupt metabolism of lipids, glucose, and iron. These findings are especially concerning for infants and children who consume formula and milk from plastic containers, as their developing bodies may be more sensitive to these effects.
The ongoing use of plastic polymers to manufacture food packaging has raised concerns about the presence of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in a variety of foods. This review provides the most recent data on NMPs' migration from plastic packaging into dairy products. Also discussed are the possible effects of NMPs on nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Different kinds of dairy products, including skimmed milk, whole liquid milk, powder milk, and infant formula milk, have been found to contain NMPs of various sizes, shapes, and concentrations. NMPs may interact with proteins, carbohydrates, and fats and have a detrimental impact on how well these nutrients are digested and absorbed by the body. The presence of NMPs in the gastrointestinal tract may impact how lipids, proteins, glucose, iron, and energy are metabolized, increasing the risk of developing various health conditions. In addition to NMPs, plastic oligomers released from food packaging material have been found to migrate to various foods and food simulants, though information regarding their effect on human health is limited. Viewpoints on potential directions for future studies on NMPs and their impact on nutrient digestion, absorption, and health are also presented in this review.
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Nano-and Microplastics Migration from Plastic Food Packaging into Milk and Dairy Products: Impact on Nutrient Digestion, Absorption, and Metabolism
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This review examined how nano- and microplastics migrate from plastic food packaging into milk and dairy products, discussing their potential impacts on nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism in the human body.
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Researchers detected and characterized small microplastic particles down to 4 micrometers in size in milk products including raw milk, pasteurized milk, and infant formula, finding particles in all product types. The presence of microplastics in dairy products indicates that food processing and packaging are introduction pathways for plastic contamination in foods consumed widely including by infants.
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Researchers investigated how polypropylene nanoplastics at concentrations of 10–100 μg/mL affect the in vitro digestion of infant formula proteins, finding that nanoplastic agglomeration interfered with protein digestibility in simulated gastric and intestinal conditions relevant to infant feeding bottle exposure.
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