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Microplastic and mesoplastic contamination in canned sardines and sprats
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Researchers analyzed 20 brands of canned sardines and sprats from 13 countries across four continents for micro- and mesoplastic contamination. While 16 brands were free of plastic particles, four brands contained between one and three particles each, identified primarily as polypropylene and PET using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The study provides the first evidence that microplastics can be present in processed canned seafood products intended for direct human consumption.
No report was found on the occurrence of microplastics in processed seafood products that are manufactured for direct human consumption. This study investigates the potential presence of micro- and mesoplastics in 20 brands of canned sardines and sprats originating from 13 countries over 4 continents followed by their chemical composition determination using micro-Raman spectroscopy. The particles were further inspected for their inorganic composition through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Plastic particles were absent in 16 brands while between 1 and 3 plastic particles per brand were found in the other 4 brands. The most abundant plastic polymers were polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The presence of micro- and mesoplastics in the canned sardines and sprats might be due to the translocation of these particles into the edible tissues, improper gutting, or the result of contamination from the canneries. The low prevalence of micro- and mesoplastics sized >149μm, and the absence of potentially hazardous inorganic elements on them, might indicate the limited health risks associated with their presence in canned sardines and sprats. Due to the possible increase in micro- and mesoplastic loads in seafood products over time, the findings of this study suggest their quantification to be included as one of the components of food safety management systems.
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Researchers checked 25 brands of canned sardines from Malaysia and found tiny plastic bits (mostly plastic fragments) in about a third of them, though only in small amounts—no more than two pieces per brand. This is a good news/bad news situation: while the plastic levels found were low, it confirms that even processed, canned seafood isn't completely free of these particles, adding to the bigger picture of how much plastic we might be unknowingly eating and why scientists want to keep tracking it.
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