Which Foods Contain the Most Plastic?

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Do Your Favorite Foods Contain Plastic?

When you make a list of your favorite foods, plastic likely isn’t something you would include. Unfortunately, plastic isn’t just lurking in our oceans; it’s making its way onto our plates through a variety of foods that contain plastic.

But fear not! Knowledge is power, and armed with a bit of know-how, we can make informed choices to minimize our plastic consumption.

In this post, we’ll uncover which foods are more likely to contain plastic and explore some simple steps you can take to reduce your exposure. From the surprising culprits to practical tips for a plastic-conscious pantry, I’ve got you covered!

What Are Microplastics?

Before we dive into the foods that contain the most plastic, it’s helpful to understand what type of plastics we’re talking about and where they come from. When we’re discussing plastic in food, we’re dealing with microplastics.

Microplastics are minuscule pieces of plastic measuring less than 5 millimeters in size, which is about the size of a sesame seed or smaller. Some are visible to the human eye, but often they’re so small they can’t be seen.

They come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items like water bottles and bags, as well as microbeads in personal care products like exfoliating scrubs. These little fragments can also originate from synthetic fibers shed from clothing during washing.

Now, here’s the big problem: once microplastics find their way into the environment, they’re incredibly persistent. They can linger for hundreds, if not thousands, of years, wreaking havoc on ecosystems and wildlife along the way.

Even worse, microplastics have infiltrated our food chain. In fact, the problem is so bad that scientists estimate we consume a credit card’s worth of plastic EVERY SINGLE WEEK. Here are some of the worst culprits when it comes to plastic in our foods.

1. Seafood

We’ve known for a long time about the high concentration of plastic in seafood. Our oceans are drowning in plastic waste. As these larger plastic items start to break apart, they create microplastics that fish, shellfish, and other marine animals consume.

Plus, it’s not just wild-caught seafood. Commercially farmed fish also contain plastic because they’re fed fish meal that unintentionally contains microplastics.

Since microplastics typically start in an animal’s stomach, filter-feeding marine life like oysters, mussels, shrimp, and prawns often have higher levels of microplastics.

2. Water

Yes, you read that right. Water, the one thing every living creature on this planet needs to survive, is contaminated with microplastics.

One study found that 94% of tap water samples in the United States contained plastic fibers. If you think you’ll skip tap water and go with bottled water instead, I have bad news for you: bottled water contains even more microplastics.

In fact, researchers found that bottled water contains around twice as many plastic particles as tap water. Although researchers aren’t exactly sure why bottled water contains more microplastics than water, they suspect the microplastics fall in during the bottling process.

Plus, those aren’t the only concerns you have to worry about when you drink bottled water. UV radiation from sunlight can break the chemical bonds in plastic water bottles and cause a variety of harmful chemicals to leach into your water.

When you need to quench your thirst, you’re better off skipping the bottled water and filling up one of these plastic-free reusable water bottles with tap water.

3. Salt

Would you like to season your food with some plastic? Unfortunately, you are if you’re using salt.

One study found that salts that come from the ground (such as black salt and Himalayan salt) have higher microplastic contamination numbers than marine salt. Even worse, studies have found microplastics in salts all over the world, so it’s pretty much impossible to find one that isn’t contaminated.

This means that even if you’re avoiding some of these common foods that contain plastic, you’re still ingesting plastic when you season your food.

4. Tea Bags

When it comes to plastic in tea, it’s not the tea leaves themselves you have to worry about, it’s the tea bag. A lot of tea bags are made with plastic and release enormous amounts of microplastics and other toxins when you soak them in hot water.

One study done at McGill University found that brewing a single plastic tea bag can release about 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics into the water.

If you still want to enjoy that cup of tea without the plastic, you can choose a brand that offers plastic-free tea bags or buy loose-leaf tea and use one of these reusable tea bags. Also, don’t forget to protect yourself from other dangerous chemicals by using a non-toxic tea kettle to boil your water.

5. Beer

It’s not just tea lovers who have to worry about microplastics in what they drink, beer lovers also have to be concerned. One study that looked at microplastic contamination in beverages found that beer had the highest levels.

Even though the average number of microplastics found in beer was similar to the average number of microplastics found in tap water, it’s not always directly related to the water supply.

A different study that looked at two beers brewed in the same city using the same municipal water supply found drastically different microplastic levels. This suggests that some of the contamination comes from the beer production process.

6. Rice

Rice is another sneaky culprit of microplastic contamination. A study done at the University of Queensland found that a 1/2 cup of rice contains three to four milligrams of plastic. Even worse, this number jumps to 13 milligrams for instant rice.

While the study found that microplastic contamination didn’t matter whether the rice was packaged in paper or plastic, pre-cooked rice that comes in microwavable bags contains four times as much plastic.

It’s important to remember that every type of plastic out there starts to break down and release chemicals when exposed to heat, so you should always try to avoid microwaving food packaged in plastic.

To avoid plastic in rice, skip the instant rice whenever possible and cook your own instead. Additionally, researchers have found that washing your rice before cooking it reduces plastic contamination by up to 40%. As an added bonus, this can also help reduce arsenic contamination, which can be high in rice.

7. Proteins

In a study published in Environmental Research, researchers looked at over a dozen types of proteins, including beef, chicken, pork, seafood, tofu, and several plant-based meat alternatives for microplastic contamination. Unfortunately, the study found that every type of protein contained microplastics.

By far, the most contaminated food was breaded shrimp, with well over 300 microplastic pieces per serving. The least contaminated proteins were chicken breasts, followed by pork loin chops and tofu.

8. Fruits and Vegetables

While meat and seafood contain high levels of microplastics because animals are ingesting the pollution, even plants aren’t safe from contamination. Italian researchers found plastic contamination in a variety of fruits and vegetables.

Apples had the most particles, while carrots had the smallest. Although lettuce had the largest pieces of plastic, it was also the least contaminated vegetable. Microplastics were also found in broccoli, potatoes, pears, and more.

Scientists believe that fruits and vegetables absorb microplastics through their root systems and then transfer the particles to the plant’s stems, leaves, seeds, and fruit. It seems as though fruits have more contamination than vegetables, likely because trees have deep root systems that can take in more water containing microplastics.

Microplastics and the Dangers to Human Health

While microplastics have been found everywhere from organs to the bloodstream, there hasn’t been a lot of research on how they affect the the body’s functions. However, a recent study found that people with microplastics or nanoplastics in their neck arteries were twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke over the next three years than people who had none.

Microplastics in the human body are also particularly worrisome because plastic is made with endocrine-disrupting chemicals like phthalates, bisphenols, PFAS, flame retardants, and heavy metals. When plastics make their way into us, they’re carrying those chemicals with them.

Once inside the body, these chemicals leach out of the plastic and into our blood. Then they’re carried to organs like our liver, kidneys, and brain. These chemicals can even pass through the umbilical cord and end up in unborn children.

What You Can Do to Reduce Your Exposure to Plastic in Foods

At this point, it seems as though it’s impossible to completely avoid foods that contain plastic. However, there are ways you can reduce your exposure to microplastics.

First, try to avoid food and drinks packaged in plastic. Whenever possible, get items that are packaged in glass, metal, or paper.

Although we don’t typically picture plastic as something that sheds, it does. Much like a piece of fabric sheds little fibers, plastic also breaks off tiny bits. While small fabric fibers might just float in the air until they fall, plastic bits will end up in whatever food they’re touching.

Along with trying to avoid anything packaged in plastic, also make an attempt not to store your food in plastic containers. These plastic-free food storage containers and these non-plastic food storage bags are ideal for keeping contaminants out of your food. There are also a variety of ways you can freeze food without plastic.

When you have to warm up your food, don’t microwave in plastic. Instead, microwave in glass or heat your food on the stove.

Also, when you’re shopping for clothes, don’t forget that microfibers from synthetic materials like polyester, nylon, and rayon also create microplastics. You can use a microfiber catcher in the washing machine to collect those particles before they enter our waterways.

You can also start making the switch to clothing made from natural fabrics, such as cotton, hemp, linen, bamboo, and wool. Here are some excellent guides to help you get started with transitioning everyone in the family to a more ethical and eco-friendly wardrobe:

What to Do About Foods That Contain Plastic

While all of these tips can help you reduce your exposure to foods that contain microplastics, in the end, the only way we can truly clean our food supply is to reduce the amount of plastic we use on a daily basis. While it may seem daunting at first, you can make slow and steady progress toward switching out most of the single-use plastic items in your home with more sustainable alternatives.

The first thing I recommend doing is taking a look at this comprehensive guide on alternatives to plastic. It has over 55 quick and easy swaps you can start making right now to get rid of plastic in your life.

Be sure to bookmark or pin that page so you can refer back to it when you need it. It is BIG, and there’s a lot of information there. You’ll want to take it a step at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

The Foods That Have the Most Plastic

When it comes to plastic in our foods, it’s clear that awareness is key to making informed choices for both our health and the planet. While it may be disheartening to learn that plastics have infiltrated even our most basic dietary staples, there’s hope in knowing that small changes can lead to significant impact.

By opting for fresh, whole foods, minimizing our reliance on single-use plastics, and choosing sustainable packaging options, we can reduce our plastic footprint and safeguard our food from the insidious presence of microplastics.

Let’s empower ourselves with knowledge, embrace sustainable living practices, and pave the way for a future where our plates are free from plastic pollution. When it comes to protecting our health and the health of our planet, every bite counts!

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