You're Eating Plastic for Dinner

I don't want to alarm you, but there's plastic in a lot of what you're eating. We told you about micro and nano plastics in bottled water, and now, a new study found plastic in 90% of fruit and veggie samples, which is pretty gross when you think about it.

What You Need to Know About Microplastics in Your Food

The study says that it's the first diet risks assessment of microplastics for the general population. As a refresher, micro or nanoplastics are tiny plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters down to a mere 1 micrometer in size. Microplastics can enter our food supply through our waterways and are present in many of the fish and seafood we eat, in addition to being ingested by various land mammals that we consume for food. If you're vegetarian, this most recent study shows that unfortunately, you're not in the clear, either. Plants can absorb microplastics through their roots, transferring them to the fruits and vegetables we eat. 

Here's a breakdown of what researchers are finding in our food:

• Fruits and Vegetables: The February 2024 study showed that as a general category, fruits showed the highest microplastics contamination compared to vegetables. Apples had the most microplastics contamination, while lettuce had the least. In the vegetable category, carrots scored the highest for microplastics contamination.

• Salt: A 2023 study revealed microplastics in various salts, with Himalayan pink salt having the most.

• Sugar: Research from 2022 suggests sugar might be a significant source of microplastic exposure.

• Tea: Brewing a single plastic tea bag - yep, that's a thing - can release billions of micro and nano plastic particles, according to a 2024 study by McGill. University. I was bummed to learn that a shocking number of popular brands use plastic in their tea bags. Pro tip: Avoid plastic being steeped into your tea by using loose tea, instead. 

• Rice: A University of Queensland study (2024) found rice to contain microplastics, with instant rice having the highest amount. Washing rice can reduce contamination by up to 40%.

• Bottled Water: Shockingly, a March 2024 study detected an average of 240,000 plastic particles in just one liter of bottled water! I know, you've likely already heard this before, but when we're pretty much chugging microplastic smoothies, it's worth repeating. 

Potential Health Risks of Microplastics

The long-term health effects of microplastics being found in various human tissues is still under investigation, but recent studies have linked the presence of microplastics in arteries to a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and death. 

Experts warn that nanoplastics, even smaller than microplastics, pose the biggest concern. These minuscule particles are small enough to literally invade cells, releasing harmful chemicals and disrupting vital processes in our bodies. A separate study released in February of this year showed the presence of microplastics in human placentas.

How to Reduce Your Exposure to Microplastics

The bottom line? This stuff is seriously not to be messed with. While we're all waiting on the TBD final outcome of ongoing research, it's probably best to dial back our exposure wherever we can. In the meantime:

• Get friendly with glass and stainless steel for food storage.

• Don't nuke your dinner in Tupperware. Use glass for the microwave or heat food on the stovetop in a stainless steel pan.

• Prioritize fresh foods and limit processed foods wrapped in plastic.

• Drink tap or filtered water from a reusable (plastic-free) container instead of bottled water.

I don't know about you, but I'm hoping to avoid an obituary announcing to the world that I died from an overabundance of plastic confetti in my veins. And while I've already adopted the easy peasy tips above, I'll certainly be switching my tea ASAP.