Microplastics are these plastic particles that come from food packaging, pollution, and processing. You might be surprised to know that even the food that we consider “healthy” contains microplastics! Experts warned that consuming them might pose health risks like inflammation and hormone disruption. If you’re aiming for a clean diet, then you might want to rethink these 12 “healthy” foods.
12. Dairy Products
Dairy Products such as milk may be rich in calcium and protein, but some products are actually too highly processed that they come in contact with too much plastic that contaminates the product. Instead, you can opt for organic Dairy Products that are far less processed.
11. Plant-Based Nuggets
While you might be saving the lives of chickens, certain brands offering plant-based nugget options secretly contain microplastics. The reason behind this is the possible contamination during its processing, packaging, and distribution. In fact, data published by the Environmental Research study suggests that they contain at least 100 pieces of microplastics.
10. Himalayan Pink Salt
While the Himalayan Pink Salt is preferably healthier than your usual table salt, it might contain more microplastics. In fact, a 2023 study published in the National Library of Medicine revealed that the processing and packaging of it are airborne which is why particles of microplastics make their way to it.
9. Rice
Rice may be a good source of carbohydrates, fiber, and B vitamins, but they also contain particles of microplastics. According to a study from the University of Queensland, people swallow at least 3 to 4 milligrams for every ½ cup that they take. The culprit is the rice paddies that microplastics infiltrate.
8. Bottled Water
You might want to bring your own water from a stainless steel water bottle instead of buying bottled ones. Why? There were bits of plastic found in a used bottle of water, and 90 percent of it was found to be microplastics. The more that you open those bottle caps, the more they get contaminated.
7. Seafood
Seafood may be rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, and packed with vitamins; however, you might want to watch out for microplastics. Seafood such as fish and shellfish often ingest plastic particles, thinking that they are food. Shellfish might possibly filter water up to 50 grams, leading them to ingest microplastic. On the other hand, food that farmed fish consume might also contain microplastics from its packaging.
6. Ready-to-Eat Salads
Grabbing a packaged salad may be an on-the-go way to be healthy. Since it’s a healthy and convenient way, they’re perfect for busy people who have no time for a homecooked meal. However, the container that the salad holds onto might contain microplastics that add to your salad.
5. Seaweed
Similar to the concept of how microplastics go to shellfish and fish, once the polluted ocean goes under Seaweed, they likely trap the small particles of it. Even conventional washing methods of process to clean Seaweed are ineffective in removing them.
4. Tea Bags
If you’re still using Tea Bags for your tea, then you might want to go natural. Why? Well, tea bags are found to contain plastics, especially papery ones. They contain plastic fibers, which is why the bag doesn’t break while your tea is soaking. In an Environmental Study published in ACS Publications, they were found to have at least 11.6 billion microplastic particles.
3. Honey
We add Honey as a natural sweetener in our fruit breakfast bowls instead of the common white sugar. However, you might want to limit your honey intake as they are one of the healthy foods found with microplastics. In fact, a study from Science Direct found that at least 75% of Honey in Turkey alone.
2. Carrots
Rooty vegetables such as Carrots – which is a big edible root — get infiltrated by microplastics. In fact, they were found to have over 100,000 pieces per gram of microplastics. These unwanted microplastics enter the root and accumulate even the edible part of the vegetable.
1. Apples
We all know that an Apple a day keeps the doctor away. But believe it or not, Apples are the fruits with the highest microplastic count. Well, an average of 195,000 plastic particles per gram were found. The reason behind this is that Apple trees absorb these tiny particles from contaminated soil from their root systems. This contamination may be attributed to agricultural practices and pollution.
