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Episode Transcription
From Washington State University Extension, welcome to Food Safety in a Minute, I’m Susie Craig.
Did you know microplastics have infiltrated every part of our planet? Microplastics are tiny pellets of plastic and small pieces formed during the breakdown of plastics. They are found in the food we eat and the water we drink. In a study reported by the British Broadcasting System (BBC), microplastics were found thirty-five (35) inches below the surface of the soil. Food tests show microplastics in tea, salt, seaweed, milk, seafood, honey, sugar, beer, vegetables, soft drinks, and bottled water.
Currently, scientists do not know the health impact of ingesting dietary microplastics. However, the chemicals found in plastics have been linked to cancer, heart disease, poor fetal development, inflammation, and allergic reactions.
This is Susie Craig, thanks for listening to Food Safety in a Minute.
Resources
Isabelle Gerretsen. How Microplastics are Infiltrating the Food You Eat. BBC. 1/3/23. Accessed online 9/12/23.
Klaudia Oleksuiuk et al. Microplastic in Food and Waster Current Knowledge and Awareness of
Consumers. Nutrients. 11/17/22. National Library of Medicine-National Center for Biotechnology
Information. Accessed online 9/12/23.