Microplastics in Food and Drink: What the Studies Found, Source by Source

Plastic tea bags — billions of particles per cup

A 2019 study by Hernandez and colleagues at McGill University, published in Environmental Science & Technology, measured microplastic release from commercially available plastic pyramid tea bags steeped in water at 95°C. The tea was removed from the bags before testing to isolate the bag material (nylon and PET). Result: a single plastic teabag released approximately 11.6 billion microplastic particles and 3.1 billion nanoplastic particles into the beverage — "several orders of magnitude higher than plastic loads previously reported in other foods."⁵

What to do: Switch to loose-leaf tea brewed in a stainless steel or glass infuser, or brands using plastic-free paper bags.

Plastic cutting boards — millions of particles per year

A 2023 study by Yadav and colleagues at North Dakota State University measured microplastic release from polyethylene and polypropylene cutting boards during realistic chopping of carrots. The team estimated food preparation on a plastic board could release 14–71 million polyethylene microplastics and 79 million polypropylene microplastics per board per year⁶.

What to do: Switch to wood, glass, or bamboo cutting boards.

Bottled water — more particles than tap water

Multiple studies have found higher microplastic concentrations in bottled water than in filtered tap water, attributed to the container itself rather than the water source¹⁹. The WHO's 2019 review noted that bottled water contained on average higher particle counts than tap water in studies that compared both²⁴.

A 2023 PNAS study (Qian et al.) examining three popular bottled water brands using stimulated Raman scattering microscopy found an average of approximately 240,000 nanoplastic particles per litre — far exceeding previous estimates.

What to do: Use a quality water filter rather than relying on bottled water.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum is manufactured from a polymer base — in most commercial brands this is a synthetic material including polyisobutylene, polyvinyl acetate, and polyethylene. The act of chewing releases particles from this polymer matrix into saliva, which is swallowed.

What to do: Natural chicle-based gums do not use synthetic polymer bases.

Plastic food containers and heating

Heating food in plastic containers accelerates both chemical leaching and potential microplastic particle release. The WHO (2019) noted that elevated temperature is a recognised accelerant of plastic degradation and chemical migration²⁴.

What to do: Heat and store food in glass or ceramic containers. Do not microwave food in plastic, including containers labelled "microwave safe" — this designation refers to thermal stability, not to the absence of chemical or particle migration.

How much are we consuming through food and water?

The 2019 systematic analysis by Cox and colleagues estimated that food and beverages account for the majority of microplastic ingestion for most adults, with annual estimates ranging from 39,000–74,000 particles depending on whether bottled or tap water is consumed¹⁶.