Warning.. Death Bottles Contaminate Food and Drink with Plastics and Carcinogens

SadaNews - A new study has reported that tearing off the plastic wrap from pre-packaged meats or fruits and vegetables can lead to contamination of food with micro and nano plastic particles.

According to a report by the American news network CNN, plastic contamination can also occur when unwrapping cold meats and cheese or steeping a tea bag in hot water or opening milk or orange juice containers. The study also found that bottles and glass containers with metal caps coated in plastic can also shed microplastic particles.

Glass Bottle Caps

Lisa Zimmerman, the lead researcher of the study published in NPJ Science of Food, stated that the friction from repeatedly opening and closing glass and plastic bottle caps can release significant amounts of micro and nano plastic particles into beverages.

Zimmerman, a scientific communications officer at the Food Packaging Forum, a non-profit based in Zurich, Switzerland, which studies chemical materials in food contact materials, said: "Research shows that the number of micro plastic particles increases with each bottle opening, so it can be said that the use of food contact materials leads to the release of micro and nano plastics."

First Systematic Evidence

According to the study, researchers measured micro and nano plastics in food products and beverages such as canned fish, rice, mineral water, tea bags, table salt, prepared foods, and soft drinks.

Zimmerman added that "this is the first systematic evidence on how the normal and intended use of food packaged in plastic is contaminated with micro and nano plastics." A separate investigation conducted by the Food Packaging Forum and published in September 2024 found that over 3,600 chemicals leak into consumer products during food manufacturing, processing, packaging, and storage, and ultimately end up in the human body.

79 Carcinogenic Substances

It is known that 79 of these chemicals used in food processing cause cancer, genetic mutations, endocrine issues, reproductive problems, and other health issues, according to a study conducted in September 2024.

Although scientists have long been aware of potential toxic chemicals resulting from plastic leaching into food, "what is less apparent and extremely concerning is the extent to which food packaging is a source of exposure to plastic particles and what that means for human health," said David Andrews, acting chief scientist at the Environmental Working Group, a health and environmental advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C.

Micro and Nano Materials

Micro plastic particles are polymer fragments ranging in size from less than 5 mm to 1 micrometer. Any size smaller than that is classified as nanoplastic and measured in parts per billion of a meter.

Experts say that nano plastic particles, which are 1,000 times smaller than the average width of a human hair, are so small that they can travel through the tissues of the digestive system or lungs into the bloodstream. With blood circulation, these particles can disseminate harmful synthetic chemicals throughout the body and inside cells.

In the Human Brain and Body

A series of recent studies have detected micro and nano plastic particles in human brain tissues, testes, penis, human blood, lung and liver tissues, urine, stool, breast milk, and placenta. In the first analysis showing harm to human health, a study conducted in March 2024 found that individuals with micro or nano plastic particles in their carotid artery tissues were twice as likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke, or die from any cause within the next three years, compared to individuals without any micro plastic particles.

Lack of Standard Protocol

Recent research delved into thousands of documents to find studies that successfully identified and measured plastics in tested foods, eventually narrowing the list down to 103 studies for review.

Research on micro plastic particles is relatively recent, and studies conducted so far often use different methods to identify and measure micro plastics. Jane Monk, the lead researcher of the study and the managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, stated that the absence of a standard protocol may complicate the accurate comparison of results.

Monk added that "the novel aspect of the analytical study is that it not only gathered all studies but also examined the scientific reliability of their methods. A critical evaluation step was added, resulting in the identification of 7 highly reliable studies – which highlighted the urgent need for more high-quality research."

Ultra-Processed Foods

According to the findings of the analytical study, ultra-processed foods contained significantly higher amounts of micro plastics compared to minimally processed foods.

Monk said, "The increased complexity of manufacturing steps using ultra-processed foods can increase the contact time with plastic food processing equipment," explaining that "this increases the likelihood of migration of micro and nano plastics." She added that migration to food increased when plastic containers were heated and washed for reuse, exposed to sunlight, and subjected to mechanical stress – such as the twisting used to open a bottle cap. Monk said this type of repeated stress could lead to higher wear than simply opening a plastic container, thus future research should take into account how plastics are used as well as the types of plastics.

Nearly a Quarter of a Million Plastic Particles

Results from one of the studies included in the new review revealed that one liter of water contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles from seven types of plastic, with 90% classified as nanoplastics, and the remaining being microplastic particles.

Other examples include melamine, used in the manufacture of plastic bowls, plates, cups, and utensils.

Zimmerman said, "In one study, researchers washed a melamine bowl 10 times, 20 times, 50 times, and 100 times, measuring the amount of micro plastic particles released each time. Then they put something in the bowl and tested it, finding more micro plastic particles after increased washing."