An expert has revealed 10 foods that contain a lot of microplasticsit’s a ‘simple exchange’ that can help you avoid it.
Small pieces of plastic less than five millimeters in length, or smaller than a pencil eraser, attached to a pencil eraser. cancerDNA damage, cell damage and other health issues.
Although many foods and drinks stored in plastic bags contain microplastics, some products contain large amounts of microplastics.
Business owner and anti-plastic educator ‘Beatrice the Anti-Plastic Lady’ shares the 10 most common foods and drinks that contain the most microplastics, and reveals some that are safe and healthy.
Although seafood has been known to carry microplastics, they have shown a few less common mistakes such as real salt and puree bags.
Alcohol also made the top 10 list because the drink is being processed in different plastic containers.
Beatrice suggests choosing beer that is heavily filtered or stored in a glass instead of a can.
An expert has revealed the 10 foods that contain the most microplastics, and ‘easy swaps’ to help you avoid them.
In general, processed foods contain more microplastics than less processed alternatives, such as frozen chicken nuggets and whole chicken breasts.
This is because the more processed goods are, the more they come into contact with plastic food processing equipment, creating more opportunities for contamination.
And unsurprisingly, food packaged in plastic contains a lot of microplastics, especially those that are heated inside their packaging.
When the container deteriorates over time or is exposed to heat, it leaches nutrients into the food.
But that’s not the only thing that can contain plastic particles.
Beatrice recorded them in a video on TikTok (@antiplasticlady), where she posts educational videos about the dangers of plastic pollution and tips for living a plastic-free life.
“In the last few years, scientists have linked microplastics to many dangerous things that happen to your body, including several types of cancer, cognitive decline and disruption of the gut microbiome,” he added.
1. Seafood
“The amount of microplastics in the ocean doubles every six years, and it all ends up in our seafood,” Beatrice said.
Cows, crabs, lobsters and almost every type of fish are just a few examples of seafood that contain ‘very high’ levels of microplastics, he said.
In fact, one study showed that people who eat a lot of shellfish eat about 11,000 microplastic particles every year.
Unfortunately, Beatrice said that seafood is one of the items on her list that she doesn’t swap out easily.
‘You just need to limit your intake and try to avoid overcooked fish when eating seafood,’ he advises.
2. Salt
America’s best-produced salt is the best option when it comes to microplastic pollution, according to Beatrice.
‘Unprocessed sea salt contains very high levels of microplastics,’ said Beatrice.
Interestingly, researchers have found that common salt in the US has much lower levels of microplastics than bulk salt, such as that used in Asian countries. he explained.
This is because unrefined salt contains plastic contaminants from the oceans it is harvested from, and in this case, processing works to remove most of the microplastics.
He also said that pink Himalayan sea salt, known for its high mineral content and ‘healthy benefits,’ contains high levels of microplastics due to the mining methods used to extract it.
Therefore, highly processed American table salt is the best option when it comes to microplastic contamination, Beatrice concluded.
3. Preparation of therapeutic milk
Apart from salt, ‘The further away food is from where it comes from, the more it comes into contact with plastic,’ said Beatrice.
Studies have shown that highly processed milk such as powdered cheese and plain milk contains more microplastics than other less processed alternatives.
‘Try to find dairy products that are not heavily processed. This would be like locally produced milk where possible, and cheese,’ he said.
It is important to note, however, that ‘raw,’ or unpasteurized milk, comes with health risks.
Eating them can give you dangerous, sometimes deadly germs like E.coli, Salmonella and Listeria.
4. Food cleaning bags
bags of refined food are cooked and processed in packages that are sold, destroying the food inside with microplastics.
These snacks are popular with young children, but the bags introduce microplastics into the fruits and vegetables inside.
‘Heating increases the amount of toxic chemicals and microplastics that get into that food. And what do you think? Plastic bags of baby food are heated and heated in plastic bags,” said Beatrice.
“Now there have been several studies that have found many microplastics and chemical adhesives, several bisphenols and phthalates, which exceed the limits of concern,” he added.
Her suggestion is to ditch the bags and give kids fresh, unprocessed fruits and vegetables as much as possible.
5. Food in foil bags
These foods, such as tuna, lentils or bean bags, are cooked in the bags they are sold in, similar to baby food bags, Beatrice said.
His advice is ‘Avoid. Take dried beans, lentils, cook them yourself and reduce tuna fish.’
6. Tea in nylon bags
Nylon tea bags release billions of micro- and nanoplastics into a single cup of tea
Nylon tea bags release tons of microplastics into your hot cup of tea, Beatrice explained.
One study found that immersing a single nylon tea bag in 200°F water releases about 11.6 billion microplastics and 3.1 billion nanoplastics — even tiny plastic particles — into the cup of tea.
Nanoplastics are 150 times smaller than a hair, and research shows they are small enough to enter human cells.
“Try instead to get green tea and use stainless steel again, or just use tea in paper bags,” says Beatrice.
7. Processed meat
Researchers tested the microplastics in various meat products in American supermarkets, and found that the most processed products. contained more microplastics per gram.
This includes foods such as breaded shrimp, chicken breasts and protein foods.
All the proteins tested contained microplastics, Beatrice explained, but the more the product is processed, the more plastic it becomes contaminated with.
‘Try to get things that have been slightly processed,’ he advised.
8. Seaweed
The tiny insects get stuck on the surface of the grass, clinging to its cracks and fibers.
“This is similar to the idea of how polluted our oceans are,” Beatrice said.
Small particles are trapped on the surface of the grass, sticking to its cracks and fibers. Another study found that conventional washing methods are ineffective at removing most microplastics from seawater.
Seaweed is eaten all over the world, but it is especially important in Asian cuisine. The same study found that Chinese people consume more than 17,000 microplastics per person per year through seawater alone.
This represents 13 percent of their annual consumption of microplastics.
Like seafood, there’s no substitute for these foods, Beatrice said.
‘Try and limit your consumption of seaweed. I’m sorry,’ he instructed.
9. Honey
Researchers have tested honey from around the world for microplastics, and found that this culture is highly contaminated.
In this case, the microplastic damage is not from the processing, but the bees themselves.
When bees pollinate in polluted areas, they pick up small pieces of plastic that get into the honey.
This is why one study found that honey produced in urban areas contains more microplastics than honey produced in rural areas.
“Try to get one from the countryside, not the urban honey,” Beatrice said.
10. Alcohol
Numerous studies have found microplastics in many types of beer, including 12 American brands made with water from the Great Lakes.
‘Making beer involves brewing hops and hot water…They often use different plastic materials to make the beer,’ said Beatrice.
Several studies have found microplastics in many types of beer, including 12 American brands made with water from the Great Lakes.
But the content of microplastics “doesn’t really correlate with the amount of microplastics in the water they’re using,” Beatrice said.
As with table salt, studies have found that some larger, more processed varieties contain less microplastics because of the amount of filtration the beer has gone through after consumption, he said.
Another study found that German beer tends to contain more microplastics.
“Try putting one in a glass bottle, it won’t help,” said Beatrice. ‘And if you go to one of the bigger brands, or try to go to one that’s more filtered when you’re drinking.’
