Food packaging, long viewed as a practical necessity rather than a public health issue, is now under scrutiny for its potential to release microscopic contaminants into the food and drinks it protects.
A new scientific review has found that routine interactions with food packaging—such as opening bottles, unwrapping plastic-sealed items, or reusing containers—can release substantial quantities of micro- and nanoplastics into food and beverages, potentially contributing to widespread human exposure.
Published in the journal NPJ Science of Food and led by researchers from the Zurich-based Food Packaging Forum, the study systematically evaluated peer-reviewed data on the presence of plastic particles in food. It identified food packaging itself as a direct and measurable source of microplastic contamination.
“The research shows the number of microplastics increases with each bottle opening, so therefore we can say it’s the usage of the food contact article which leads to micro- and nanoplastic release,” said lead author Lisa Zimmermann, Scientific Communication Officer at the Food Packaging Forum.
The findings build on prior research showing microplastics in beer, canned fish, rice, mineral water, tea bags, table salts, and soft drinks. But this is the first time researchers have mapped a clear correlation between the act of using packaging as intended—like twisting off bottle caps or heating contents in plastic—and the shedding of microplastics into food or drink.
Abrasion, Heat, and Reuse Amplify the Risk
The study highlights that consumer behavior—such as repeated use, heat exposure, and mechanical stress during opening—can significantly increase plastic shedding.
“There’s a higher number of manufacturing steps with ultraprocessed foods, which can increase the contact time with plastic food processing equipment,” noted Jane Muncke, the Forum’s Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer. “Thus increasing the chance of micro- and nanoplastic migration.”
The team reviewed over a thousand studies and narrowed the pool to 103 for detailed analysis, identifying seven as highly reliable based on rigorous criteria. These studies showed significantly higher levels of contamination in ultraprocessed foods compared to minimally processed alternatives.
One striking example involved bottled water, where one liter contained an average of 240,000 plastic particles—90% of which were nanoplastics. Another study showed that repeated washing of melamine bowls increased microplastic shedding, which then transferred into food upon reuse.
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