A new research article published by the Food Packaging Forum together with researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Eawag) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in the peer-reviewed journal npj Science of Food shows that the normal and intended use of food packaging and other food contact articles (FCAs) can contaminate foodstuffs with micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs).
Examples of normal use include opening a plastic bottle, steeping a plastic tea bag, or chopping on a plastic cutting board.
The systematic review includes 103 studies that have investigated plastic particles smaller than 10 mm in foodstuffs or food simulants that had been in contact with an FCA made partly or entirely of plastic. Data extraction from these studies showed that 96% reported the presence of MNPs in foodstuffs/food simulants.
The collected data are freely accessible through the easy-to-navigate FCCMiNo dashboard. This tool allows users to filter included data by the type of FCA, the main food contact material, the medium analyzed, whether MNPs were detected, and if so, of what size and polymer type.
As part of the systematic evidence map, the authors further critically appraised the reliability of the data. Only seven of the 103 studies were designed to fully answer the research question and provided data of appropriate quality. The general data quality was low in almost half of the included studies with the most common flaws being a lack of using blanks, providing raw data, or carrying out method validation.
Furthermore, the appraisal showed that studies are mostly not designed to elucidate the origins of MNPs in food and beverages. To establish a causal link between the FCAs and MNPs; a certain experimental design is needed, e.g., kinetic where MNP migration from plastic FCAs is measured over time and/or at different temperatures. Only around one third of the included studies applied a kinetic design or an increasing number of use cycles (e.g., bottle opening).
To better understand the scale of human exposure to MNPs and the mechanisms that contribute to their release from plastic FCAs, the authors suggest that future study designs should reflect the intended use of FCAs and how changes in that use affect the migration of MNPs (e.g., storage at different temperatures).
This systematic evidence map helps fill gaps in knowledge on the source of MNPs in foodstuffs. However, it also shows that additional research is needed to better characterize MNP migration related to FCA materials and uses. Importantly, implementing a harmonized testing and reporting framework is key to ensuring reliable and comparable data, which can inform future policy decisions. According to the researchers, enacting regulations that mandate MNP migration testing for FCAs can help better protect consumers from the potential human health impacts of MNPs. Consumers can also prevent exposure by choosing plastic-free packaging and kitchen utensils.
Republished courtesy of Food Packaging Forum