It was estimated that humans may ingest 0.1-5 g of microplastics weekly through various exposure pathways, according to the research study “Estimation of Mass of microplastics Ingested-A Pivotal First Step Towards Human Health Risk Assessment.”

The enduring impact of our contemporary lifestyle includes plastic pollution, which has become so pervasive that it infiltrates into each bite we consume. This phenomenon happens because plastics can sustain for extended periods in the environment, resisting degradation and consequently allowing microplastics to easily penetrate the human food chain.

Exposure to these tiny particles occurs through various sources such as food of both animal and plant origin, food additives, beverages, and plastic food packaging. Given the threat microplastics have on human health, it is crucial to prioritize food safety and implement stringent regulations to control plastic usage through proper management.

Understanding Microplastics & Their Integration Into Foods

Microplastics refer to diminutive plastic particles, ranging in size from 0.1 to 5000 micrometers. These tiny fragments find their way into various environments, including the food chain, with a particular focus on their presence in seafood. The genesis of microplastics can be categorized into primary and secondary origins. Primary microplastics are intentionally manufactured to serve specific purposes in products like detergents and cosmetics. Conversely, secondary microplastics originate from the breakdown of larger plastic items sourced from diverse origins.

The infiltration of microplastics and nanoplastics into our food, especially seafood, has raised significant concerns. Approximately 50 years ago, the detection of microplastics as pollutants in marine ecosystems marked the beginning of their recognition as a pressing issue. These minuscule particles seamlessly enter our sewage systems, integrating themselves into the water cycle. Once they enter this cycle, microplastics disperse into the air we breathe and the food we consume, becoming an inadvertent yet persistent part of our daily lives.

The key sources for the incorporation of microplastics into our daily diets can be summarized as the following:

1. Water Contamination

Water serves as a primary vehicle for chronic exposure to microplastics due to daily consumption and its multifaceted role in food production, processing, and sanitation. Sources of contamination range from surface run-off after rainfall to industrial effluents, plastic waste degradation, and even atmospheric deposition. While conventional wastewater treatment can remove over 90% of microplastics, water sources, especially bottled water, might still contain substantial amounts.

2. Beverages and Alcoholic Drinks

Not just water, but other beverages and alcoholic drinks also exhibit contamination by microplastics. Studies show higher levels in bottled drinks, raising concerns about the sources of contamination—whether from water, environmental factors during production, constituent components, or packaging materials.

3. Fish and Shellfish

Plastic finds its way into water bodies through activities on both land and in sea/freshwater settings. Yet, around 80% of plastic waste in oceans comes from activities on land. Monitoring the levels of microplastics in fish and shellfish serves as a reliable measure of plastic contamination in aquatic habitats. The increasing worry revolves around the potential movement of microplastics through various aquatic food webs, including benthic and pelagic systems. Predatory creatures might unknowingly accumulate microplastics by consuming contaminated prey, raising concerns about the trophic transfer of these pollutants.

4. Salts, Sugars, and Processed Foods

Daily consumables like salts and sugars might harbor microplastics, though research in sugars is limited. Processed foods, influenced by environmental sources, raw materials, and packaging, may contain microplastics. Unlike fish, cleaning might not necessarily mitigate microplastics in processed foods, presenting a direct risk of ingestion upon consumption.

5. Plants

Terrestrial plants face exposure to plastic pollution from various sources, potentially leading to contamination of edible plant tissues. Studies demonstrate the presence of microplastics in plant tissues, raising concerns about human exposure through the consumption of contaminated produce.

6. Food Contact Materials

Everyday food contact materials like plastic bottles, containers, and packaging can introduce microplastics into food and beverages. These materials, despite regulations, pose emerging food safety hazards due to the presence of various types of microplastics.

Researchers continue to investigate the implications of microplastic exposure, striving to comprehend the full extent of their impact on ecosystems and human biology. Monitoring and mitigating strategies are being developed to address this global concern, aiming to curtail the pervasive presence and potential repercussions of these prevalent pollutants.

Effective Food Safety Management for Combating Microplastic Risks

Understanding the nexus between microplastics and food safety remains an evolving domain, marked by various uncertainties. The risks stemming from microplastic ingestion depend on both the inherent hazard and the level of exposure. Assessing these risks necessitates a grasp of the hazard potential, exposure quantities in human food, and their consequential effects, including establishing dose-response relationships and identifying threshold levels.

The assessment of microplastics’ impact on food safety is still in its infancy. To adequately incorporate these potential hazards into a robust food safety plan, additional information regarding their prevalence, risk evaluation, and mode of action is imperative. Efforts to bridge these knowledge gaps will be pivotal in crafting effective strategies to remediate microplastic-related risks in our food supply chain. Anyhow, some fundamental measures for controlling microplastic hazards in food include:

Prevention at the Source

• Reducing Plastic Use: Encouraging the use of alternative materials like biodegradable or compostable packaging can significantly reduce the introduction of microplastics into the food chain during production and distribution processes.
• Improving Waste Management: Implementing better waste management practices, including recycling and proper disposal, prevents plastic waste from entering ecosystems where they break down into microplastics, eventually entering the food chain.

Rigorous Testing and Monitoring

• Analytical Techniques: Advanced analytical methods like Raman spectroscopy or Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy allow for more accurate detection and quantification of microplastics in food, ensuring better monitoring of contamination levels.
• Regular Monitoring: Establishing routine monitoring programs in food production facilities helps track and identify sources of contamination, enabling proactive measures to mitigate risks.

Stringent Regulations and Standards

• Setting Limits: Establishing maximum limits for microplastics in food products ensures a consistent and safe standard for consumers, prompting industries to adhere to strict quality control measures.
• Regulatory Frameworks: Governments can enforce regulations that mandate specific practices in food production, processing, and packaging to minimize the introduction and spread of microplastics.

Research and Innovation

• Alternative Materials: Research into alternative packaging materials that are not only eco-friendly but also do not pose risks of microplastic contamination helps transition away from conventional plastics.
• Technological Solutions: Developing innovative technologies such as filtration systems or treatments to remove microplastics during food processing can be crucial in ensuring food safety.

Collaboration and Cooperation

• Industry Collaboration: Collaborating among different sectors—food production, packaging, waste management, and scientific research—facilitates an all-encompassing approach to tackling microplastic contamination.
• International Cooperation: Working with international organizations and agreements promotes a unified global effort to address this issue, ensuring consistent standards and practices across borders.

Continuous Assessment and Improvement

• Periodic Reviews: Regularly updating methodologies and standards based on new scientific findings ensures that strategies remain effective and aligned with the latest knowledge.
• Adaptive Management: Flexibility in adapting strategies enables stakeholders to respond promptly to emerging challenges or changes in the understanding of microplastic risks.

By fusing these techniques into a cohesive framework, stakeholders can effectively manage and resolve the risks posed by microplastics in the food supply chain, ultimately ensuring safer food for consumers.

Continual contamination of the food chain with microplastic particles persists as long as plastic remains prevalent in our surroundings. As microplastic contamination escalates, governments might institute safety inspections across the supply chain, akin to the scrutiny applied to detect physical and chemical contaminants in food products.

Technology offers promising solutions to this plastic predicament. Innovations range from fungi capable of consuming plastic to robotic aquatic systems designed to extract microplastics from the ocean. These advancements hint at a future where microplastics may not indefinitely infiltrate our food supply.

Manage Microplastic Hazards in Your Food Industry With Smart Food Safe

Smart Food Safe introduces an innovative approach to curbing food safety risks such as microplastics through an interconnected set of digital modules designed to ensure the highest safety and quality standards within the food industry.

• Using Smart HACCP, hazards related to microplastic contamination are identified and managed through digital hazard analysis, Critical Control Point (CCP), and Preventive Control Point (PCP) implementation.
• Smart Docs simplifies the creation of comprehensive policy and procedure documentation systems specifically geared toward controlling microplastics. Through digital documentation, compliance is consistently maintained.
• Smart Record enhances monitoring for the detection and removal of microplastic contaminants, utilizing the power of digital records for a more effective strategy.
• To guarantee control over microplastic contamination in incoming raw materials, Smart Supplier establishes a risk-based supplier approval process and evaluates performance accordingly.
• Automation of audit management and closing compliance gaps is achieved through Smart Audit, creating a robust surveillance system against microplastic contamination.
• Smart Training ensures that your workforce remains well-informed and trained in protocols for controlling microplastics, enabling a proactive approach to maintaining safety within the food chain.