The Plastic We Eat: An Unseen Health Crisis

Plastic is everywhere, from shopping bags to food packaging and beverage containers. We are consuming plastic in our food and drink, and even breathing it in. Research suggests that the average person eats, drinks and breathes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year. This is considered an underestimate, with some studies suggesting the number could be as high as 193,200 per person per year. The largest source of microplastics is drinking water, with bottled water containing an average of 94 particles per litre.

Microplastics in drinking water

It is estimated that humans consume between 11,845 to 193,200 microplastics per person per year, ranging between 7.7g and 287g per person per year. The largest source of these microplastics is drinking water, both tap and bottled. In fact, the average number of microplastic particles per litre of bottled water is 94.

Microplastics are formed when plastics break down over time, fragmenting into much smaller particles. These particles are often over a thousand times smaller than the width of a single human hair and can enter food or beverages at any stage before they are consumed. They can also enter our food and drink through the soil and water that crops are grown in.

The plastics industry generated over $600 billion in 2021, with shoppers around the world buying a million plastic bottles every minute and using 5 trillion plastic bags every year.

Microplastics in beer

It is estimated that humans consume between 11,845 to 193,200 microplastic particles per person per year, ranging between 7.7g and 287g per person per year. The largest source of these microplastics is drinking water, with bottled water containing an average of 94 particles per litre and tap water also containing microplastics.

Microplastics are also found in beer, with an average of 32 particles per litre. This makes beer the second-highest source of microplastics. While the health effects of consuming microplastics are not yet fully understood, it is clear that plastic is a pervasive and persistent issue, with shoppers around the world buying a million plastic bottles every minute and using 5 trillion plastic bags every year.

The presence of microplastics in beer is a cause for concern, as it indicates that our food and beverage supply chains are contaminated with plastic particles. These particles can enter the brewing process at various stages, from the water used to the packaging and distribution of the final product. While the exact sources of microplastics in beer are not yet fully understood, it is clear that plastic contamination is a widespread issue that requires urgent attention.

Breweries and beverage companies have a responsibility to ensure the safety and quality of their products, and it is crucial that they take steps to address the issue of microplastic contamination. This may include improving filtration systems, reducing the use of plastic packaging, and implementing more sustainable practices throughout the supply chain.

Consumers also have a role to play in reducing plastic consumption and microplastic contamination. This includes reducing the use of single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles and bags, and supporting companies that prioritise sustainability and environmental responsibility. By working together, we can reduce the presence of microplastics in our food and beverage supply chains and minimise the potential health risks associated with plastic consumption.

Microplastics in food

We are consuming a lot of plastic. One study estimates that humans potentially ingest between 11,845 to 193,200 microplastics per person per year, ranging between 7.7g and 287g per person per year. The largest source of microplastics is drinking water, both tap water and bottled water. Beer is also a significant source of microplastics.

Microplastics are tiny particles, often over a thousand times smaller than the width of a single human hair. They can enter our food and beverages at any stage before they are consumed. This includes crops growing in soil and water contaminated with microplastics.

The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over 14.5 million tons of plastic were used in containers and packaging alone in 2018. In a typical grocery store, plastic touches almost everything in sight, including shopping bags, food packaging, and beverage containers. As plastics break down over time, they fragment into much smaller particles, like microplastics and nanoplastics.

We are also exposed to microplastics through inhalation. Studies have shown that humans are at high risk of inhaling microplastics through aerosols and household dust, with lungs potentially exposed to an additional 26–130 microplastic particles every day.

Plastic packaging

Microplastics are a huge concern for human health. Globally, humans potentially ingest between 11,845 to 193,200 microplastics per person per year, ranging between 7.7g and 287g per person per year. The largest source of these microplastics is drinking water, with bottled water containing an average of 94 particles per litre. Beer is the second highest source of microplastics, with 32 particles per litre.

Crops are also at risk of contamination with microplastics and nanoplastics. They often grow in soil and water that is contaminated with these particles. This means that even if we avoid plastic packaging, we may still be consuming microplastics through our food and drink.

Plastic in the environment

Plastic is everywhere in the environment. In 1950, 1.7 million tons of plastic were produced, and now more than 400 million tons are manufactured annually. Shoppers around the world buy a million plastic bottles every minute and use 5 trillion plastic bags every year. In 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that over 14.5 million tons of plastic were used in containers and packaging alone.

As plastics break down over time, they fragment into much smaller particles, like microplastics and nanoplastics. These ultramicroscopic particles, often over a thousand times smaller than the width of a single human hair, can enter food or beverages at any stage before they’re consumed. Crops often grow in soil and water contaminated with micro and nanoplastics.

The average person eats, drinks and breathes between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles every year, and that is considered an underestimate. The biggest known source of microplastic which enters our bodies is bottled water. Based on 4 separate studies, the average number of particles per litre is 94. Beer has the second highest number, at 32.

Globally, humans potentially ingest between 11,845 to 193,200 microplastics per person per year ranging between 7.7g and 287g per person per year with the largest source being drinking water (both tap water and bottled water).

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