Today’s generation of parents are dealing with new concerns that previous parents could never have imagined. The internet, social media, an increase of food allergens and now microplastics are added to that list.
Microplastics was a term that didn’t even exist before 2004, when Professor Richard Thompson coined it. Thompson and his team published scientific research discussing their findings of microplastic fragments in oceans and marine life.
Fast-forward to 2025, and several studies in the last twenty years have shown that microplastics aren’t just in our oceans—they are basically everywhere. From the food we eat to the water we drink and, most recently, our chewing gum. According to the UN, 23 million tons of plastic waste ends up in our water sources every year.
So, as parents, how concerned should we be? And is there anything we can do about it?
What Are Microplastics?
Microplastics are defined as pieces of plastic that are less than 5mm in size and don’t dissolve in water. Typically, these pieces are broken off of larger plastics and have been fragmented. Other types are made intentionally, such as beads in facial scrubs or those little packets in shoe boxes. The main issue with microplastics is that due to their size and prevalence, the process of filtering them out of water, soil, and other sources is extremely difficult.
Microplastics In Our Food
According to the World Economic Forum, the average person can eat, drink, or breathe in between 78,000 and 211,000 microplastic particles yearly.
Studies show that microplastics can be found in soil, coastal sediments, freshwater, beach sand, and even rain and snow. So, it’s no surprise that the animals and their by-products that we consume contain plastic. Plus, many of our foods come packaged in some sort of plastic container. In addition to that, we rely on items such as plastic dishes, cutting boards, and dish sponges, causing us to inevitably consume microplastics.
In a 2024 article, the FDA admitted that “microplastics and nanoplastics may be present in food, primarily from environmental contamination where foods are grown or raised.” This article also revealed that research has shown microplastics in common food products such as “salt, seafood, sugar, beer, bottled water, honey, milk, and tea.”
A new pilot study from The American Chemical Society tested 10 mainstream types of chewing gum. They found that the gum shed similar amounts of microplastics into saliva, whether natural or artificial.
Whether you realize it or not, you consume microplastics every day.
How Microplastics Affect Our Health
But does consuming microplastics hurt us? In animal studies, microplastics have been found in several main organs, including reproductive organs and crossing the blood-brain barrier.
A 2024 study from the University of New Mexico studied the consumption of microplastics in mice over four weeks, documenting the effects on the gut and the rest of the body. Researchers found that “microplastics had migrated out of the gut into the tissues of the liver, kidney and even the brain.” In just one month of microplastic exposure, they found changes – imagine a lifetime of exposure.
Last month, the American College of Cardiology released evidence linking microplastics to common chronic health issues. “The results revealed that microplastics concentration was positively correlated with high blood pressure, diabetes, and stroke.”
Boston University also released research findings last month that indicate microplastics contribute to antibiotic resistance. “Researchers found that bacteria exposed to microplastics became resistant to multiple types of antibiotics commonly used to treat infections.” Neila Gross, one of the researchers on the project, stated, “The rate of antibiotic resistance on the microplastic was so high compared to other materials, that she performed the experiments multiple times, testing different combinations of antibiotics and types of plastic material. Each time, the results remained consistent.”
The FDA states that there are currently no standardized methods for detecting, quantifying, or characterizing microplastics and nanoplastics, making research on their effects on health difficult.
Reducing Microplastics In Your Diet
While it is nearly impossible to avoid microplastics in your home and diet completely, there are several ways to reduce how much you and your family consume.
- Stop buying bottled water and use reusable stainless steel or glass containers.
- Avoid using plastic grocery bags; switch to reusable ones.
- Ditch plastic dishes and cutting boards.
- Don’t store food in plastic containers.
- If possible, purchase organic produce.
- Chemicals in plastic cling to fatty foods, so decrease red meat consumption.