Microplastics found in pork, chicken, beef and other meat products

Microplastic contamination spreading to meat

Ocean Conservancy is based in the United States and is working to solve the problem of marine pollution. It is a marine conservation organization. Hundreds of people from all over the world have participated in beach cleanups organized by Ocean Conservancy so far. It is an NGO with a global influence.

The study, conducted jointly by Ocean Conservancy and the University of Toronto,  A report published on January 8, 2024 revealed some shocking facts.

The study found that microplastics were found in meat from pigs, chickens, beef, and other edible animals, including plant-based meat substitutes made from soybeans.

Microplastic pollution isn't just limited to seafood

Numerous studies have shown that microplastics are found in a variety of foods. They have been detected in mineral water , tap water, and even vegetables and fruits. Microplastics fall with rain and contaminate the soil, which then contaminates agricultural crops.

Microplastics discharged by humans end up in the ocean, so naturally they are also found in seafood, such as salmon, oysters, and mussels. The presence of microplastics in the digestive tracts of edible seafood is now common knowledge among researchers.

However, this study was not limited to seafood. A wide range of foods were surveyed, including pork, beef, chicken, tofu, and three types of plant-based meat alternatives. Meat that is less likely to be affected by marine pollution was also surveyed. Samples were taken from 16 types of protein sold in the United States. As a result, microplastics were detected in nearly 90% of the products surveyed.

It turns out that seafood isn't the only food that's contaminated with microplastics.

Are we eating microplastics?

It has been suggested that an American adult may ingest 3.8 million pieces of microplastic per year through protein alone.

As mentioned above, it has been known that microplastics exist in seafood. However, there has been little research into whether they are present in the fillets that consumers eat. There has also been very little research on edible meats such as beef and chicken.

But this latest study also found that microplastics were found in a wide range of foods, meaning that even if you choose meat over fish, there's a good chance you're consuming microplastics.

That being said, does seafood still seem to contain more microplastics?

no.

In fact, there was no significant difference in the concentrations of microplastics in seafood and meat.

Are processed foods okay?

The study also looked at processed foods such as:

• Chicken Nuggets
• Fish Sticks
• Tofu
• Plant-based burger

Are processed protein products free of microplastics?

Surprisingly, these also contained microplastics, in greater quantities than fillets of fish or chicken breasts. This means that we cannot avoid consuming microplastics, whether we are consuming fresh fish or meat or processed meat or fish.

Is eating microplastics bad for your health?

I don't want to eat microplastics! It's no wonder that some people think, "I'll try to avoid eating this and that." Unfortunately, however, microplastic pollution is spreading everywhere. The option of not eating them at all seems no longer viable.

However, we still don't know much about what effects ingesting microplastics has on the human body .

It could be that there is no health risk, or it could be that there is a very high risk. No one knows yet.

Finally, research on microplastics has recently begun to progress. We hope that the risks to the human body will become clearer in the future.

What we can do now

The risks are unknown and there is no way to avoid them. The microplastics issue is very complex. With the pollution spreading to this extent, it seems like there is very little we can do right now.

But that's not the case.

Of the microplastics detected in this study, 44% were fibres and 30% were plastic fragments.

In other words, it goes without saying that most of it is emitted from the everyday lives of humans. What we humans create is then returned to us.

So if there's anything we can do now,

• Avoid using plastic products as much as possible
• Avoid synthetic clothing as much as possible

It may be that we should make efforts to prevent further accumulation of microplastics in the ocean and soil.

Aiming to go 100% plastic-free can be stressful.

However, if we start by doing just a little bit at a time, we may be able to save the future of the Earth and our own health.

Why not start making the "better" choices you can today, as long as you can sustain it?