Food processing and microplastics

Microplastics (MPs) can enter the food chain via several pathways. Over the past decade, the scientific community has focused on identifying MPs contamination in seafood such as molluscs, fish, and sea salt. However, MPs are ubiquitous. In fact, MPs can reach agricultural soils via water, sewage sludge compost, landfills, and fertilizers. Furthermore, it has been shown that production processes can have an important impact on microplastic contamination of food. The production of food products involves the use of equipment in which plastic components are present. Their aging, combined with high pressure and/or high temperature, can result in the release of MPs. In addition, water used both as ingredient and as cleaning agent can be one of the major MPs sources. Finally, the direct contact of food with contaminated air can determine MPs deposition. In this chapter, studies regarding MP pollution of processed foods are presented. More specifically, the literature review showed that sugar, dairy products, vegetable oils, and beverages are the main food groups investigated and are reported here.