Table 1.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in different food and drink commodities.
| Commodity | Location | Type of MP | Material of MP | Size Range | Level of MP | Reference | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seafood | Commercially important fish species (Australian herring, Australian salmon, Australian sardine, Australian snapper, dusky flathead, King George whiting, sea mullet, southern garfish, tiger flathead) | Australia | fibers, fragments, films | PE, PP, polyblends, acrylate, nylon, paint, PES, poly-vinyl | 38 µm–>1 mm | 0.96 ± 0.08 MP/fish | [86] |
| Indian white shrimp (Fenneropenaeus indicus) | India | fibers, fragments, sheets | PA, PES, PE, PP | 157–2785 µm | 0.04 ± 0.07 MP.g−1 ww | [87] | |
| Golden anchovy (Coilia dussumieri) | India | fibers, films, fragments, pellets, beads | PE, PP, PA, PES, PS | <100–>1000 mm | 6.78 ± 2.73 MP/fish | [88] | |
| Commercial seaweed nori | China | fibers, fragments, films, pellet | PES, rayon, PP, PA, cellophane | 0.11–4.97 mm | 1.8 ± 0.7 MP.g−1 | [89] | |
| Food | Chicken and turkey (packed in PS trays) | France | particles, fibers | extruded PS | 300–450 µm | 4.0–18.7 MP.kg−1 | [90] |
| Canned fish (mackerel and tuna) | Iran | fibers, fragments, films | PET, PS, PP, PS-PP, PS-PET, PVC, LDPE | fibers 100–8000 µm, fragments 10–1100 µm, films 70–1000 µm | 1.28 ± 0.04 MP.g−1 | [91] | |
| Uncooked rice | Australia | NR | PE, PP, PET | NR | 67 ± 26 µg.g−1 dw | [92] | |
| Instant rice | 283 ± 50 µg.g−1 dw | ||||||
| Table salts | Africa | microfibers, particles | polyvinyl acetate, PP, PE | 3.3–4460 µm | 38.42 ± 24.62 MP.kg−1 | [93] | |
| Vinegar | Iran | fragments, fibers | PE, HDPE | 1–500 µm (mainly) | 51.35 ± 20.73 MP.L−1 | [94] | |
| Milk | Mexico | fibers, fragments | Polyethersulfone, polysulfone | 0.1–5 mm | 6.5 ± 2.3 MP.L−1 | [95] | |
| Drinks | White wine | Italy | NR | PE | 7–475 µm | 2563–5857 suspected MP.L−1 | [96] |
| Tap water | Hong Kong | Fibers, films | NR | 50–4830 µm | 2.181 ± 0.165 MP.L−1 | [97] | |
| Cold tea | Mexico | Fibers | PA, PEA | <1 mm | 11 ± 5.26 MP/drink | [98] | |
| Soft drinks | Fibers | PA, PEA, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene | 0.1–3 mm | 40 ± 24.53 MP/drink | |||
| Energy drinks | Fibers | PA, PEA | <1 mm | 14 ± 5.79 MP/drink | |||
| Beer | Fibers, fragments | PA, PEA, PET | <1 mm–2 mm | 152 ± 50.97 MP/drink |
NR: not reported; PE: polyethylene; HDPE: high-density PE; LDPE: low-density PE; PP: polypropylene; PES: polyester; PA: polyamide; PS: polystyrene; PET: polyethylene terephthalate; PVC: polyvinylchloride; PEA: polyesteramide; MP: microplastics; ww: wet weight; dw: dry weight.