Microplastics and nanoplastics in food
Micro- and nanoplastics are small pieces of plastic found in the environment.
Microplastics measure between 1 micrometre (µm) and 5 millimetres (mm) and are often smaller than a grain of rice. Nanoplastics are even smaller (1–1,000 nanometres), which makes them invisible to the naked eye. Both micro- and nanoplastics are persistent, highly mobile and difficult to remove from the environment, with increasing amounts found in the sea, soil and air. Because of their size, they are difficult to detect and measure.
Micro- and nanoplastics present in the environment can enter the food chain, including drinking water. Microplastics have been detected in various foods, such as mussels, meat, honey, vegetables, beer and table salt.
Some studies suggest that plastic particles may enter human or animal cells, and research has shown that they can also carry contaminants. However, knowledge about the levels of dietary exposure For the purposes of risk assessment, measurement of the amount of a substance consumed by a person or animal in their diet that is intentionally added or unintentionally present (e.g. a nutrient, additive or pesticide) to micro- and nanoplastics and their potential effects on human health remains limited. For nanoplastics, available data are particularly scarce, which makes them an important priority for future research.
Public interest in this topic has increased rapidly in recent years. According to EFSA’s Special Eurobarometer on Food Safety (2025) nearly three quarters of Europeans (73%) have heard about microplastics in food, an increase of eight percentage points compared to 2022. In terms of consumer perception, one third of respondents (33%) identify microplastics as one of their main food safety concerns.
Latest
The European Parliament requested EFSA to deliver a scientific opinion Opinions include risk assessments on general scientific issues, evaluations of an application for the authorisation of a product, substance or claim, or an evaluation of a risk assessment on the potential health risks posed by microplastics in food, water and air.
EFSA’s experts will review the latest evidence on microplastics, including how they enter and interact with the human body, how they transfer into food, and the methods used to assess related risks. They will also update the dietary exposure estimates based on new data from the scientific literature, where possible.
EFSA’s scientific advice, scheduled to be finalised by the end of 2027, will provide the European Parliament with the latest scientific knowledge on this issue and offer a robust scientific basis for identifying research needs and priorities to address current knowledge gaps.
Milestones
Over the past years, EFSA has published several outputs on micro- and nanoplastics.
2026
February
Publication of the findings of a cross-national quantitative study on public concerns about microplastics among German and Italian citizens, carried out in collaboration with the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment A specialised field of applied science that involves reviewing scientific data and studies in order to evaluate risks associated with certain hazards. It involves four steps: hazard identification, hazard characterisation, exposure assessment and risk characterisation (BfR). The study shows that concern about microplastics is overall high. While most people say they think or talk about microplastics only rarely or sometimes, many report being willing to adopt behaviours to reduce their exposure Concentration or amount of a particular substance that is taken in by an individual, population or ecosystem in a specific frequency over a certain amount of time.
2025
October
EFSA publishes a literature review on micro- and nanoplastics released from food contact materials. The findings show that these tiny particles can migrate from packaging or utensils into food, but at much lower levels than some earlier studies suggested. The review also highlights data gaps and makes recommendations for future research.
September
EFSA publishes findings from its Special Eurobarometer Survey exploring Europeans’ perceptions, concerns and trust related to food safety topics, including microplastics, and the actors involved.
2023
Publication of the findings of a cross-national qualitative interview study on public risk perceptions of microplastics among German and Italian citizens, carried out in collaboration with the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). The results show that interviewees are concerned about potential negative effects of microplastics on human health, despite uncertainty Scientific concept used in risk assessment to describe all types of limitations in available knowledge at the time an assessment is conducted, with the agreed resources, that affect the probability of possible outcomes to the assessment and a perceived lack of available information.
2021
Publication of the proceedings of EFSA’s 25th Scientific Colloquium, which brought together international experts to examine what is known – and still unknown – about micro- and nanoplastics in food. Experts highlight that major knowledge gaps remain and emphasise the need for harmonised methods and coordinated international research efforts.
2016
EFSA issues a statement on micro- and nanoplastics in food, focusing mainly on seafood. Experts identify significant uncertainties and highlight the lack of standardised methods to detect, identity and quantify micro- and nanoplastics in food, as well as the need to assess potential health risks.
EFSA’s role
EFSA assesses potential risks to human health related to dietary exposure to micro- and nanoplastics. This work is carried out by the Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM Panel).
The CONTAM Panel evaluates the available scientific evidence on the presence of micro- and nanoplastics in food, their potential hazards, how they may be absorbed and behave in the body, and the potential risks they may pose to human health.
The Panel’s scientific work also identifies data gaps and research needs and contributes to the development of harmonised methods for detecting and characterising micro- and nanoplastics.
While EFSA does not regulate or set limits, its risk assessments inform EU risk management The management of risks which have been identified by risk assessment. It includes the planning, implementation and evaluation of any resulting actions taken to protect consumers, animals and the environment decisions related to food safety and consumer protection.
EU framework
The EU is addressing the growing volume of microplastics in the environment by tackling the main sources of release.
This includes measures to reduce plastic pollution, restrict intentionally added microplastics, and limit unintentional releases, under initiatives such as the EU Plastics Strategy, the Circular Economy Action Plan and the Zero Pollution Action Plan. EU legislation, including the REACH restriction on microplastics and rules to prevent plastic pellet losses, supports these efforts.
FAQ
EFSA has not yet completed a full risk assessment of microplastics and nanoplastics in food. This means that, at present, EFSA cannot conclude on potential health effects. EFSA is currently working on a scientific opinion to assess potential risks based on the latest available evidence.
Once in the environment, microplastics do not biodegrade easily and can persist for long periods. They can accumulate in animals, including fish and shellfish, and may therefore also be consumed by humans through food.
Microplastics have been found in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems, as well as in food and drinking water. Their continued release contributes to long-term pollution of ecosystems and food chains. In laboratory studies, exposure to microplastics has been linked to a range of (eco)toxic and physical effects in living organisms.
EFSA’s social science research shows that awareness of microplastics in food is relatively high among EU citizens. The 2025 Eurobarometer survey on food safety indicates that many people view microplastics as a serious food safety concern. Levels of concern vary across countries, but in several Member States – including Belgium, Denmark, Ireland, Finland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – microplastics in food rank among the most frequently cited food safety issues.
Microplastics can form when larger plastic items wear down over time. This includes everyday plastic sources such as car tyres, synthetic textiles and plastics used in farming, like plastic mulch or polytunnels.
Microplastics can also be deliberately manufactured and added to products for specific purposes, such as exfoliating beads in some cosmetics.