The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently published a webpage on micro- and nanoplastics in food, which asserts the available scientific evidence “does not demonstrate that levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health.”

Although FDA’s statement notes that some evidence does suggest that microplastics and nanoplastics are entering the food supply, it also adds the caveat that there is insufficient evidence to conclude whether micro- and nanoplastics from plastic food packaging migrate into foods and beverages.

FDA’s statement notes that environmental contamination where foods are grown or raised is the main contributor to the presence of plastic particles in foods. For example, one recent study found tire-derived plastics in leafy greens samples grown near roads.

Another recent study, which tested olive oil packaged in both plastic and glass bottles, detected microplastics in every single sample, regardless of packaging type.

However, according to FDA, the current lack of standard definitions for the size of microplastics or nanoplastics, which have a complex variety of characteristics, hinders the identification and assessment of their potential impacts. Moreover, because there are no standardized methods for how to detect, quantify, or characterize microplastics and nanoplastics, many of the scientific studies have used methods of variable, questionable, and/or limited accuracy and specificity.

While FDA acknowledges that many studies have shown the presence of microplastics in a range of foods—such as salt, seafood, sugar, beer, bottled water, honey, milk, and tea—current scientific evidence does not demonstrate that the levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in foods pose a risk to human health. “The presence of environmentally derived microplastics and nanoplastics in food alone does not indicate a risk and does not violate FDA regulations unless it creates a health concern,” writes the agency.

FDA will continue to monitor the research on microplastics and nanoplastics, and will only take regulatory action if it determines, based on scientific evidence, that microplastics or nanoplastics in food, including packaged food and beverages, adversely affect human health.

The full FDA webpage on the topic, which links to scientific articles, current regulations, and presentations about micro- and nanoplastics in food, can be found here.