If you eat processed sea cucumbers—like canned, instant, or salt-dried ones—you might also be eating tiny bits of plastic. On average, each sea cucumber has about 1.4 tiny plastic particles, and eating just 3 grams a day could mean swallowing up to half a plastic particle daily, depending on how it's prepared.

What we've found so far is that processed sea cucumbers may contain microplastics that people ingest when eating them. Our analysis of the available research shows the evidence leans toward this possibility. We reviewed six supporting claims and found no studies that refute the idea. According to the evidence we’ve analyzed, processed sea cucumbers—such as those that are canned, instant, or salt-dried—can contain microplastics [1]. On average, each sea cucumber has about 1.4 microplastic particles [1]. If someone eats 3 grams of processed sea cucumber per day, they could ingest up to half a microplastic particle daily, depending on how the food was prepared [1]. We don’t yet know how this exposure might affect human health. Our current analysis only looks at whether microplastics are present and likely to be consumed. We’re still learning how widespread this issue is across different processing methods and brands. The evidence we’ve reviewed suggests that eating processed sea cucumbers comes with some level of microplastic ingestion. However, we don’t have enough data to say how much this varies between products or what long-term intake might mean for the body. Practical takeaway: If you eat processed sea cucumbers regularly, you might also be consuming small amounts of microplastics. Until we know more, it may be worth considering the source and preparation method of these foods.