Can current methods accurately measure microplastics smaller than 20 micrometers in food?
What the Evidence Shows
What we've found so far suggests current methods struggle to accurately measure microplastics smaller than 20 micrometers in food. Our analysis of the available research shows that while tiny plastic particles are present in various food sources, detecting the smallest ones—especially those under 20 micrometers—poses significant challenges [1].
We looked at 20 studies or assertions on this topic, and all of them support the idea that measuring these ultra-small microplastics is difficult . None of the evidence we’ve reviewed so far indicates that current techniques can reliably capture or quantify particles below this size threshold. This doesn’t mean it’s impossible, but based on what we’ve seen, there are clear limitations in today’s measurement tools.
These tiny particles, often called nanoplastics when they fall below 1 micrometer, may behave differently in the body and environment compared to larger microplastics. But because they’re so small, standard detection methods may not pick them up effectively. The evidence we’ve reviewed leans toward a gap in our ability to measure these particles accurately, which could affect how well we understand their presence and potential impact.
We don’t yet know how much this measurement gap affects overall exposure estimates, but it’s a consistent theme in the data we’ve analyzed. Our current analysis shows that while we can detect many microplastics in food, the smallest ones remain hard to track.
Practical takeaway: Right now, science can tell us microplastics are in our food, but it might be missing the tiniest and possibly most concerning pieces. Until methods improve, we may not get the full picture of what we’re consuming.