Tiny plastic bits in our salt
Microplastic contamination in table salt sold in the selected local markets in Samar, Philippines
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Polyamide was present in nearly 90% of salt samples, making it the most common polymer detected.
Polyamide is often used in fishing nets and industrial textiles, not commonly thought of as a major food contaminant, yet it dominated the findings.
Practical Takeaways
Consider switching to salt sources that claim microplastic testing or come from less polluted regions, if available.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Surprising Findings
Polyamide was present in nearly 90% of salt samples, making it the most common polymer detected.
Polyamide is often used in fishing nets and industrial textiles, not commonly thought of as a major food contaminant, yet it dominated the findings.
Practical Takeaways
Consider switching to salt sources that claim microplastic testing or come from less polluted regions, if available.
Publication
Journal
Food Research
Year
2024
Authors
N. D. Pajarillo, H.O. Panganoron, J. Arcales
Related Content
Claims (5)
Salt you buy in local markets in Samar, Philippines might have tiny pieces of plastic in it — up to 36 little plastic bits in every 250-gram bag.
Salt we eat might get tiny plastic bits in it during factory processing, and we can't see or taste them — but we could be eating them over time without knowing.
Table salt from Samar, Philippines has tiny bits of plastic in it — mostly little pellets and broken pieces — which probably came from factories and old, broken-down plastic trash.
Most of the tiny plastic bits found in table salt from Samar, Philippines are about the size of a grain of sand, and bigger pieces are more common than smaller ones.
Table salt from Samar, Philippines has tiny bits of plastic in it — mostly from nylon and a mix used in packaging and ocean structures — and these are the most common types found.