Are Microplastics in Meat?

⚕️ MEDICAL DISCLAIMER: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making any changes to your health regimen, diet, or supplement use, especially if you have existing medical conditions or take medications. The information presented here should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Think of your favorite dinner. A perfectly cooked beef filet with a side of béarnaise sauce. A chicken parmesan that’s perfectly crispy and topped with phenomenal red sauce. A juicy, perfectly charred burger topped with your favorite cheese and sauce. Now, imagine that these meats have microplastics in them. Do they still sound appetizing? Are you more or less excited to eat them?

Unfortunately for us, many peer-reviewed studies have shown that microplastics are in meats, including chicken breasts, ground beef, steaks, pork, and others. In this article, we’ll take a look at the most up-to-date research involving microplastics in meats and other protein sources.

But, before we do, if you’re interested in tracking your estimated microplastic intake based on these scientific findings, take a look at our app.

There Are Dozens of Publications Showing Microplastics in Meats

Empirical data show that microplastics are present across a wide range of protein sources consumed in the United States. In a comprehensive analysis of commonly eaten proteins, microplastics were detected in 88% of all protein samples [1]. As with most studies, the concentrations varied substantially. However, it’s clear that processed meats consistently show higher microplastic quantities than minimally processed meats [1].

Microplastics found in chicken breasts, chicken nuggets, and other chicken meals

Many studies have found microplastics in chicken. Kedzierski et al. (2020) published an average concentration of 4 to 19 microplastics per kilogram of packaged chicken [9]. The authors found that these microplastic particles came directly from the polystyrene food tray packaging that holds the chicken breast. Another study found 0.01 microplastics per gram of chicken breast [1]. Together, both of these studies suggest that microplastics in chicken breasts aren’t substantial, with a medium size breast containing up to 20 microplastics.

In contrast, a study by Habib et al. (2022) found up to 1.19 microplastic particles per gram of chicken breast when prepared on a plastic cutting board. In the same example as above, this would mean 240 microplastics in chicken breasts (an individual chicken breast), demonstrating the importance of avoiding plastic cutting boards.

Outside of prepared chicken breasts, microplastics have also been found in living chickens.

Microplastics found in ground beef, steaks, and other beef products

Sadly, microplastics have been found in beef. For example, Visentin et al. (2024) found between 200 and 30,000 microplastics per kg in different samplings of beef hamburgers [8]. This means that the average 4oz burger may contain 22 to 3,000 microplastics. In this study, the authors suspected that the microplastics entered the ground beef from the plastic packaging and processing equipment. Alarmingly, the study found more than 18 different types of plastics in the hamburgers, including polycarbonate, polyethylene, and polypropylene.

Another study found microplastics in top sirloin steak at a concentration of 0.12 microplastics per gram [1]. In an average size of 200 grams, this would mean roughly 24 microplastics per steak. This study found that the microplastics mostly came from the processing environments, such as the conveyor belts, worker clothing, and dust. Of note, the author suspected that the average annual consumption of microplastics from protein sources to be 11,000. For individuals who eat highly processed meats daily, the average annual consumption could be as high as 3,800,000 microplastic particles.

Microplastics found in pork and sausages

Along with beef and chicken, microplastics have been found in sausages and pork. Investigations of popular sausage brands revealed concentrations of microplastics between 26 and 55 microplastic particles per kg of meat. The most common types of microplastics were fibrous polyethylene and polystyrene, which are commonly found in food processing environments and packaging [4].

Processed meats have more microplastics

Processed meat products tend to exhibit higher microplastic loads than fresh muscle tissue. Processed meats undergo repeated mechanical handling, grinding, and mixing, each step increasing surface area and contact with plastic equipment. As a result, opportunities for particle shedding and incorporation into the final product are substantially greater than in whole cuts of meat.

How microplastics enter meat products

Microplastic contamination enters protein-based foods before and after processing. Livestock and poultry ingest microplastics through contaminated feed, drinking water, and contact with soil, allowing particles to accumulate in gastrointestinal tissues [7]. While most detected particles remain in digestive organs, smaller particles have the potential to translocate, though muscle tissue generally shows lower concentrations than organs such as the gizzard or intestines [8].

During food processing, more microplastics are added to the meat. Studies have shown that the conveyor process, packaging, and other components contribute microplastics to the meats. Packaging materials, particularly expanded polystyrene trays and plastic films, further contribute through direct particle migration onto meat surfaces [6].

The Contribution of Meats to our Total Microplastic Intake

Based on the average consumption of processed and unprocessed proteins, U.S. adults are estimated to ingest approximately 11,000 microplastic particles per year from these sources, with upper-bound estimates reaching into the millions for high consumers [1]. Processed meats, due to their higher contamination levels, disproportionately influence these exposure calculations [4].

The Benefits of the Deplasto Platform

The Deplasto platform, consisting of a scientifically-backed nutritional supplement, an iOS app for tracking daily microplastic intake, and a portfolio of lifestyle recommendations intended to help you minimize microplastics. Our nutritional supplement is formulated to support your body’s natural detoxification pathways, including oxidative stress management, cellular repair, and antioxidant support. Our microplastic intake app enables you to estimate and track your daily microplastic intake, with each datapoint backed by scientific studies. Our lifestyle recommendations, found in our blogs and in our eBook, have a plethora of actions and advice designed to help you make small changes to minimize microplastics.

Overall, we believe that the best way to eliminate microplastics begins with you and the small changes you make to your daily life. Over time, collectively, we can make a significant difference.

Sources

1. Milne MH, De Frond H, Rochman CM, Mallos NJ, Leonard GH, Baechler BR. Exposure of U.S. adults to microplastics from commonly-consumed proteins. Environ Pollut. 2024 Feb 15;343:123233. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123233. Epub 2023 Dec 28. PMID: 38159628.
2. Bilal M, Taj M, Ul Hassan H, Yaqub A, Shah MIA, Sohail M, Rafiq N, Atique U, Abbas M, Sultana S, Abdali U, Arai T. First Report on Microplastics Quantification in Poultry Chicken and Potential Human Health Risks in Pakistan. Toxics. 2023 Jul 14;11(7):612. doi: 10.3390/toxics11070612. PMID: 37505577; PMCID: PMC10383900.
3. Heo SJ, Moon N, Kim JH. A systematic review and quality assessment of estimated daily intake of microplastics through food. Rev Environ Health. 2024 Oct 22;40(2):371-392. doi: 10.1515/reveh-2024-0111. PMID: 39431565.
4. Pirsaheb M, Nouri M, Massahi T, Makhdoumi P, Baban NA, Hossini H. Microplastics contamination in the most popular brands of Iranian sausages and evaluation of its human exposure. Heliyon. 2024 Jul 9;10(14):e34363. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e34363. PMID: 39100492; PMCID: PMC11295858.
5. Snekkevik VK, Cole M, Gomiero A, Haave M, Khan FR, Lusher AL. Beyond the food on your plate: Investigating sources of microplastic contamination in home kitchens. Heliyon. 2024 Jul 24;10(15):e35022. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e35022. PMID: 39170486; PMCID: PMC11336334.
6. Di Fiore C, Carriera F, Russo MV, Avino P. Are Microplastics a Macro Issue? A Review on the Sources of Contamination, Analytical Challenges and Impact on Human Health of Microplastics in Food. Foods. 2023 Oct 25;12(21):3915. doi: 10.3390/foods12213915. PMID: 37959034; PMCID: PMC10647536.
7. Abd El-Hack ME, Ashour EA, AlMalki F, Khafaga AF, Moustafa M, Alshaharni MO, Youssef IM, Elolimy AA, Świątkiewicz S. Harmful impacts of microplastic pollution on poultry and biodegradation techniques using microorganisms for consumer health protection: A review. Poult Sci. 2025 Jan;104(1):104456. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2024.104456. Epub 2024 Oct 29. PMID: 39546917; PMCID: PMC11609547.
8. Visentin E, Niero G, Benetti F, Perini A, Zanella M, Pozza M, De Marchi M. Preliminary characterization of microplastics in beef hamburgers. Meat Sci. 2024 Nov;217:109626. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2024.109626. Epub 2024 Aug 9. PMID: 39137452.
9. Mikaël Kedzierski, Benjamin Lechat, Olivier Sire, Gwénaël Le Maguer, Véronique Le Tilly, Stéphane Bruzaud, Microplastic contamination of packaged meat: Occurrence and associated risks, Food Packaging and Shelf Life, Volume 24, 2020, 100489, ISSN 2214-2894, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fpsl.2020.100489.
10. Habib RZ, Kindi RA, Salem FA, Kittaneh WF, Poulose V, Iftikhar SH, Mourad A-HI, Thiemann T. Microplastic Contamination of Chicken Meat and Fish through Plastic Cutting Boards. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(20):13442. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192013442