Are There Microplastics in Fruit?

⚕️ 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.

Although a lot of the media and public are focused on microplastics contamination in seafood and our bodies, recent studies show that many fruits and vegetables are also significant sources of microplastics in our diets. Alarmingly, based on the initial data, fruits and vegetables seem to have higher concentrations of microplastics and nanoplastics in comparison to meats, dairy, grains, and other foods. In this article, we’ll review the latest research on microplastics in fruits, the origin of microplastics in fruits, the effects of microplastics on fruits, and the potential effects of microplastics from fruit on our health.

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There are many studies showing microplastics in fruits

Many analytical studies have confirmed the presence of microplastics in fruits. As with all studies that count the amount of microplastics in foods and drinks, the concentrations vary widely. There are estimates of 1 to 307,750 particles per gram of fresh fruit, depending on the type, the method of counting, the sampling location, and the size of the microplastics detected [1]. The detected particles are predominantly in the low micrometer range, often between 1.36 and 3.19 micrometers in diameter [1]. Particles of this size are small enough to bypass many physical barriers within plant tissues, allowing them to travel directly into the fruit.

Which fruits have been shown to contain microplastics? As of March 2026, scientists have found microplastics and nanoplastics in apples, pears, tomatoes, cucumbers, bananas, grapes, and eggplants. Although studies haven’t found them in other common fruits, like oranges, watermelons, lemons, and limes, there’s little reason to suspect that these fruits are free from microplastic or nanoplastic contamination, as they’re still susceptible to the same contamination pathways, mainly the water and soil. Given the presence of microplastics in these fruits, what concentrations were found?

Microplastics detected and quantified in apples and pears

An Italian study by Conti et al. (2020) demonstrated that nanoplastics and microplastics are found in apples and pears purchased at a local market. The reported values were 196 ± 129 microplastics per gram and 190 ± 106 microplastics per gram, respectively. This suggests that averaged-sized apples and pears contain an average of 35,672 and 31,540 microplastics per fruit, respectively. However, the range of values in this study is extremely wide. At the low end, apples and pears have 12,194 and 13,944 microplastics per fruit, respectively. At the high end, apples and pears could have 59,150 and 49,136 microplastics per fruit, respectively.

In contrast to the Conti et al. (2020) study, another analysis by Aydin et al. (2023) found significantly lower concentrations of microplastics in apples and pears [9]. That study reported 3.1 ± 1.2 microplastics per gram and 3.1 ± 1.3 microplastics per gram for apples and pears, respectively. This averages to 564 and 514 microplastics per apple and pear, respectively. As with all foods and drinks, the reason for the wide disparities between studies is the method of detection and quantification.

Microplastics measured in tomatoes and cucumbers

Aydin et al. (2023) also found microplastics in tomatoes and cucumbers. The authors detected concentrations of 3.6 ± 1.4 and 3.6 ± 1.8 microplastics per gram for tomatoes and cucumbers, respectively [9]. If we extrapolate these values to whole tomatoes and cucumbers, we estimate that the whole fruits have 522 and 290 microplastics, respectively. Because both tomatoes and cucumbers appear in our diets in other ways, such as pizza and pasta sauces and pickles, we must remember that our intake of microplastics from these fruits extends beyond their standard form. Moreover, sauces and pickles are also processed, which means that it’s likely that they contain more microplastics than the fruits alone.

Microplastics found in strawberries, bananas, and grapes

Strawberries, bananas, and grapes have also been shown to have microplastics. A recent study by Bai et al. (2025) assessed the amount of microplastics on strawberry surfaces as a result of airborne microplastics and pesticides [10]. The author showed that the standard strawberry had between 52 to 134 microplastics per gram. Assuming a serving size of one cup of strawberries, this results in roughly 1,400 microplastic particles per serving. Of note, these microplastics were found on the outside of the fruits, so wash them to help remove these contaminants.

Lastly, a 2022 study by Rajendran et al. found microplastics in bananas and grapes. However, the author didn’t provide an average concentration. Given that microplastics are found in so many different fruits, we need to ask how they get into them in the first place.

Microplastics in fruits – how they get inside

Most microplastics get into fruits through the roots. Agricultural soils accumulate plastic particles from multiple sources, including degraded plastic mulch films, biosolids derived from wastewater treatment, organic fertilizers, and continuous atmospheric deposition [3,4]. Once present in soil, these particles interact directly with plant root systems.

Experimental work has identified a “crack-entry” mechanism as the main pathway. Microplastics can enter roots through microscopic openings that form when new roots emerge, allowing particles to cross the epidermal barrier and move into vascular tissues [5]. From there, they move throughout the stems, leaves, and ultimately the fruit.

Characteristics of microplastics found in fruits

Microplastics identified in fruits are typically irregular fragments rather than fibers, reflecting degradation products of larger plastic materials in soil environments [1]. Their small size increases their mobility within plant tissues and limits the ability of the plants to remove them. Analysis of the chemical composition of the microplastics shows that the most common plastics are commonly used in agricultural and packaging plastics, reinforcing the link between farming practices and crop contamination [2].

These characteristics are important because smaller particles exhibit higher surface area relative to mass, which may influence their biological reactivity once ingested. However, current evidence focuses on presence and distribution rather than definitive toxicological outcomes.

Dietary exposure through fruit consumption

Fruit consumption represents a meaningful contributor to overall human microplastic intake. Modeling studies estimate that adults may ingest on the order of 448,000 microplastic particles per year from fruit alone, depending on your dietary patterns and where you live [7]. This exposure adds to intake from other sources such as drinking water, seafood, and airborne particles [2,7].

Because fruits are consumed raw or minimally processed, there are limited opportunities for particle removal prior to ingestion. Washing may reduce surface contamination but does not address microplastics that have been internalized within fruit tissues.

What this means for human health research

While microplastics have been detected in human stool, blood, and other biological samples, direct causal links between fruit-derived microplastics and specific health outcomes remain under investigation [2,6]. Current research emphasizes exposure pathways and biological distribution rather than definitive risk thresholds. As plant-based foods continue to be recognized as a major exposure route, fruits represent an important focus for future toxicological and epidemiological studies.

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

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2. Yongye Song, Jianfen Zhang, Xiuhua Shen, Lina Yang, Yong Jia, Fangfang Song, Yue Huang, Bingyue Han, Shuyi Zhou, Na Zhang, Guansheng Ma, Microplastics in stools and their influencing factors among young adults from three cities in China: A multicenter cross-sectional study, Environmental Pollution, Volume 364, Part 2, 2025, 125168, ISSN 0269-7491, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125168.
3. Sadique Anyame Bawa, Andrew Chan, Anna Wrobel-Tobiszewska, Marcus Hardie, Carmel Towns, A review of methods for mitigating microplastic contamination in biosolids from wastewater treatment plants before agricultural soil application, Science of The Total Environment, Volume 957, 2024, 177360, ISSN 0048-9697, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177360.
4. Yongye Song, Jianfen Zhang, Lina Yang, Yue Huang, Na Zhang, Guansheng Ma, Internal and external microplastic exposure in young adults: A pilot study involving 26 college students in Changsha, China, Environmental Research, Volume 263, Part 3, 2024, 120250, ISSN 0013-9351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2024.120250.
5. Mingyang Gao, Zhongtang Wang, Zhenzhen Jia, Hongyan Zhang, Tian Wang, Brassinosteroids alleviate nanoplastic toxicity in edible plants by activating antioxidant defense systems and suppressing nanoplastic uptake, Environment International, Volume 174, 2023, 107901, ISSN 0160-4120, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.107901.
6. Yee MS, Hii LW, Looi CK, Lim WM, Wong SF, Kok YY, Tan BK, Wong CY, Leong CO. Impact of Microplastics and Nanoplastics on Human Health. Nanomaterials (Basel). 2021 Feb 16;11(2):496. doi: 10.3390/nano11020496. PMID: 33669327; PMCID: PMC7920297.
7. Sun A, Wang WX. Human Exposure to Microplastics and Its Associated Health Risks. Environ Health (Wash). 2023 Aug 2;1(3):139-149. doi: 10.1021/envhealth.3c00053. PMID: 39473618; PMCID: PMC11504042.
8. Oliveri Conti G, Ferrante M, Banni M, Favara C, Nicolosi I, Cristaldi A, Fiore M, Zuccarello P. Micro- and nano-plastics in edible fruit and vegetables. The first diet risks assessment for the general population. Environ Res. 2020 Aug;187:109677. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109677. Epub 2020 May 20. PMID: 32454310.
9. Aydın RB, Yozukmaz A, Şener İ, Temiz F, Giannetto D. Occurrence of Microplastics in Most Consumed Fruits and Vegetables from Turkey and Public Risk Assessment for Consumers. Life. 2023; 13(8):1686. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13081686
10. Bai, Y., He, X., Song, Y., He, W., Chen, Y., Zhao, M., Zhang, J., Bai, W., 2025. New insights from correlation analysis of microplastics on strawberry surfaces with microplastics in air and pesticides. J Hazard Mater 494, 138676. https://doi.org/ 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138676.
11. Rajendran K, Rajendiran R, Pasupathi MS, et al. Authentication of Microplastic Accumulation in Customary Fruits and Vegetables. Research Square; 2022. DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-1314420/v1.