Microplastics in Meat, Beef & Chicken: Risks & Sources | Acabonac Farms

Plastic isn’t supposed to be part of your diet. Yet it is estimated an American adult will consume, on average, 11,500 microplastics per year. It’s not just in microwave dinners or highly processed snacks either. A recent study from the Ocean Conservancy found that microplastics were present in 88% of all protein-based food sources in the U.S. market. From chicken and beef to seafood, these tiny plastic particles have infiltrated nearly every type of protein we consume.

Microplastics come from the breakdown of larger plastic items. As plastics degrade in the environment, they’re carried by wind and water, making their way into ecosystems, wildlife, and, increasingly, our food supply. In this article, we’ll explore microplastics in meats, and discuss potential ways you can reduce your exposure to them.

Key takeaways:

Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that have been found in various types of meat, including beef and chicken, through contaminated feed, water, and processing equipment.
Studies indicate that seafood has the highest levels of microplastics, but other meats are also affected due to environmental contamination.
Grass-fed, pasture-raised, and non-GMO meats and farming practices may reduce some contaminants, but they do not necessarily eliminate microplastics in meat.
Buying from local farms that are transparent about their farming practices, like Acabonac Farms, can help consumers make healthier and more informed choices.
Continued research and proactive policies are crucial to better understand and reduce microplastic contamination in our food supply.

What are microplastics?

Microplastics are tiny fragments of plastic under 5 millimeters in size. There are two main types of microplastics: primary and secondary.

Primary microplastics are specifically manufactured in small sizes for products like facial scrubs, synthetic fibers, or industrial abrasives.

Secondary microplastics, on the other hand, are the result of larger plastic items breaking down over time. Items like plastic bags, bottles, and packaging gradually degrade under sunlight, heat, or physical stress. Eventually, after fragmenting into smaller and smaller pieces, they become microplastics.

It’s extremely difficult to remove microplastics once they’ve made their way into plants, animals, and, ultimately, human food sources. They reach our food chain through contaminated water, soil, and feed, with marine animals ingesting them directly and livestock consuming them through polluted water and soil. The processing and packaging of food can also introduce microplastics.

What foods have microplastics?

To help illustrate the prevalence of plastic contamination in food, here are some of the food sources with the highest likelihood of containing microplastics:

Food	Contamination Source
Seafood (especially shellfish)	Marine organisms like oysters, mussels, and fish ingest microplastics from polluted water, with shellfish often accumulating the highest levels.
Sea Salt	Since sea salt is harvested from ocean water, which is widely contaminated with microplastics, it frequently contains plastic particles.
Bottled Water	Microplastics often enter bottled water during production, with plastic particles leaching from the bottle itself during bottling and storage.
Plastic Tea Bags	When steeped in hot water, plastic tea bags can release billions of microplastic particles, which end up directly in your tea.
Honey	Microplastics contaminate honey through environmental exposure, particularly from airborne particles and local water sources near bee hives.
Alcoholic Beverages (beer and wine)	Beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages can contain microplastics from exposure during production and filtration, especially in urban areas.
Plant-Based Foods, Fruits, Vegetables, and Grains	These foods absorb microplastics from contaminated soil and water, with particles adhering to their surfaces or taken up through root systems.

How microplastics end up in meat

Microplastics enter meat through various pathways, primarily through contaminated feed, water, and materials used in processing and packaging.

Sources of microplastics in meat

Feed Contamination: Animal feed can contain microplastics, especially when it includes fishmeal or additives. Microplastic particles from packaging and handling can also mix with feed during processing and storage.
Water Supply: Livestock often drink water that’s contaminated with microplastics, especially in areas where water sources are polluted by nearby plastic waste or industrial runoff.
Processing Equipment and Materials: During meat processing, plastic materials like cutting boards, food trays, and plastic wrap are used, creating additional points of contamination. Friction and wear can release small plastic particles, which may adhere to the meat.
Packaging Materials: Once processed, meat is often stored and transported in plastic packaging. Microplastic particles can leach from these materials, especially if the meat is frozen, heated, or stored for extended periods.

Are there microplastics in beef?

Recent studies indicate that beef products are increasingly contaminated with microplastics, highlighting some real concerns for human health. A 2022 pilot study conducted in Germany detected microplastics in beef from 7 out of 8 sources. In the U.S., the Ocean Conservancy found microplastics in 88% of meat samples tested, including beef.

How Cattle Ingest Microplastics

Certain plastic additives can enter livestock feed during manufacturing. Contaminated rivers and groundwater also introduce microplastics into livestock drinking water, with freshwater contamination particularly affecting industrial agricultural areas.

Airborne and soil-based microplastics can settle on grazing lands, where cattle ingest them through grazing and inhalation. Research in Nature Communications found microplastics in even the most rural soils, showcasing their broad environmental spread.

Are there microplastics in chicken?

Microplastics have been detected in chicken, adding poultry to the growing list of protein sources affected by plastic contamination. A study published in Toxics analyzed chicken samples from eight different farms and found a total of 1,227 microplastic particles across 24 samples, with particles identified in both the crop and gizzard.

How Chicken Ingest Microplastics

Poultry are most commonly raised on a diet of highly processed feed. Also, chickens frequently consume feed directly from plastic-lined bins, raising their likelihood of ingesting plastic particles.

Poultry farms often use local water sources vulnerable to agricultural runoff and shallow groundwater contamination, where microplastics can accumulate.

Chickens live lower towards the ground, making them more likely to ingest microplastics from soil and dust. In barn environments, airborne microplastics from ventilation and equipment can also settle onto feed, water, and bedding.

What meat has the least microplastics?

Despite research showing the presence of microplastics in nearly all meat types, chicken breast and pork loin chop show some of the lowest concentrations in studies on U.S. meat products. Chicken breast samples contained an average of 0.01 microplastic particles per gram, translating to around 140 microplastics per year for the average U.S. adult. Similarly, pork loin chops showed a low concentration of 0.02 microplastics per gram, resulting in an annual exposure of about 188 particles. These meats likely have lower microplastic levels due to being from land-based animals rather than aquatic (more on that in the next section).

REMEMBER: Although the research is still evolving, it is important to understand that the largest factor in determining the risk of microplastic contamination in meat is the farming method and environmental conditions in which an animal is raised, harvested, and transported. For example, in the same 2022 German study mentioned above, plastics such as PVC-P and PE were found in all the beef cattle pellet feeds tested - but not in any fresh or natural feeds.

Therefore, grass-fed, pasture-raised meats may have lower microplastic levels due to minimal exposure to processed feeds.

Read more about is grass-fed beef better?

What meats have the most microplastics?

Fish and shrimp rank among the highest in microplastic contamination levels, largely due to their direct exposure to polluted marine environments. Shrimp samples contain an average of 1.2 microplastics per gram, resulting in an estimated annual exposure of around 13,000 particles for the average U.S. adult, with some samples reaching as high as 44,000 particles. Fish, on average, contain lower levels than shrimp but still contribute significantly to microplastic intake.

The high levels of contamination in fish and shrimp stem from their habitats, where microplastics in the water are easily ingested. Shellfish like shrimp are particularly susceptible due to their filter-feeding nature, which leads to higher microplastic accumulation.

Does grass-fed and pasture-raised meat contain less microplastics than conventional meat?

Grass-fed and pasture-raised beef, chicken, and pork generally contain fewer microplastics than conventionally raised, grain-fed meats. This difference is largely because grain-fed animals consume processed feeds that can accumulate microplastics during harvesting, storage, and processing. In contrast, grass-fed animals graze directly on pastures, reducing their exposure. However, these animals aren’t entirely free from microplastics, as particles in the air, soil, and rainwater can still settle on pastures.

While practices like organic certification, non-GMO chicken feed, and pasture-raising can reduce contaminants like pesticides, they can’t fully eliminate microplastic exposure. If you’re aiming to reduce microplastic intake, grass-fed and pasture-raised meats are a favorable choice due to reduced exposure from processed feeds and controlled farming conditions. However, environmental contamination remains a factor that affects all farming methods, organic or not.

Health concerns linked to microplastics in meat

Ingesting microplastics is an emerging health concern, with potential risks still under active research. Studies suggest that microplastics can carry harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and heavy metals, which may leach into the body upon ingestion. Animal studies have shown that microplastics can cause inflammation, oxidative stress, and even disrupt digestive and immune systems. In humans, microplastics have been detected in organs and the bloodstream, raising concerns about long-term exposure effects, though definitive health impacts remain unclear.

Currently, there are no established FDA regulatory limits for microplastics in food as the research is still ongoing to determine the extent of the effect of microplastics on human health.

How to reduce microplastics in meat

Reducing microplastics in meat requires interventions across farming, processing, and policy.

Farm-Level Interventions:

Use unprocessed, fresh feed over pelletized options to limit plastic contamination from packaging.
Ensure livestock have access to clean, filtered water sources to reduce microplastic exposure.

Safer Processing and Packaging:

Implement non-plastic alternatives for storage, cutting boards, and wrapping to prevent contamination during processing.
Adopt stricter handling controls to limit plastic particles in the production environment.

Policy and Research Initiatives:

Governments can set lower acceptable plastic levels in animal feed and support research on microplastic reduction.
Policies targeting overall plastic pollution in agriculture and water sources benefit meat quality and public health.

Your Choices as a Consumer:

Avoid meat from livestock or farmed fish that rely on pelletized feed, which is more prone to plastic contamination.
Choose products from farms with transparent, clean feeding practices to reduce microplastic intake.

How to avoid microplastics in food

Reducing microplastic exposure in food involves a few practical adjustments in purchasing and preparation. Choosing cleaner meats—such as grass-fed, pasture-raised, or wild options—can help minimize intake, as these options often come from animals with less exposure to contaminated feed and water. In general, the less processed the meat, the lower the risk.

Filtering drinking water is another important step, as both tap and bottled water can contain microplastics. Certifications like USDA Organic or non-GMO meat are also useful indicators, as they often reflect stricter controls on feed and farming practices. Products from transparent and sustainable farms offer additional assurance that efforts are being made to limit plastic exposure.

Final thoughts on microplastics in meat

Microplastics have now made their way into every corner of our food supply, including meats. The need to monitor and reduce these contaminants is yet another burden we take on as modern-day consumers.

But we have options. Supporting farms that prioritize clean farming practices can help lower the risks. Acabonac Farms is committed to transparency and sustainable methods, providing animals with acres of pasture to roam freely and graze naturally. No plastic-containing feed, no industrial processing.

Transparency is the answer when it comes to reducing microplastic intake, and by supporting farms that are open about their methods, we can take small steps toward healthier food.

Choosing grass-fed meat from local farms like Acabonac gives you more control over what’s on your plate.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Microplastics in Meat

Are microplastics only found in seafood?

No, microplastics are found in a variety of foods beyond seafood, including beef, chicken, pork, and plant-based proteins. While seafood—especially shellfish—has some of the highest levels due to direct exposure to polluted waters, land-based meats are also affected by plastic contamination through feed, water, and processing.

Can cooking meat remove microplastics?

No, cooking meat does not remove microplastics. These tiny plastic particles are heat-resistant and can remain in the food even after cooking.

Does washing chicken get rid of microplastics?

Washing chicken does not eliminate microplastics, as they can be embedded in the meat itself rather than just on the surface. Washing raw meat is generally discouraged due to the risk of spreading bacteria, and it doesn’t remove contaminants like microplastics.

Is organic meat free from microplastics?

Organic meat may have lower exposure to certain contaminants, but it is not entirely free from microplastics. While organic practices reduce pesticides and synthetic additives, microplastics are pervasive in the environment and can still reach organic animals through air, water, and even soil.

How can I reduce microplastics in my diet?

To reduce microplastics in your diet, choose cleaner food sources such as grass-fed, pasture-raised, or organic meats, which are less likely to have high microplastic contamination.

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