88 percent – the amount of meat that contains microplastics, according to a study led by the Ocean Conservancy and the University of Toronto. From lobster to tofu, the study found no statistical difference between land, ocean or plant-sourced proteins. No one is immune; both meat consumers and vegetarians alike are susceptible to the microplastics in their favorite dishes traveling from their digestive systems to their brains.
So what are microplastics? Microplastics are particles that are less than 5 millimeters in length and formed from larger, weathered-down plastic items. Despite their small size, they are a major global pollutant that contaminates soil, air, water and food.
Microplastic being present in every form of protein, seafood or terrestrial, is a grim reflection of the ubiquity of plastic pollution. Microplastic is all over the planet, from the snow in the Arctic to the dust in the desert. The microplastics that we associate with pollution have found their way back to us through our food supply. This century has been invaded by microplastics and it continues to reach humans through meat consumption
Research shows that microplastics can infiltrate our bloodstream and almost all of our vital organs. While microplastics travel to the liver and kidney, the brain is the most threatened organ by far – the amount of plastic in the brain ranges from 7 to 30 times higher than other organs. These tiny plastic particles can cross the blood-brain barrier; a protective shield that keeps harmful substances out in most cases. Scientists describe the levels of microplastics that have been detected in human brain tissue as “almost unbelievable.” One study suggests that our brains are 0.5 percent plastic by weight.
The insane amount of plastic in human brains is a relatively new phenomenon. Twice the amount of plastic was found in human brains in 2024 than in 2016. This has likely occurred because plastic production doubles roughly every ten years. Microplastics are polluting more than the planet; they’re polluting human health.
A prime example of this is the microplastics materializing in various protein sources. For plant-based proteins, poor food processing methods are responsible for contaminating the food. Livestock, such as chickens, pigs and cows, consume fragments of plastic through tainted, processed feed and water. Aquatic animals absorb microplastics due to high concentrations of plastic in oceans and marine environments. As plastic pollution increases, the amount of it that animals that consume it does as well. This leads to humans consuming more plastic, too.
Microplastics typically take at least a century to break down. Even then, they don’t fully decompose but instead break into smaller and smaller pieces. Unfortunately, scientists have not developed a method to directly extract microplastics from the bloodstream and tissues. Microplastic consumption can potentially cause a wide range of health issues, such as various cancers, inflammation, cell damage, changes in brain structure and immune system disruption.
With plastic being in nearly every protein source, they may seem inescapable, but there are a few ways you can reduce your exposure to them without cutting anything out of your diet. A few examples include avoiding plastic containers to store food and drinks, opting for less processed protein options, filtering drinking water and using wooden or bamboo cutting boards rather than plastic ones.
Research is still emerging about these invisible invaders, so it is essential to make conscious food and lifestyle choices to avoid exposure. Microplastics are no longer just an environmental problem, but a dietary one as well. By infiltrating various meat sources, they have become an unexpected part of the human diet. Bon appetit!
