12 ‘Healthy’ Foods Health Experts Want You To Stop Eating In 2025 Because They Actually Contain ‘High Levels’ Of Microplastics: Tea Bags, Shellfish, Honey, More
February 2, 2025 by Mariam Qayum
Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that have made their way into our food, water, and even the air we breathe. Research has shown that consuming high levels of microplastics can have harmful effects on health, potentially leading to inflammation, hormone disruption, and other long-term risks. As awareness grows, experts are now warning against certain foods that contain alarming amounts of microplastics.
Keep reading to discover 12 seemingly “healthy” foods that contain high levels of microplastics!
1. Tea bags
Health expert Paul Saladino reveals that a tea bag, although seemingly harmless and healthy, “could create billions of microplastic particles in the tea." If you drink tea using these bags, you may want to think twice about purchasing them again.
“A recent study found that all different types of teabags release millions, if not billions, of microplastic particles into your tea.”
He recommends using a stainless steel tea basket and loose leaf tea.
2. Bottled water
Bottled water is another everyday item that can release tons of microplastics. “One study found 240K particles in a liter," Saladino states.
3. Shellfish
Another report revealed that shellfish was found to also contain alarming levels of microplastics. “People could be unknowingly ingesting 11K microfibers each year from shellfish,” the report said.
4. Seaweed
Seaweed is a delicious snack and pairs great with rice, ramen, and soups, but unfortunately, it contains high levels of microplastics.
Beatrice, an expert on this subject, states that seaweed, “specifically one that would come on your sushi, actually has a lot of plastics. All of this comes from the vast amount of pollution from plastic in our water. A lot of seaweeds end up absorbing everything from the water around it,” which leads to the high levels of microplastics.
5. Clams & Mussels
Beatrice says that while most fish have microplastics, “the problem is that most of the time when we’re eating fish, we’re removing their GI tract, but when it comes to clams and mussels,” the GI tract isn’t being removed, so “we end up eating basically all the plastic that they also eat.
“Plastic found in the ocean can be really toxic because it has all these industrial chemicals that get dumped in it," she adds.
6. Rice
Many rice products are stored and transported in plastic bags, which shed microplastics over time. Rice also absorbs water during growth, and if the water source contains microplastics from pollution, these particles can end up in the grains.
7. Apples
Microplastics from polluted water, synthetic fertilizers, and degraded plastic waste in soil can be absorbed by apple trees through their roots. One study found that apples contained almost 233,000 plastic particles per gram.
8. Sea salt
Sea salt is produced by evaporating seawater, leaving behind salt crystals—but also any microplastics present in the water. Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that 12 brands of sea salt from various regions around the world and from shops in Minneapolis contained microplastics!
9. Honey
While honey is a natural product, research has found microplastic contamination due to environmental pollution. Bees collect nectar from flowers that have been exposed to microplastic particles in the air or from water sources. These tiny plastic particles then make their way into the honey we consume.
10. Canned fish
Canned tuna and sardines may be convenient, but they could pose risks to your health! Canned fish is especially concerning because these fish may have ingested microplastics from polluted waters, and additional contamination can come from plastic-lined cans or processing methods. The longer the canned fish sits in its packaging, the higher the risk of plastic leaching into the food.
11. Dairy
Some milk or dairy products can contain microplastics because the cows may ingest these toxic particles from contaminated water or feed, which can then transfer into milk. It's not just the milk itself; plastic containers and bottle linings can leach tiny particles into dairy products over time. Choosing milk in glass bottles or minimally processed dairy can help reduce exposure.
12. Corn
Corn, particularly processed corn products, has been found to contain microplastics due to its exposure to plastic contamination throughout the agricultural and manufacturing process. Additionally, corn is frequently stored and transported in plastic containers, further increasing the likelihood of microplastic contamination.