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Study finds more microplastics in liquids from glass bottles than plastic, due to cap paint
- On June 20, 2025, France's food safety agency ANSES released a study showing glass-bottled drinks contain more microplastics than plastic or metal containers sold in France.
- Researchers led by Ph.D. student Iseline Chaib expected the opposite result but found microplastics mainly came from paint on the caps of glass bottles causing contamination.
- The study tested beverages including water, colas, lemonades, iced tea, beer, and wine, finding glass bottles averaged 100 microplastic particles per liter, five to 50 times more than plastic bottles.
- Beer had about 60 particles per liter, water the lowest at 1.6, and cleaning bottle caps reduced contamination by 60%, though ANSES stated health risks remain unclear due to lack of safety thresholds.
- The findings suggest that packaging influences microplastic contamination in drinks and that manufacturers could reduce contamination by improving cap cleaning, but further research is needed on health impacts.
120 Articles
120 Articles
Glass Bottles Contain More Microplastics Than Plastic Bottles, Study Says
Researchers reveal that glass bottles contain more microplastics due to cap paint. Credit: Fabio Ingrosso / CC BY 2.0 Drinks packaged in glass bottles carry significantly higher levels of microplastics than those stored in plastic bottles, cans, or cartons, according to a new study by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES). Researchers found that beverages stored in glass containers with metal caps con…
The microplastics and nanoplastics (NPMs) present in food cause widespread human exposure and are often related to environmental pollution. However, the role of plastics in food contact articles (FCA) has received less attention, despite being a known source of this type of contamination. A group of scientists developed a systematic evidence map of microplastics and nanoplastics present in food in contact with all types of plastic FCA.
Scientists make revolutionary discovery that can help combat emerging health threat in waterways: 'This work gives a little bit of guidance'
Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered a natural defense mechanism that could help us predict and combat microplastic pollution in waterways, according to a news release. Their research shows that biofilms — slippery films created by tiny organisms — act like nature's cleanup crew by preventing microplastics from settling into riverbeds and coastal sediments. This breakthrough could change the approach to micropl…
The spokesman-Review
The surprising ways food packaging is exposing us to microplastics
At this point, most people know that microplastics are everywhere. Scientists have shown that tiny particles, amounting to the weight of a plastic spoon, can be found in our brains; hundreds of fragments of plastic are in each breath we take.
According to a recent survey, even unscrewing a soda bottle and using a plastic cutting board can introduce microplastics into food.
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