US EditionStudy finds more microplastics in liquids from glass bottles than plastic, due to cap paint
FRANCE, JUN 25 – ANSES found glass bottled drinks contain up to 100 microplastic particles per litre, mainly from paint on caps, with cleaning caps reducing contamination by 60%.
- On June 20, 2025, France's food safety agency ANSES published findings indicating that beverages packaged in glass bottles have higher levels of microplastic particles compared to those stored in plastic or aluminum containers.
- Researchers led by Iseline Chaib expected the opposite result but found contamination mainly came from the paint on the caps sealing the glass bottles.
- The research assessed a range of beverages such as soft drinks, sparkling and still water, alcoholic drinks, and iced teas, discovering that those packaged in glass containers contained approximately 100 microplastic particles per liter on average, which was considerably higher than the levels found in drinks stored in plastic bottles.
- ANSES reported that lemonades in glass had 111.6 particles per liter while plastic held 1.5, and that cleaning caps by air and alcohol reduced contamination by 60 percent.
- Although no safety threshold exists for microplastic intake, the findings prompt concerns about packaging impact and suggest manufacturers could reduce contamination by improving cap cleaning methods.
123 Articles
123 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.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
