Which food has the lowest amount of microplastics?

Which food has the lowest amount of microplastics is not definitively established because microplastics are widespread and testing methods vary, but research suggests fresh, minimally processed foods that are peeled or washed and not packaged in plastic tend to have lower microplastic levels. Foods that generally show lower microplastic contamination include fresh fruits and vegetables that are peeled, such as bananas, oranges, and peeled root vegetables, because outer skin that may have environmental contamination is removed, though they can still have some from soil and water. Home-grown produce from clean soil may be lower than store-bought packaged produce. Fresh meats that are not heavily processed and cooked without plastic contact may have lower levels than processed meats packaged in plastic. Foods like fresh eggs from backyard chickens may have lower than processed foods. In contrast, foods often found with higher microplastics include shellfish like mussels, sea salt, bottled water, and foods stored in plastic containers, especially when heated. Tap water generally has fewer microplastics than bottled water. To minimize intake, choose fresh foods, wash produce thoroughly, avoid heating food in plastic, use glass or stainless steel storage, and limit highly processed foods packaged in plastic, though complete avoidance is not possible in modern environment.