Microplastics are a big buzzword these days, but for good reason: they’re in almost everything we touch. They’re in your clothes, your cleaning products, your skincare, your furniture, and even your food. Plastics hide in some of the foods you may be eating every day – and one thing you’re not eating, but still chewing.
When we say chew, we’re talking about chewing gum. EWG recently brought to our attention that the FDA allows gum manufacturers to include some plastics in their formula, without listing it on the label.
Instead, these ingredients legally fall under the word “gum base,” which can include polyethylene, polyvinyl acetate, and styrene-butadiene. These are the same chemicals used in shopping bags, containers, glue, and rubber tires, which are definitely not things we want to eat!
The FDA allows these plastics because they claim there is no reliable scientific data proving microplastics in food put humans at risk. Research aside, it’s pretty wild to think that these companies don’t even have to list plastics on their ingredients label. That takes away our right as consumers to be informed shoppers.
You’re probably wondering why in the world gum would contain plastic in the first place. Contamination from plastic packaging and other materials from production is part of the story. But the main reason is texture.
Have you ever noticed how long you can keep chewing a single piece of gum? Plastics like polyethylene are the reason why. They help create a long-lasting chew, while natural gum bases like chicle, gum arabic (also called gum acacia), and mastiha – which are extracted from tree resin – become firm and hard to chew after a short time. In a nutshell, if you notice that your gum isn’t hardening after about 15-20 minutes of chewing, it likely contains plastics.
An independent study found that chewing gum can release up to 637 microplastics in the first 8 minutes of chewing. And the most disturbing part? They also discovered that plastic-based and natural gums released similar amounts of microplastics.
So what does this mean for you? In our opinion, it’s worthwhile to limit gum chewing or avoid it altogether. When we want minty-fresh breath in a pinch, we’ll be reaching for mints instead.
Other foods that can also contain plastics may be sitting right in your kitchen. We’re sharing them below to make sure you can make informed choices for you and your family.
Here are some other foods that may contain microplastics:
- Tea (in tea bags) – Silky and mesh tea bags contain plastics to help them keep their structure. Look for natural paper tea bags instead.
- Canned foods – This one isn’t big news, but aluminum cans sometimes have BPA in their lining to prevent wear or reactions with the food inside. BPA-free cans are now widely available, so you can easily avoid brands that use this toxic coating.
- Salt – Sea salt is, well, from the sea – and the sea is unfortunately full of microplastics from litter. Even Himalayan Pink Salt can contain them from mining or storage. We recommend buying kosher salt or salt from underground wells/springs like Redmond Real Salt.
- Processed sugar – The industrial machinery used to process refined sugar, as well as the containers used to store and ship it, can contaminate it with microplastics. Try using natural sweeteners like maple syrup, honey, or even dates instead.
- Seafood – Ocean litter also contaminates seafood with microplastics. We recommend buying from Seatopia whenever possible, because they test their catches for microplastics. You can also reduce your exposure by making seafood an occasional treat, instead of your go-to protein choice.
- Produce – Any produce you see in plastic packaging (especially pre-cut options) can be contaminated. Unfortunately, produce stickers themselves can also be an issue! Many companies are trying to shift toward biodegradable, plastic-free options, but until then, this is something to be aware of.
- Rice (pre-packaged) – Buying rice in the bulk section is definitely the way to go! Pre-packaged and instant rice are more likely to contain microplastics from packaging and industrial processing.
- Processed foods – Processed foods can also pick up trace amounts of plastics from machinery and through storage and shipping. As you know, the Conscious Cleanse already recommends limiting processed foods as much as possible, so this is just more reason to do so.
At the end of the day, until major changes are made in manufacturing, it’s impossible to completely avoid microplastics. That’s why the most reasonable approach here is harm reduction. Reduce exposure when and where you can, but don’t stress about completely cutting out all of these foods. Make whichever small changes you’re able to make, and focus your energy on doing your best to eat well and take care of your body.
Do you have favorite microplastic-free gum (or food) brands? Share them in the comments! We’d love to hear what other options are out there.
With plastic-free love,
The Conscious Cleanse Team
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