Microplastics have been detected in drinking water, seafood, table salt, fruits, vegetables, and even the air we breathe. As research continues to uncover adverse health effects linked to microplastics exposure, many people are looking for simple ways to reduce their everyday exposure.
Fortunately, your kitchen is a great place to start. These five easy swaps can help reduce the amount of microplastics that may come into contact with your food and beverages.
1. Replace Plastic Cutting Boards
Plastic cutting boards can shed tiny plastic particles every time they’re sliced with a knife. Over time, these microscopic fragments can end up on the food you’re preparing.
Instead, consider wood, bamboo, or stainless-steel alternatives.
Be sure to replace any cutting board that develops deep grooves, as they can harbor bacteria and become more difficult to clean.
2. Swap Out Plastic Food and Beverage Containers
Plastic food containers and disposable water bottles can release tiny plastic particles into food and beverages through everyday use. Exposure to heat, such as microwaving leftovers, pouring in hot liquids, or leaving a plastic water bottle in a hot car, can increase the release of microplastics. Even containers that appear undamaged may shed microscopic plastic particles over time.
If you use plastic containers, avoid heating food in them whenever possible and replace containers that become cracked, warped, or heavily scratched.
To further reduce exposure, consider switching to glass food storage containers and a reusable stainless steel or glass water bottle.
3. Choose Loose-Leaf Tea and Coffee Beans
Some tea bags, coffee filters, and single-serve coffee pods contain plastic that can release microplastics when exposed to hot water.
To reduce exposure, consider loose-leaf tea with a stainless-steel infuser, stainless-steel coffee filters, and coffee brewed with traditional drip, French press, or pour-over methods instead of single-use pods.
These alternatives can reduce both plastic waste and potential exposure during brewing.
4. Replace Non-Stick Cookware
Non-stick cookware makes cooking and cleanup easy, but once the coating becomes chipped, scratched, or begins peeling, it’s time to replace it. Research has shown that damaged non-stick coatings can release large numbers of microscopic plastic particles into food during cooking.
To reduce exposure, consider stainless steel or cast-iron alternatives. If you prefer non-stick cookware, avoid using metal utensils and replace pans as soon as the coating shows signs of wear.
5. Wash Food Thoroughly
Microplastics don’t just come from food packaging. Soil, irrigation water, and animal feed can all introduce microplastics before food reaches your kitchen. Food can also pick up additional particles during processing, packaging, transportation, and handling.
While washing won’t remove all microplastics, it can help reduce particles on the surface of many foods. One study found that rinsing rice before cooking reduced microplastic contamination by 20-40%. Washing fruits, vegetables, meat, and seafood under clean running water may also help reduce microplastics before consumption.
Reducing Microplastic Pollution Today Helps Reduce Exposure Tomorrow
These simple kitchen swaps can help reduce your household’s everyday exposure to microplastics. But the most effective long-term solution is preventing microplastics from entering our environment in the first place.
The largest source of microplastic pollution into our water and environment comes from washing synthetic clothing, which releases tiny plastic fibers into wastewater with every load of laundry. The CLEANR Microplastic Filter for Washing Machines captures over 90% of these fibers before they leave the washing machine, helping protect our water, food supply, and future generations.
Sources
Al-Mansoori, Muneera, et al. “Synthetic Microplastics in Hot and Cold Beverages from the UK Market: Comprehensive Assessment of Human Exposure via Total Beverage Intake.” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 996, Sept. 2025, p. 180188. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2025.180188.
Cole, Matthew, et al. “Microplastic and PTFE Contamination of Food from Cookware.” Science of The Total Environment, vol. 929, June 2024, p. 172577. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172577.
Dessì, Claudia, et al. “Plastics Contamination of Store-Bought Rice.” Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 416, Aug. 2021, p. 125778. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125778.
Hussain, Kazi Albab, et al. “Assessing the Release of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Plastic Containers and Reusable Food Pouches: Implications for Human Health.” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 57, no. 26, July 2023, pp. 9782–92. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01942.
Yadav, Himani, et al. “Cutting Boards: An Overlooked Source of Microplastics in Human Food?” Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 57, no. 22, June 2023, pp. 8225–35. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c00924.