Around 80% of cow and pig meat, blood and milk contains plastic

The possible cause could be the feed of cows and pigs: all twelve samples of feed pellets and shredded feed were found to contain plastic.   

No contamination was found in the fresh food. 

The study was commissioned by the Plastic Soup Foundation.   

Furthermore, seven of the eight beef samples tested were found to contain plastic particles, while five of the eight pork samples contained at least one type of plastic.   

Plastic was also found in 18 of the 25 milk samples tested.   

Maria Westerbos, director of Plastic Soup Foundation, said, “This study raises serious concerns about the contamination of our food chain with microplastics. It is also clear that farmers are not responsible for this. It seems that – at least part of the – former food products, including  from supermarkets, are processed into livestock feed with packaging and all. This is not only detrimental to animal welfare, but perhaps also to ourselves. Most likely, almost every steak and burger contains small pieces of plastic.” 

The full report can be found here. 

Concerns about the increase in plastic in farm animal feed have increased in recent years.   

In 2021, American farm worker Emmanuel Moore was fired after posting a TikTok video revealing how plastic waste can pollute pig feed.   

Eco-toxicologist Dr. Heather Leslie, co-author of the study said, “Animals are capable of absorbing at least some of the plastic particles they are exposed to in their habitat. This study should encourage further investigation into the full extent of exposure and any associated risks.” But also, “Producing plastic-free feed for animals may be one way to improve exposure to plastic particles for livestock.”  

Maria Westerbos of Plastic Soup Foundation, adds, ” the Netherlands is the largest export country of meat in Europe. We export a lot of meat to the UK, Germany and China. Are we feeding these countries plastic?” 

The European Animal Nutrition Regulation 767/2009 prohibits the addition of “packaging and parts of packaging derived from the use of food industry products”.  

This regulation should be enforced, according to Plastic Soup Foundation. However, the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) uses a so-called Reference Point of Action; contamination below 0.15% is tolerated.  

Plastic Soup Foundation finds this worrying. Is there sufficient enforcement to begin with? And how is it regulated in other EU countries? Westerbos: “We are keen on compliance with the ‘zero tolerance’ policy at the European level, without any exception.”