Microplastics in food etc

[Allloveisbeautiful]

Not an AIBU-What action is anyone taking to avoid microplastics in food or other products? I know they are everywhere so we can’t completely avoid them but I’d be interested to hear of any changes people have made to their lifestyle! I ordered loose leaf tea today as apparently they are better than teabags which contain microplastics?!

I live somewhere where the tap water is terrible. I swapped to glass bottled water a month ago after buying plastic for years when I discovered the microplastics is like 20 times higher in water bottles in plastic. The Alzheimer’s studies around microplastic has me freaked out so I am going to read this thread seriously.

I avoid heating anything in the microwave in plastic bowls/tubs as I understand that the heat makes plastic transfer more likely - only use glass or ceramic.

Have a fridge with a filtered water supply

Buy loose fruit and veg

But to be honest microplastics are everywhere in all water, in the air, in the soil

I don’t eat meat, or much fish, only vegetarian fish

Have bought organic potatoes and carrots for years

But they are everywhere and going nowhere, there is very little we can do, and until some brain cleaning nanobots are invented we are all screwed.

I am getting to the point where if we are lucky enough to be physically fit into 70s at what point do you stop medical intervention if brain breakdown due to microplastics is inevitable?

I am sure we will know more in 10 years time.

I didn’t realise that teabags contained plastic

The other option is to not use plastics unnecessarily.

But just look around, there are more plastic products than ever, plastic decorations, eyelashes, false nails, kitchen equipment, it will all break down, and when you go out, visit a city, travel, there are billions of humans, many don’t have a choice, or the mind space to consider microplastic damage.

There are microplastics in the glaciers on mountain tops and at the bottom of the deepest ocean.

When I read the microplastics in brain article a while back it, the scale and hopelessness did, for once, just felt overwhelming. I wasn’t the only one.

I'd not even considered half of this eek, but we had swapped over to glass containers for storing foodstuffs in the fridge.

Watching with anticipation

@toomuchfaff what products do you store in glass containers out of interest?

All of our cheese gets placed in glass when opened vs tupperware, any deli that we have we place in glass if not all used in one sitting, and any leftovers, extra portions etc.

We also have a glass decanter which we have water in for the fridge.

That kind of thing.

Only drawback is initial cost and storage, the glass doesn't sit inside each other, takes up more room and needs a sturdy cupboard!

I've been focusing on things that are used for cooking/heating or which might be abraded in use: bought some vented lid glass bowls for the microwave, switched most chopping boards (except rarely used meat one) to wood, got rid of nearly all non-stick stuff, and am about to switch my kettle to one with no plastic inside.

All our Tupperware is now glass.

Water filtered in plastic but stored in a glass jug.

Shopping we choose everything in glass jars from Milk to supplements.

Food is stored in wax wraps.

@stayathomegardener where do you get your milk? Also how do you store cereal if you eat cereal?

Teabags and coffee filters are coated in plastic. They are now being phased out and replaced over the next few years.
Another to watch is PFA's the main one being Teflon which is the coating on non stick pans.

Milk is delivered by the milkman.

Glass jars are Victorian sweet jars inherited from my parents.

We don’t eat cereal as on a weird anti cancer diet.

Now I’m wondering if I should be using plastic food containers for freezing batch cooking?! What to use instead? Porcelain dishes ?
I will stop reheating them in microwave though

Cripes, what is good alternative to non stick pans ? Stainless steel? Cast iron ?

What about foods that come in plastic wrapping eg cheese ? It’s already contaminated with plastic? What harm is there leaving it in the plastic in the fridge. What are the alternatives ?

There are so many now, stone, ceramic and the ones you've mentioned plus many more.

The plastic wrappings are different, not micro plastic but single use plastic which as we know bad for the environment

I think it started more that it went sweaty when left in plastic, seemed to keep better in glass, the glass wasn't to solve the microplastic problem because we hadn't thought of it.

This is why I'm focusing on things for heating/cooking and things that are prone to abrasion (eg to add to previous post, switching my plastic mixing bowl for ceramic).