Tiny plastics, Big Problem
Flexible plastic spout pouches are the most widely used packaging for baby food globally, used by 92% of parents in the UK with children between 0-3.
The polyethylene inner layer, which comes into direct contact with the food, has been found to be a source of microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals.
Greenpeace commissioned the testing of two popular baby food products from Nestle and Danone to assess the levels of microplastics and plastic associated chemicals in both the packaging and food. They assessed Nestles Gerber yogurt pouches and Danones Happy baby organics fruit purée pouches.
What was found?
Microplastic particles were found in every sample analysed. Polyethylene, the material used to line the pouches, was found in all food samples- indicating a link between the plastic lined pouches and microplastics contamination of the food inside.
The gerber yogurt pouches contained up to 54 microplastic particles per gram, equivalent to over 5000 particles per pouch.
The happy baby organics fruit pouches were worse still, containing up to 99 microplastics per gram - over 11,000 microplastics per pouch.
A range of chemicals were also found in both the packaging and the food.
Danone’s happy baby organics fruit pouch contained 91 chemicals, 28 of which were plastic -associated.
Nestle's yogurt pouches contained 111 chemicals, 55 of which were plastic-associated - including 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, a substance hazardous to human health and associated with endocrine disrupting effects.
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Risks of exposure
Many chemicals found in plastic are biologically active, meaning they can interfere with biological processes and bodily functions.
Chemical contaminants of this kind can disrupt the brain, immune system, and endocrine (hormonal) systems.
Babies are much more vulnerable to microplastic and chemical contaminants than adults: their exposure per unit of body weight is much higher, and their organs and biological systems are still developing.
In the first few months of life, a baby’s ' detoxification systems (liver enzymes and kidneys) are not fully functional. This means that toxins circulate longer and nanoplastics are more likely to accumulate in sensitive organs.
How can this be changed?
There are currently no regulations limiting the release of microplastics from packaging, nor control on use of plastics for products that can affect human health.
Greenpeace has called on Nestle, Danone, and all baby food producers to urgently investigate products, prove they don’t put young children at risk, and commit to phase out plastic packaging for non toxic, plastic free, reusable alternatives.
Regulators and policy makers must close these policy gaps toprotect public health.
Governments negotiating the UN global plastics treaty must act urgently to ban these products, reduce plastic production and end uncontrolled, unregulated plastic and chemical contamination that threatens human health.
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For more information contact: info@scarabtrust.org.uk
Images: in-house photos
ID 250235-D
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