Whether it’s a mature cheddar or a crumbly feta, cheese is one of the most beloved foods around the world.
But in news that will concern fans of the moreish treat, scientists have issued an urgent warning about eating cheese.
For the first time, a groundbreaking study has revealed that these dairy products are ‘ripe in microplastics’.
Scientists believe the tiny plastic particles, measuring 5mm or smaller, could be entering cheese at various stages of production.
Their analysis revealed that the most contaminated products were ripened cheeses – those aged for more than four months – with a staggering 1,857 plastic particles per kilogram.
For comparison, that means a ripened cheese contains around 45 times more microplastics than bottled water.
Fresh cheeses contained 1,280 particles per kilogram, while even milk itself was contaminated with 350 microplastic pieces per kilogram.
Worryingly, the long-term effects of these microplastics on human health remain unclear.
Scientists have issued an urgent warning over eating cheese as they find that this pantry staple contains thousands of microplastic fragments (stock image)
The most common type of microplastic particles were fibres such as this one. Of the 28 samples tested, 19 contained the plastic poly(ethylene terephthalate), 15 contained polyethylene, and 12 contained polypropylene
Microplastics are now almost ubiquitous in our food supply chains and even in our bodies.
The tiny fragments of plastic have been found everywhere, from bottled beer and chewing gum to teabags.
Previous investigations have found titchy plastic specks in powdered and packaged milk, yoghurt, butter and sour cream.
However, this is the first time they have been discovered in cheese, with the shockingly high levels leaving researchers gobsmacked.
The researchers believe that cheese contains more microplastics than other dairy products due to how it is produced.
When milk is made into cheese, the liquid whey is removed, leaving only the solid curds.
In their paper, published in the journal npj Science of Food, the researchers explain that this process reduces the total mass, ‘concentrating solid components, including any MP [microplastic] fragments.’
Joint research by University College Dublin and Italy’s University of Padova found that the majority of the microplastics in dairy products are made up of the polymers PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene.
Researchers have found that ripe cheese contains a staggering 1,857 plastic particles per kilogram, while fresh cheeses contain 1,280 particles per kilogram (stock image)
These microscopic fibres and pieces suggest that most of the microplastics in dairy are being added during the manufacturing process.
The researchers write: ‘These findings point to synthetic textiles as a likely source of fiber contamination, potentially introduced through filtration systems, protective clothing (such as lab coats, gloves, or hairnets in laboratory or food processing settings), remnants of synthetic materials, or airborne fibers.’
Larger, irregular plastic fragments found in the cheese were likely produced by the breakdown of plastic packaging, processing equipment, or machine components.
However, the high levels of microplastics in milk also suggest that these contaminants might be entering dairy products earlier in the production process.
Previous studies found that raw milk samples contained an average of 190 microplastic particles per litre.
Milk may even become contaminated through microplastics in the feed given to animals.
Since microplastics are so tiny, they are able to pass through cell membranes in the body, moving from food in the stomach, into the blood, and then into milk.
This is the same reason that microplastics have now been detected in human breast milk.
Currently, research investigating how microplastics affect human health is in its infancy, but there is a growing body of evidence suggesting they could be harmful.
Over a third of the microplastics found in cheese were between 50 and 100 micrometres in size, but many were even smaller than that. Almost 20 per cent of all particles were less than 50 micrometres, allowing them to pass through membranes in the body
Since plastics contain chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, scientists are concerned that a buildup of microplastics could damage tissues in our bodies.
In rodent studies, exposure to high levels of microplastics has been found to damage organs, including the intestines, lungs, liver, and reproductive system.
In humans, early studies have suggested a potential link between microplastic exposure and conditions such as cardiovascular disease and bowel cancer.
For this reason, the researchers warn that the levels of microplastics in dairy products must be studied further to keep customers safe.
The study said: ‘Given the complexity of the dairy sector and the extensive use of plastic materials along the entire production chain, understanding the pathways through which microplastics enter dairy products is crucial for ensuring food safety and assessing potential health risks.’
Industry journal FoodNavigator added: ‘Cheese is ripe in microplastics, a groundbreaking study has revealed.
‘It’s not just water and fish, microplastics are abundant in cheese too, a new study discovered.
‘The research, which is the first time academics assess the presence of microplastics in cheese, found that ripened cheese contained the highest amount of particles.’
