11 Everyday Habits That Flood Your Body With Microplastics

5. Eating Pre-Packaged & Processed Foods

The convenience of pre-packaged and processed foods is tough to beat, particularly on busy nights or during lunch rushes. However, between factory lines, plastic packaging, and storage, these foods tend to pick up microplastic particles along the way. Consumer Reports and other experts note that items wrapped in plastic or processed on industrial-scale machinery have higher rates of microplastic contamination. Making more meals at home, using fresh produce, and selecting foods packaged in glass or paper are realistic ways to shift your habits. If going totally “unprocessed” doesn’t suit your schedule or palate, that’s absolutely reasonable. Even swapping one snack or meal per week for a less-packaged alternative helps pave the way for meaningful, sustainable change.

6. Consuming Seafood

Seafood stands out for all the right reasons in nutrition—but also for an uninvited guest: microplastics. Studies from the Geneva Environment Network reveal that fish, especially shellfish and smaller species, can accumulate significant amounts of microplastics that may wind up in our meals. This is because these tiny fragments often enter ocean food chains, concentrating as they move up. Fish offers unique omega-3s and nutrients, so you don’t need to ditch it altogether. Rotating the types of seafood you eat, choosing wild-caught options, and properly cleaning fish can all mean a little less plastic reaches your plate. Balance is the guiding star—no need for extremes, just gentle variety where possible.