December 10, 2025 14:35

The European Parliament has formally asked the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to provide a scientific opinion on the potential health risks associated with the presence of microplastics in food, drinking water and air.

This may serve as an opportunity to obtain an authoritative perspective on an issue too often shaped by media speculation or studies lacking solid scientific grounding — frequently limited to demonstrating the presence of microplastics in the environment without assessing their actual impact on human health.

EFSA experts will review the latest scientific evidence on microplastics, including how these particles enter and affect the human body, how they are transferred into food, and the risk assessment methodologies available, the authority explained. They will also provide updated dietary exposure estimates based on the most recent findings from scientific literature.

The scientific opinion, expected by the end of 2027, is intended to advance knowledge in a field still marked by considerable scientific uncertainty.

Just last month, EFSA published a structured literature review on the release of micro- and nanoplastics from food contact materials (FCMs). The review identified methodological shortcomings in the existing literature and helped to temper public concern over potential health risks. Researchers found that, while microplastics can indeed be released from food contact materials, levels are significantly lower than previously suggested by some studies.

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