A new study from France’s food safety agency, ANSES, has found that drinks sold in glass bottles contain more microplastics than those sold in plastic bottles or metal cans. This unexpected result was shared on Friday and has raised new questions about how packaging affects what we drink.
What the Study Found
The research team looked at drinks like soda, beer, lemonade, iced tea, water, and wine sold in different types of bottles across France. They found that glass bottles had an average of 100 microplastic particles per litre, while plastic bottles had much lower levels, between five and 50 times less.
“We were expecting the opposite,” said Iseline Chaib, a PhD student who worked on the study.
Where Are the Microplastics Coming From?
The team discovered that most of the microplastic particles found in glass bottles came from the paint on the caps that seal them. These caps often rub against each other during storage, creating tiny scratches that release plastic particles.
The shape, colour, and type of plastic found in the drinks matched the plastic used in the cap paint. These particles are too small to see with the naked eye but end up in the drink during the bottling and storage process.
