Can infant formula contain microplastics and BPA straight from the packaging?

What's actually in it

Infant formula comes in plastic-lined tins, plastic tubs, or multi-layer pouches. The packaging touches the powder, and the powder absorbs what comes off the packaging. Then parents mix it with hot water in a plastic bottle. Each step adds to what the baby drinks.

The three things that worry researchers most: microplastics (tiny particles that cross into the bloodstream), bisphenol A (hormone disruptor), and phthalates (plasticizers linked to brain and reproductive problems).

What the research says

A 2025 study in Environ Res tested popular infant formula brands for microplastics, BPA, and several phthalate esters. Every brand tested had measurable amounts. For infants drinking standard amounts, estimated daily intake of BPA and certain phthalates crossed the European Food Safety Authority's safety thresholds. Microplastic counts were high enough that a formula-fed baby would consume millions of particles over a year.

The packaging shape mattered. Plastic tubs leaked more than metal tins with a thin liner. Pouches were worst for phthalates because of the soft plastic layer.

Mixing formula in a glass or stainless steel pitcher and serving in glass bottles cuts the bottle-side exposure. Storing the unopened formula in a cool place slows migration from the container. Breast milk has very few of these contaminants, though it can carry PFAS.