Can microplastics hidden in refined sugar end up in your food?

What's actually in it

Refined sugar goes through extensive processing before it reaches your kitchen. During refining, sugar passes through plastic pipes, filters, and packaging materials. Each step gives tiny plastic fragments a chance to break off and mix in. Since sugar is in nearly everything, from baked goods to coffee, your daily exposure adds up.

What the research says

A 2026 study in J Hazard Mater tested refined sugar from the Italian market for small microplastic particles between 5 and 100 micrometers. The researchers found microplastics in the sugar samples. The particles came from common plastics used in food processing equipment and packaging.

These particles are small enough to pass through your gut lining and interact with cells. Since sugar is used in so many foods and beverages, this is a source of microplastics most people never think about.

Buy sugar in paper or glass packaging when possible. Reducing overall sugar intake helps too, since less sugar means fewer microplastics from this source. Choose less processed sweeteners like raw honey or maple syrup for everyday use.