Can microplastics in milk and dairy products reach your body?

What's actually in it

Milk and dairy products can contain microplastic particles that enter at multiple stages: from the milking machines (which have plastic tubing and seals), during processing (through filters, pipes, and tanks), and from packaging (plastic bottles, cartons with plastic linings, and plastic wraps on cheese).

Dairy is a daily staple for many families, especially for growing children. The steady, repeated exposure to microplastics through something as basic as milk is worth paying attention to.

What the research says

A 2025 review in J Hazard Mater analyzed studies on microplastic contamination in milk and dairy products from around the world. The researchers assessed the quality of existing research and compiled data on particle counts, types, and likely sources.

Microplastics were found in raw milk, pasteurized milk, infant formula, cheese, yogurt, and butter. The most common plastic types were polyethylene and polypropylene, which matched the materials used in dairy processing and packaging equipment.

The review found that processing increased contamination. Raw milk had fewer particles than processed milk, suggesting that the factory environment adds microplastics. Packaging was another major source: milk in plastic bottles had more particles than milk in glass.

Choose milk in glass bottles when available. For cheese, buy from the deli counter where it's cut fresh rather than pre-wrapped in plastic. Yogurt in glass jars avoids the plastic container problem entirely.