On September 21, 2026, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and partner organizations published a technical brief examining how plastic pollution moves through agrifood systems and affects the environment along with animal and human health. The report uses a One Health approach to connect pollution arising throughout the plastics lifecycle with exposure through soil, water, animals, and food.
Plastics are used throughout food production, processing, and distribution. FAO estimates an annual use of 13.4 million tonnes of agricultural plastics and 37.3 million tonnes in food packaging (FPF reported). Packaging and other plastic waste can enter soils and waterways after use, while food contact materials can also contribute more directly to human exposure (FPF reported also here).
The report highlights both plastic particles and chemicals as potential human health concerns. “More than 16 000 chemicals have been found in plastics, most of which are unregulated globally. A quarter of these chemicals are already considered hazardous due to their persistence, bioaccumulation, mobility, and/or toxicity and 66 percent lack official hazard classifications by regulatory agencies or industry” (FPF reported). Chemicals can migrate or leach from plastics into food and the environment, while micro- and nanoplastics have been detected in food, drinking water, and human tissues. However, FAO clarifies that “uncertainties remain regarding the health and food safety implications of current dietary exposure levels.”
FAO additionally argues that plastic pollution should be addressed across the full lifecycle rather than solely through waste management. Recommended actions include preventing unnecessary plastic use, improving product design and waste management, strengthening monitoring of plastic particles and chemicals in food systems, assessing alternatives for safety, and coordinating agricultural, environmental, food safety, and public-health policies.
Reference
Yates, Joe, et al. (2026). “Plastic pollution in agrifood systems and One Health: Impact pathways and policy implications.” Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations. (pdf)
Read more
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “About One Health.”
