On October 22, 2018, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) published the latest edition of its Consumer Monitor – a representative survey of the German-speaking population on general and specific questions related to health risks as well as food and product safety. The survey revealed that 56% of consumers are concerned about microplastics in food (FPF reported). Compared to the previous survey, the population’s concern regarding this topic has increased by 11 percentage points, the BfR highlighted.
“From previous studies, it cannot be calculated just how many microplastic particles consumers really do ingest through the consumption of fish, for example,” the BfR stated. “Microplastics have been determined above all in the gastrointestinal tract of fish which are not usually eaten,” the BfR further explained. “In order to assess the actual risk of microplastics in the food chain, we require more reliable data, ” the BfR’s president Andreas Hensel noted. “The BfR is currently conducting studies on the uptake of microplastics via the intestines and their possible health effects,” he added.
According to the recent survey, 45% of German consumers are also concerned about aluminum in food packaging materials or food containers (FPF reported).
Read more
BfR (October 22, 2018). “Microplastics in food – Many unanswered questions among scientists and the general public.”
BfR (August 2018). “BfR Consumer Monitor 08|2018.” (pdf)
BfR (December 1, 2014). “Questions and answers on microplastics.”
