On June 2, 2014 the German broadcasting station Norddeutscher Rundfunk reported in its television program “Markt” on microplastics found in beer and mineral water. “Markt” requested an independent laboratory to analyze the most popular German beer and mineral water brands for the presence of microplastics; plastic particles were detected in all samples. The most contaminated beverage was a beer with 79 microparticles/l. According to the program, textiles like fleece made from polyesters (including from recycled PET bottles) are likely to be the source of the contamination. These plastic fibers are not comprehensively filtered by waste water treatment plants and may thus end up in the environment. Gerd Liebzeit, professor at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, stated that plastic pollution is a general environmental problem with microplastics being found in food as well as in air. In response to the allegations, the German association of breweries commissioned their own analyses with renowned laboratories including the Technical University Munich. These studies did not confirm the presence of microplastics in water. “Markt” criticises that the association did not make the exact methods used for the analyses public.
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Heike Dittmers (June 2, 2014). “Mikroplastik in Mineralwasser und Bier. ” Norddeutscher Rundfunk.
