Baby food report reveals the danger

A new report published by Greenpeace has revealed that baby food sold in plastic-spouted pouches contains thousands of microplastic particles per package. Independent tests indicate that plastics from the packaging lining are leaching directly into the food.

Greenpeace's report, titled "Little Plastics, Big Problem: The Hidden Risks of Baby Food Plastic Pouches," has exposed the hidden danger in squeeze-type plastic-packaged baby food with concrete figures. In tests conducted by the independent research organization SINTEF Ocean, dozens of microplastic particles per gram and thousands per package were detected in baby food from world-renowned brands in plastic-spouted pouches.

Thousands of particles in Danone and Nestlé products

According to the laboratory results included in the report, the microplastic rates in the examined brands were shared as follows:

•Danone Happy Baby Organics: Up to 99 microplastic particles per gram were detected in fruit purees. The total number of particles in a single pouch exceeded 11 thousand.

•Nestlé Gerber: Up to 54 microplastic particles per gram were detected in yogurt purees. The total number of particles in a single pouch exceeded 5 thousand.

Microplastics leach directly from packaging into food

The tests conducted showed a direct link between some of the microplastics found in the baby food and the polyethylene material used in the inner lining of the packaging. The report also cited independent research showing that heating a plastic container in a microwave for just 3 minutes can release approximately 4 million microplastic particles into the food. Furthermore, dozens of chemical substances, many of which are potentially toxic, were identified as leaching from the packaging into the food.

"Babies are more vulnerable to plastic chemicals"

It was emphasized that babies, whose bodies and organs are still in the development stage, are affected much more severely by plastic particles and chemicals compared to adults. It is known that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals even at low doses during infancy can have lasting effects on the reproductive system, growth, and metabolism. Despite the magnitude of the danger, it was reported that flexible plastic-spouted pouches accounted for 37.15 percent of the global market for baby food packaging as of 2025, and that the market is growing rapidly.

"Governments must enact legal regulations"

Making statements on the subject, Greenpeace Turkey Social and Economic Systems Campaigner Berk Butan drew attention to the risks of plastic packaging on public health and said:

"Independent tests detected over 11 thousand microplastic particles per package in baby food pouches, and some of these particles are leaching directly from the packaging material into the food. Although the investigation covers only two brands, the findings are of a nature that would affect all other brands using such packaging. Therefore, every brand selling products that come into contact with plastic must take on the responsibility of proving with independent tests that they are not exposing consumers to microplastics and plastic chemicals. It is essential for governments to act cautiously in this regard, take measures to protect public health, and enact binding legal regulations. With these findings in plain sight, companies must conduct more comprehensive investigations and share the results with the public."

News Source: 12punto