Plastics are inescapable. They are used in packaging, home supplies, medical devices, and countless other items. Naturally then, over the past several years, and as covered by ELM and GS’s Toxic Tort and Environmental Law team, microplastics have gained notoriety in the United States. These small fragments of plastic, smaller five millimeters, have increasingly been released into the environment — often into bodies of water — via production, use, or degradation. Microplastics have also been found in aquatic life and human organs.

Reflecting this increased attention and knowledge, as the summer is already winding down and a new school year looms, last Wednesday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration unveiled its new microplastics website. The aim of the website is to inform readers about microplastics’ scientific background, health effects, and relevant regulations, and to circulate the latest research concerning microplastics. More generally, this resource is a key step in responding to public concerns about microplastics found in the U.S. food supply.

According to the FDA’s new website, as research currently stands, there are three key takeaways:

• Microplastics have entered the US food supply;
• There has been no demonstration that the levels of microplastics or nanoplastics detected in the US food supply poses a risk to human health; and
• The FDA will continue to monitor the current state of microplastics research and will take steps to ensure US food safety.

The website also links to further background information, as well as resources created by other federal government agencies.

By promoting clear information and by keeping track of ongoing research relating to microplastics, the FDA’s goal is to increase transparency and ensure public trust when there is a question about the well-being and health of Americans.