Canada: A series of studies published Tuesday in the journal Brain Medicine has revealed a troubling connection between microplastics found in ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and deteriorating mental health.
Researchers, including Dr Nicholas Fabiano from the University of Ottawa and Dr Wolfgang Marx of Australia’s Deakin University, warn that UPFs—such as chips, soft drinks, ice cream, processed meats, and mass-produced cereals—not only contain high levels of added sugar, fat, and sodium but are also significantly contaminated with microplastics due to their packaging, additives, and manufacturing equipment.
For instance, chicken nuggets were found to have 30 times more microplastics per gram than unprocessed chicken breasts. These plastic particles, scientists say, can cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in the brain, potentially triggering depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and other mental health issues.
This adds a new dimension to existing research linking UPFs to poor psychological outcomes, as both microplastics and UPFs appear to disrupt neurotransmitters, promote inflammation, and impair cellular function in strikingly similar ways.
With ultra-processed foods now making up more than 50% of daily caloric intake in countries like the U.S., experts urge the public to reduce consumption of these foods and take simple precautions—such as using glass containers and avoiding microwaving plastic—to limit exposure to harmful microplastics. Dr. Fabiano says, “We’re seeing converging evidence that should concern us all.”
