Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in various environment compartments, including food. Here, we collected research reports of MPs in food published during 2010–2020, and summarized the analytical methods developed and utilized by researchers (e.g., digestion, separation and identification, as well as related QA/QC measures implemented), the occurrence, and the characteristics of MPs in six kinds of food. The potential effects on biota from exposure to MPs were also reviewed. The results showed that most researchers digested food samples using chemical solutions such as HNO₃, H₂O₂, KOH, or NaOH. FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy were the main technique for identifying MPs, and microscopes were used to count MP particles. The abundances MPs were in the ranges of 0–5860, 2.00–1100, 0–698, 4.00–18.7, 0–5.68 × 10⁴ and 900–3000 particles/kg in beverages, condiments, honey, meat, seafood and vegetables, respectively. The “maximum” annual human intake of MPs from these foods is approximately 1.42 × 10⁵–1.54 × 10⁵ particles/capita, equivalent to the consumption of 50 plastic bags (size: 0.04 mm × 250 mm × 400 mm, density: 0.98 g/cm³) each year. Blue-colored and fiber-shaped MP particles were the most commonly observed in food, predominated by PA, PE, PES, PET and PP types. Toxicity studies indicated that MPs, additives of MPs and adsorbents or microorganisms on the surfaces of MPs were all somewhat toxic to cells or biota. Exposure to MPs may induce oxidative stress, inflammation, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity, and change the structure of intestinal microflora in cells or biota. Therefore, we call for more investigation into the residual, excretion and bioavailability of MPs or related absorbents/additives in biota and humans.

微塑料 (MPs) 在各种环境隔间中无处不在，包括食物。在这里，我们收集了 2010-2020 年发表的食品中 MPs 的研究报告，并总结了研究人员开发和使用的分析方法（例如，消化、分离和鉴定，以及实施的相关 QA/QC 措施）、发生情况和六种食物中MPs的特征。还审查了暴露于 MPs 对生物群的潜在影响。结果表明，大多数研究人员使用 HNO ₃、H ₂ O _{2等化学溶液消化食物样品}、KOH 或 NaOH。FT-IR和拉曼光谱是鉴定MP的主要技术，显微镜用于对MP颗粒进行计数。饮料、调味品、蜂蜜、肉类、海鲜和蔬菜中 MPs 的丰度范围为 0-5860、2.00-1100、0-698、4.00-18.7、0-5.68 × 10 ⁴和 900-3000 颗粒/kg，分别。人类每年从这些食物中“最大”摄入的 MPs 约为 1.42 × 10 ⁵ –1.54 × 10 ⁵颗粒/人均，相当于消耗 50 个塑料袋（尺寸：0.04 mm × 250 mm × 400 mm，密度：0.98克/厘米³） 每年。蓝色和纤维状的 MP 颗粒在食品中最常见，主要是 PA、PE、PES、PET 和 PP 类型。毒性研究表明，MPs、MPs的添加剂以及MPs表面的吸附剂或微生物对细胞或生物群都有一定的毒性。暴露于 MPs 可能会诱发氧化应激、炎症、神经毒性和生殖毒性，并改变细胞或生物群中肠道菌群的结构。因此，我们呼吁对 MPs 或相关吸收剂/添加剂在生物群和人体中的残留、排泄和生物利用度进行更多调查。