Evaluation of microplastic contamination in commercial milk samples from India

Authors: Saha, A., Mahanty, S., Mukhopadhyay, S., Mandal, A., Darbha, G.K., Das, N., Bernal, J., Chatterjee, D., Majumder, S.

Journal: Journal of Food Composition and Analysis

Publication Date: 01/09/2026

Volume: 157

eISSN: 1096-0481

ISSN: 0889-1575

DOI: 10.1016/j.jfca.2026.109407

Abstract:

This study provides the first baseline assessment of microplastic contamination in commercially packaged and locally sourced raw cow milk from India. Microplastics were isolated and characterised in nine milk samples using a combination of microscopic analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), enabling quantitative evaluation and polymer-level confirmation. A total of 66 microplastic particles were detected across all samples, with concentrations ranging from 3 to 30 particles L⁻¹ and an average abundance of 11.11 ± 8.74 particles L⁻¹, indicating the ubiquitous presence of microplastics in both commercial and raw milk. The identified particles were predominantly fibrous, mainly black in colour, and primarily within the 50–1500 µm size range. FTIR analysis confirmed polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) as the dominant polymer types in milk samples as well as in the corresponding packaging materials. Complementary TGA results revealed polymer-specific thermal decomposition behaviour, with polyethylene degrading between 335 and 450 ⁰C, further supporting the presence of packaging-derived microplastics. Overall, this study establishes robust analytical evidence for microplastic contamination in Indian milk and highlights food-packaging interactions as a likely contamination pathway, providing a critical reference point for future exposure assessment, food safety evaluation, and regulatory discussions.

Source: Scopus