But before that, the processing of the various things put in the cups adds microplastics too.
I’d have to think you’re right about this. Plastic is so versatile, I’ll bet it’s all over any sort of food processing.
Yeah, I’ve been assuming that plastic isn’t something I want anywhere near my food but can only really control plastic contact with my food inside my place. Most comes packaged in plastic. I think glass jars and produce/things produced in the store are the only things that don’t automatically come in contact with plastic, though in practice it’s only the glass jars that continue to avoid it because the stores provide plastic packaging for produce and their other stuff like meat/deli cuts or baked goods.
And I’d be surprised if the contents inside the glass jars aren’t typically stored in plastic between the farm and the jarring plant, though at least there the bins are likely large enough that contact is minimal for anything not at the edges.
One study found that stuff in glass jars actually had more microplastics than stuff in plastic bottles, from the paint on the lid.
You’re right. But, it’s less about the storage, and more about the processing. The machines used to process food all have plastic parts, bearing surfaces that wear down.
Studies published in Food Chemistry found microplastics in every commercial olive oil they tested — so olive oil does have microplastics, and the plastic comes from the extraction and bottling chain, not the olives. A 2024 study of olive and vegetable oils from Italy and Spain measured a mean of about 1,140 particles per liter, mostly fragments under 100 microns and dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene — and found no significant difference between oils bottled in glass and in plastic.
At least PE and PP are relatively harmless. I think the narrative than any microplastic is bad covers up the evil that was polluting our world with PFAS.
I kinda figured that was the case.
The coffee and cream also contain micro plastics.
The coffee is also cursed
Like a fun curse? A low poly skull follows you around and goes MYEH now and then?
You may call me MURRAY!
Ah I forgot about Murray! I was actually referencing a tiny indie game called Diaries of a Spaceport Janitor though
That’s bad
But you get your choice of topping!
I’m getting macroplastic sprinkles
That’s good
The toppings contain potassium benzoate
…
That’s bad
I’m still a little mad society didn’t latch onto “frogurt” instead of “froyo”.
It’s microplastics all the way down.
And I pissed in it
Just add it to road tires sloughing it by driving… It’s the new leaded disaster. Thanks oil lobbies.
Lead is still a disaster though. Fazing lead pipes out is great but with out subsidies for remediation old lead pipes never get removed. Places like France didn’t even faze our lead pipes until 1995
Lead pipes are safe while they’re stable. If they get moved or cut or anything, or acid removes the protective layer, then they can become unsafe. Kind of like asbestos.
Lead in avgas, on the other hand, is definitely unsafe.
Oh yeah? Well I’m releasing micro-me’s into takeaway cups. Take that, microplastics industry!
Given that cops on TV routinely use them for DNA, you’re absolutely right.
How I imagine you doing this -
Man, these university researchers just love telling us all the ways we’re gonna contract some horrible condition, or disease, or death.
On the other hand, there are probably more carcinogens in city air than microplastic.
they don’t love telling you that.
the media loves telling you that, and loves making rich white peopel panic and go out and buy all new cups/cookware/appliances based on the new latest scary study.
and i have relatives who do this. every 5 years they re-buy everything in their kitchen based on whatever is the latest scare trend is. non-stick, plastics, pfas, bpa, etc. it’s like clockowrk, every 5 years there is a new boogeyman think that you have to go buy all new pots and pants and dishware to ‘avoid’. or water bottles.
i bet in 5 years we’re going to start hearing how eating of out steel cookware/cups is bad for you and we all have to go back to plastic because that’s safer.
There’s microplastic in the air.
Thank god my K-Cup is safe from releasing microplastics. Pesky takeaway cups.
That’s a valid problem, I want also to point out that there are lids made out of polystyrene and people sometimes put hot food in styrofoam (also polystyrene). That plastic barely biodrades at all and is not stable at moderately high temperatures.
Also, even though PLA has 12 more particles PE might be a lot more damaging since PLA is biodegradable. Although the jury is still out on PLA and how efficiently the body can get rid of it PE is much much more likely to stay and accumulate.
I love how people drink alcohol which is litttally a form of poison, smoke or vape heavy metals, and eat the most processed shit food made. But micro plastics is where they want to draw the line.
Well there is no perceived benefit to micro plastics. No buzz, no stress relief, no fun etc… They are just a biproduct.
I think they taste good
I’ve heard they make my balls taste good
Your mom’s balls taste good.
People like to have the freedom to pick their poison.
I guess allergenic people, f- em?
Make your own coffee anyway, that way it’s personalized exactly how you want it
You’re assuming I’m capable of making coffee how I want it.
Just kidding. I make 90% of my coffee at home, and it’s great. The best part is using beans you love. For me it’s Ethiopian Sidamo beans produced by a local roaster.
There’s a roaster near me called Dapper and Wise, great coffee, I wouldn’t trade it for the stuff from Starbucks.
I think at this point the environment is so infused with them that it is pointless to pretend we can avoid them.
I remember one study about microplastics gave up because either they couldn’t find an uncontaminated control, or their measuring equipment was contaminating it. I’m not sure if they could tell which one it was.
This is clearly one of those: no fucking shit situations
Who the fuck sips hot beverages literally from plastic is not aware or considering the consequences.
Tf is wrong with most people.
People see a paper cup and dont think about how they make it waterproof
I thought it was wax, not plastic. The lid is plastic though.
So do microplastics harm our bodies? I can’t think it’ll help, just wanna know the severity to be worried lol
We don’t really know yet. Seems like there are assloads of studies finding plastic in places plastic probably shouldn’t be, and literally none of whether or not this is actually bad or how bad it is.
There is also assloads of corrections finding that some of those studies were bust because of sample contamination during the study. It’s almost impossible to not have microplastics everywhere including your research instruments. Which you’d think will be an evidence by itself, but we really can’t tell anything.
Microplastics might be overblown because scientists didn’t realize their gloves release particles that look like microplastics but aren’t.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36948312/
and
https://dceg.cancer.gov/news-events/news/2025/tgct-hispanic-men
No link has been found between the two of course but does make you go hmmmm…
Not surprising since we already have studies that show microplastics get released in things like plastic containers when used in the microwave that’s caused due to heat but still good to know and be informed even if I don’t use them outside of very occasionally.
