UK microplastic pollution threatens food security, report warns

A new report by the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Microplastics, in collaboration with the Women’s Institute and the University of Portsmouth, warns that microplastic pollution poses an emerging threat to UK food security. The report highlights that UK agricultural soils are among the most contaminated in Europe, frequently due to the application of sewage sludge as fertilizer.

Microplastics, particles between 1 micrometer and 5 millimeters, have been detected throughout the food chain, including in seafood, meat, fruit, vegetables, milk, and drinking water. Major sources of these pollutants include synthetic textiles, tires, paints, packaging, and plastic pellets. The contamination is also linked to increasing human exposure as particles are found within the human body.

To address the issue, the report calls for the UK government to establish a coordinated national strategy and introduce legally binding targets. Recommended actions include regulating major emission sources through product design, strengthening producer responsibility, improving wastewater and soil protections, and building a national monitoring system to inform future policy.