A recent study has detected microplastic particles in both commercially packaged and locally sourced raw cow milk samples collected from Kolkata and surrounding areas, raising questions about potential contamination pathways in the milk supply chain.
The study, published in the Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, analysed nine milk samples, including six commercial pouch-milk products from four national and two regional brands, along with raw cow milk obtained from local vendors. Researchers detected a total of 66 microplastic particles across the samples, with concentrations ranging from 3 to 30 particles per litre.
Most of the detected particles were fibres or fragments. Laboratory analysis identified polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) as the dominant polymer types. The research used microscopic analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to identify and characterise the particles.
The presence of microplastics in packaged milk points to packaging materials as one possible contamination pathway. However, their detection in raw milk indicates that contamination may also occur before packaging, potentially during farm handling, milking, processing or through contact with equipment and other materials.
The researchers described the findings as a baseline assessment of microplastic contamination in Indian milk and highlighted the need for further exposure assessment, food-safety evaluation and regulatory discussions. The study also found that the polymers detected in milk were consistent with those identified in corresponding packaging materials, supporting packaging-related interactions as a likely pathway.
The findings add to wider research examining microplastic exposure through food and beverages. However, the detection of microplastics in milk does not by itself establish that consuming the tested milk causes a specific disease or health outcome. The long-term human-health implications of dietary microplastic exposure remain an area of ongoing scientific research.
For the dairy industry, the findings underline the importance of examining potential plastic-contact points across the milk chain—from farm-level handling and milking equipment to processing, filtration, packaging and storage. Further studies involving larger and geographically diverse sample sets will be important for determining the prevalence and exposure levels of microplastics in Indian milk.
Source: Dairynews7x7 23 Sep, 2026 Read full story here
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