Author Identifier (ORCID)
Abstract
The presence of microplastics (MPs) in food has emerged as an environmental and public health concern, yet evidence regarding their occurrence in refined dietary commodities remains limited. This study assesses microplastic contamination in commercially available sugar and estimates the daily intake of MPs. Seven branded and non-branded sugar products were analysed using stereomicroscopy for particle characterization and FTIR spectroscopy for polymer identification. Microplastics were detected in 95% of samples, with concentrations ranging from 210 to 508 particles/kg. Branded sugar contained 322 ± 109.53 particles/kg, while non-branded sugar exhibited 403 ± 148.5 particles/kg, indicating comparatively higher contamination in freely available market sugar, although the difference was not statistically significant (p >0.05). Particle sizes varied from ≤ 12 µm to 3.19 mm, dominated by fibers and fragments. FTIR analysis confirmed diverse polymers including ABS, PVC, PETE, PTFE, PC, CA, HDPE, EVA, and Nylon. Based on the Human Health Risk Assessment framework, the estimated daily intake was 0.2178 particles/kilogram of body weight, and the Hazard-to-Concentration Ratio ranged from 7.1 to 17.16, demonstrating that although several polymers possess elevated hazard classifications, their measured concentrations remained well below corresponding reference thresholds. Overall, commercial sugar represents a continuous dietary exposure pathway, underscoring the need for systematic monitoring and strengthened food-safety evaluation.
Keywords
Bangladesh food systems, commercial sugar, food safety, microplastics characterization, microplastics contamination, polymer identification
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
9-1-2026
Article Number
109373
ISSN
08891575
Volume
157
Publication Title
Journal of Food Composition and Analysis
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Engineering
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Afrin, S., Hossain, N., & Rahman, M. (2026). The plastic footprint of sugar: Microplastic contamination in Bangladesh’s commercial sugar. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 157, Article 109373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2026.109373