A new study commissioned by Greenpeace International estimates that there are between 5,000 and 11,000 microplastic particles in a single pouch of baby food and between 28 and 55 plastic-associated chemicals.
Flexible pouch use on the rise
Pureed baby foods packaged in squeezable pouches with resealable spouts are sold as an easy way to feed kids on the go. They first appeared on the market less than 20 years ago and have become the dominant packaging for baby food, replacing traditional glass jars. These flexible pouches are often manufactured with multiple layers of material, including an outer layer often made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a middle barrier layer often made of PET or aluminum foil, an inner layer often made of polyethylene, and a cap and spout often made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). As a result, these pouches are difficult to recycle and likely to end up in landfills or polluting the environment. They also have the potential to release microplastics and plastic-associated chemicals into the food they contain.
Microplastics found in pureed baby food pouches
For this study, Greenpeace International commissioned SINTEF Ocean to analyze the microplastic and chemical content in Nestlé’s Gerber Banana Blueberry puree and Danone’s Organics Happy Baby Organic Apples, Blueberries & Oats puree. Microplastics were found in all food subsamples, including up to 54 and up to 99 microplastic particles per gram of foodstuff on average for the Nestlé and Danone purees, respectively. This amount would total more than 5,000 particles in the puree of one Nestlé pouch and more than 11,000 particles in the puree of one Danone pouch.
In terms of the type of microplastics, the analysis detected polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA). Polyethylene (PE), which was confirmed to be the primary food contact material in the pouches, was also tentatively identified and particles of this plastic type were most abundant. According to the study, this result suggests that “abrasion or degradation of the inner PE lining in contact with the food may contribute to the microplastic content in the food”.
Plastic chemicals could leach into pureed baby food
The chemical analysis found 111 chemicals in the Nestlé puree and 81 chemicals in the Danone puree, which were also found in the respective multimaterial pouches. These results suggest that there could be migration from the pouch into the puree. When cross-referencing with the PlastChem database, 28 of the chemicals identified in the Nestlé products and 55 of the chemicals identified in the Danone products are known to have been used in or have been found in plastics. The pouches are formed of plastic and sometimes metal layers, but metal is inert; it is likely that the chemicals detected from the pouches not currently included in PlastChem are also from the plastic components of the packaging. One particularly concerning chemical identified is 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP, CAS 96-76-4), which has been associated with endocrine-disrupting effects and could act as an obesogen.
Potential study limitations
The study acknowledges the current challenges with assessing microplastic and chemical contamination in samples, including analytical limitations. It also notes that contamination can happen at many points during the manufacturing process or that leaching can happen under certain conditions. Still, Greenpeace concludes by stating that the results demonstrate that, “[u]ntil proven safe, single-use plastic pouches should not be assumed to be risk-free.”
Babies at higher risk
In the study discussion, Greenpeace points out that babies’ rapid growth and different physiology to older children or adults, may make them more vulnerable to microplastics and chemicals in their food. According to studies cited in the report, chemical contaminants can disrupt developmental processes, leading to long-term health consequences. Infants consume more food and fluid relative to their body weight than adults, leading to higher exposure to contaminants. They are also more likely to experience exposure from other sources, such as play mats, pacifiers, baby bottles, and other baby products.
Calls for industry change, regulation
In the accompanying press release, Greenpeace calls on Gerber to 1) test of all its products for microplastics and publish the results publicly and 2) commit to a timeline to phase out plastic pouches and adopt non-toxic, plastic-free, reusable systems ahead of its 100th anniversary. Greenpeace also calls on the U.S. Government to close chemical safety loopholes by passing the Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act and advance research into health risks and microplastic exposure from food and water by passing the Microplastics Safety Act.
References
Greenpeace International (May 20, 2026). “Tiny Plastics Big Problem.” (pdf)
Lindsey Jurca (May 20, 2026). “Tiny Plastics, Big Problem: study estimates 11,000 microplastics in a single baby food pouch.” Greenpeace International.
This article was originally published by Catherine Crawford-Brown at the Food Packaging Forum.
