Microplastics in honey and sugar
A 2013 German study reported finding many fibers and fragments in honey and sugar. But it only counted colored particles under a microscope and did not confirm the material. A 2017 study that re-examined particles one by one by spectroscopy found that many of the black particles were soot from beekeepers’ smokers, and concluded that there was “no sign of significant contamination of honey.”
Amounts found in studies
| Study | What was tested | Size range and method | Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liebezeit & Liebezeit (2013) | Honey and sugar | Only colored particles counted visually (no identification by spectroscopy) | Honey: an average of 166 fibers per kg. Refined sugar: an average of 217 fibers |
| Mühlschlegel et al. (2017) | Honey | Each particle identified by Raman and FTIR | The black particles (1,760–8,680 per kg) were charcoal and soot. Fibers were mainly cellulose or PET. “No sign of significant contamination” |
Results can differ by orders of magnitude depending on the smallest particle size counted and whether particles are counted or weighed. Numbers from different studies cannot be compared directly (→ Why numbers differ).
Good to know
- Counting by appearance alone (color, shape) can include particles that are not plastic, such as cotton and soot (→ How measurement changes the numbers).
Data from Japan
We found no study of honey or sugar from Japan.
Related explainers
Sources
- Liebezeit G, Liebezeit E. Food Addit Contam A 2013 (PMID 24160778)
- Mühlschlegel P, et al. Food Addit Contam A 2017;34:1982 (PMID 28665769)
Last checked 2026-10-01. “Confirmed in the abstract” means we report only what the paper's abstract says. This page is a translation of our Japanese page; if they differ, the Japanese page is the reference.