It isn’t a fun one, this topic.
But that doesn’t mean we can ignore it.
Today's unfortunate truth is that even the beef and chicken on your plate could be laced with microplastics.
And it's yet another reason to be obsessive over the sourcing of our food. Like we are.
Many health enthusiasts are likely familiar with the fact that fish contain microplastics. Human waste is dumped into the ocean, where it breaks down into smaller particles that enter the food web over time.
The idea of plastics in meat, such as beef or pork, is more alarming. A study in the Netherlands found that 75% of the animals tested – and every blood sample taken – contained microplastics.
So, is the beef, pork, or chicken you’re eating contaminated with plastic?
Well, it goes without saying that the diet and lifestyle of the animals we consume significantly influence the quality of the meat, including whether or not it contains microplastics.
You Are What Your Food Ate
This means that the diet and lifestyle of the animals you consume contribute to the nutritional value of the food you eat.
You are more likely to ingest microplastics if you're consuming conventionally raised beef, pork, or chicken-fed corn or soy in human-made feed.
Knowing that animal protein can contain plastic makes it all the more important to become more educated and make better food choices—especially when consuming meat or fish.
When you choose regenerative, pasture-raised, grass-fed animals, the plastics entering their system approach zero. These animals also enjoy a much healthier and happier life.
Consider how ruminant animals are designed to digest grasses—they have intense fermentation systems, meaning their microbiomes are unique. When they consume plastics or subpar, unnatural food, their immune system and microbiome weaken, leading to a more inflammatory nutritional profile.
Have you ever thought about how the food your meat eats affects your health?
Conventional animals which you often find in the supermarket shelf tend to have fewer nutrients and more inflammatory fats.
Lower Omega-6 to Omega-3 Ratio:
The ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 in animals consuming natural diets is more balanced, typically around 2:1 to 4:1. This ratio is considered healthier for human consumption, as a high omega-6 intake is linked to increased inflammation and chronic diseases.
Non Geek Version:
An imbalanced intake of certain fats can lead to cell damage and death, which contributes to inflammation and chronic diseases.
Geek Version:
This imbalance overwhelms our cell membranes and sets us up for inflammation and cellular death through a biochemical reaction known as ferroptosis. This process is caused by a combination of excess polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are weak and fragile (reflecting oxidative stress and nutrient status for antioxidants like vitamin E, glutathione, iodine, CoQ10, vitamin C, vitamin B2, selenium, and zinc), and iron, which together cause cellular death through ferroptosis.
Is there any escape?
Honestly, today there is no escaping plastic contamination in our environment and, therefore, our food supply.
But, with enough care and thought we can minimise it to levels where the impact on our health is negligible.
The first step is knowing where and from whom you purchase your food.
Animals raised in naturally, in harmony with the environment, may cost a little more than conventionally raised animals that focus on production and numbers—not quality.
But quality food should not be cheap—our spending on food has decreased over the years, which may surprise you. Perhaps we are purchasing more holidays, cars, iPhones, laptops, or supplements rather than investing in the “food is medicine” approach.
Where and why, did we start accepting that a whole chicken should cost £5? It might seem like a good deal, but for whom?
The farmer? Likely not.
They're probably at the mercy of supermarket demands, lost traditional farming practices, and stuck in a modern system focused on feed, antibiotics, and high volume.
This was recently discussed in an excellent speech by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the pig farming industry that started in Carolina.
What can you do about this?
Unfortunately, there is no direct comparison of plastics found in pasture-raised, grass-fed animals versus conventionally raised animals.
Still, it would seem logical to assume that naturally raised animals, on a diet created by photosynthesis are superior and less likely to be contaminated.
Invest in a “food is medicine” approach, focusing on quality over quantity. Buy directly from suppliers you trust and who are transparent about their sourcing and farming practices. Avoid pseudo-fake foods such as vegan fake meat products, which have also been shown to have microplastics in, conventionally raised animals, takeaways, and most restaurant meat.
While concerns about plastic found in meat and fish are valid, our human biology is uniquely equipped to protect us—especially when we achieve optimal health. While I wouldn’t recommend consuming plastic knowingly or eating meat from animals fed pelletized feed, we can detoxify plastics and prevent them from entering our circulation.
This includes ensuring that our gut and lymphatic systems function well. A food-first approach, with staples like ginger and kimchi, has been shown to protect from damage, detoxify, and reduce plastic absorption into the body.
We likely do not truly know the extent of the effect of long term chronic microplastic consumption in our food supply but I would hypothesis it is not going to be an evolutionary advantage.
In animals it's been shown to dysregulate the gut, leading to inflammation, and leaky gut.
In other studies nanoplastics enter circulation through the gut and thus start to be deposited in tissues such as the liver or kidney.
Another study published in Science of the Total Environment examined how microplastic exposure could interfere with hormone function. Certain plastic additives, like bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates, are known endocrine disruptors, meaning they can interfere with hormone regulation. These effects could contribute to developmental, reproductive, and metabolic disorders.
Finally, Another study in Frontiers in Environmental Science explored how microplastics trigger immune responses in animals. Long-term exposure to microplastics in mice led to chronic inflammation, a condition that, in humans, is associated with a range of diseases including autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and cancers.
The Western man-made food diet is likely worse.
The plastics found in these common Western foods, or even those promoted by the vegan movement, such as the impossible burger or a tofu concoction, have more elevated microplastics.
Packaging problems in meat
Packaging is another concern, as most meat products or even supplements are in direct contact with plastic, potentially undoing much of the hard work in choosing better options. That’s why one of the first steps we took after launching was to minimise or eliminate direct contact between our meat and plastic.
Every little helps, primarily when it can easily be controlled and upgraded. Swapping your plastic cutting board to a bamboo or other wood material would dramatically reduce the microplastic entering your body.
We hope you notice these little touches that Oath provides in our butcher counter...
The journey toward cleaner, healthier eating starts with understanding the source of your food. Make sure your next meal supports not just your body but the environment as well.
Speak soon,
R, J & N