Suspected Microplastics in Commercial Salts and Sugars Sold in Greece: Evidence for Processing-Related Contamination

Table salt (NaCl) has played a vital role throughout human history, serving diverse functions including food preservation, flavor enhancement, currency, and use in scientific applications. As most salt is derived from seawater evaporation, concerns have arisen regarding the presence of microplastics in commercially available salt products. In this study, we analyzed 19 commercially available salt products and two sugar products to assess the suspected microplastics (SMPs) contamination based on various factors including origin, granule size, and retail price. SMPs retained by a 100 μm stainless steel sieve were counted and categorized into common morphological types: microfibers, membranes, and fragments. All samples were found to contain SMPs, with an average concentration of 118 ± 68 SMPs/kg for salts and 74 ± 26 SMPs/kg for sugars. No significant differences in total SMP abundance were detected among salt pan salt (SP), rock salt (RS), and sugar (SU) products. Fine-grained RS products showed higher SMP abundance than the single coarse-grained RS product, although this difference could not be statistically tested; no significant difference was found between coarse- and fine-grained SP products. These results indicate that SMPs occur across different commercial product categories, while their specific sources and the potential contribution of processing and packaging require further targeted investigation.