Microplastics in Food
Explore innovative research topic ideas on microplastics in food, focusing on contamination sources, effects on health, and solutions to mitigate microplastics research challenges.
QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH
Realyn Manalo
5/16/20253 min read
The widespread contamination of microplastics in food has emerged as an alarming global concern, cutting across health, environmental, and food security domains. Microplastics—tiny plastic fragments less than 5mm in size—are now present in seafood, salt, packaged goods, and even everyday cooking processes. Despite growing awareness of their pervasiveness, little is known about the long-term health effects of chronic dietary exposure. As Filipinos continue to rely on fish, salt, and packaged foods, the lack of region-specific data on microplastic ingestion, toxicological risks, and regulatory responses becomes especially urgent. This topic offers timely and critical ground for research that bridges public health, environmental science, and food safety.
Who Can Use These Topics
This research is ideal for students and professionals pursuing the following courses or strands:
College Programs:
BS in Environmental Science
BS in Public Health
BS in Food Technology
BS in Biology
BS in Marine Biology
BS in Chemistry
Senior High School Strands:
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
General Academic Strand (GAS)
Why This Topic Needs Research
Despite increasing scientific attention, critical research gaps remain in understanding microplastics in food:
Lack of region-specific toxicity data: While the health risks of microplastics are known globally, studies in the MENA region remain limited, especially on chronic exposure and organ-level impacts (Alziny et al., 2025).
Unexamined real-world kitchen scenarios: Although plastics in cookware are a known source, research is lacking on how household variables—like temperature, food type, and cooking time—affect microplastic release (Cole et al., 2024).
No standard testing for food packaging: Despite the known migration of microplastics from packaging, harmonized detection protocols and large-scale exposure models are still absent (Chinglenthoiba et al., 2025).
Lack of long-term dietary exposure data: Chronic ingestion’s effects on gut microbiota, inflammation, and toxicity are under-researched, particularly in the context of cumulative exposure from multiple food sources (Kadac-Czapska et al., 2024).
Insufficient focus on edible fish muscle: While fish contamination is well-documented, studies rarely test muscle tissue—the part humans eat—limiting our understanding of seafood-linked exposure (Benaires et al., 2024).
Need for salt-specific polymer characterization: Studies in the Philippines confirmed plastic presence in salt, but few used advanced techniques like FTIR to identify exact polymers and related health risks (Rongap & Plantado, 2024; Pajarillo et al., 2024).
Feasibility & Challenges by Target Group
Get Your Free Thesis Title
Finding a well-structured quantitative research topic can be challenging, but I am here to assist you.
✔ Expertly Curated Topics – Not AI-generated, but carefully developed based on existing academic studies and research trends.
✔ Comprehensive Research Support – Includes an existed and updated research gaps, explanation of variables as well as SDG relevance.
✔ Personalized for Your Field – Get a thesis title tailored to your academic requirements and research interests.
Prefer video content? Subscribe to my YouTube Channel for expert insights on research topics, methodologies, and academic writing strategies.
References
Alziny, N., Elgarhy, F. M., Mohamed, A. M., Shalaby, H. Y., Nounou, N., Soliman, O., & Abdelnaser, A. (2025). The Impact of Microplastics in Food and Drugs on Human Health: A Review of the MENA Region. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(3), 380.
Benaires, K. D., Yap-Dejeto, L. G., & Parilla, R. B. (2025). Microplastics in commercially sold fish in a coastal city of the Philippine Islands, Western Pacific. Regional Studies in Marine Science, 82, 104025.
Chinglenthoiba, C., Lani, M. N., Anuar, S. T., Amesho, K. T., KL, P., & Santos, J. H. (2025). Microplastics in Food Packaging: Analytical Methods, Health Risks, and Sustainable Alternatives. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances, 100746.
Cole, M., Gomiero, A., Jaén-Gil, A., Haave, M., & Lusher, A. (2024). Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware. Science of the Total Environment, 929, 172577.
Kadac-Czapska, K., Knez, E., & Grembecka, M. (2024). Food and human safety: The impact of microplastics. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition, 64(11), 3502-3521.
Pajarillo, N. D., Panganoron, H. O., & Arcales, J. A. (2024). Microplastic contamination in table salt sold in the selected local markets in Samar, Philippines. Food Research, 8(5), 132-137.
Rongap, M. E., & Plantado, L. C. Quantification and Characterization of Microplastic Contamination in Commercially Available Salt in Partido Area, Philippines.