Hidden pollutants in food: Evidence of small microplastic particles (100–5 µm) in refined sugar from the Italian market

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants increasingly reported in food, including sugar. This study presents a novel analytical approach enabling the detection of MPs < 20 µm without chemical digestion, preserving particle integrity through simple dissolution in ultrapure water. White sugars from major Italian brands and distributors were analyzed using µ-FTIR for MPs ≥ 50 µm and µ-Raman for particles between 5 and 50 µm. The µ-Raman results are semi-quantitative and based on sub-sampling of 34 % of the filter area. While µ-FTIR detected relatively few MPs, µ-Raman revealed that the majority of particles fell below 20 µm, with a strong predominance in the 5-10 µm range. PVC emerged as the most abundant polymer, followed by PE, PS, PP and PET. The presence of MPs in a widely consumed product raises questions regarding food safety and human exposure. The predominance of MPs < 20 µm - a fraction not fully addressed by current EU regulatory frameworks - underscores the need for harmonized, standardized methodologies for monitoring MPs in food.