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Greenpeace study finds microplastics in baby food products

A Greenpeace study found microplastics in nearly every sample taken from Nestlé’s Gerber and Danone’s Happy Baby Organics baby food plastic pouches.

The study by SINTEF Ocean in Norway, commissioned by Greenpeace International, Tiny Plastics, Big Problem: The Hidden Risks of Plastic Pouches for Baby Food, sets out findings from the laboratory testing of popular baby food brands, Nestlé’s Gerber and Danone’s Happy Baby Organics. The researchers identified microplastic particles in every sample analysed.

“It also raises big questions about microplastics and chemical migration from other plastic-pouched baby food brands, and food contact plastic packaging more broadly,” Daniel Read, global plastics campaigner at Greenpeace, told Ingredients Network.

Problem could lie with plastic lining

The study suggests a link between polyethylene, the type of plastic the pouches are lined with, and some of the microplastics found in the baby food tested. Laboratory tests suggested a range of chemicals were present in both the product packaging and the food.

Researchers found that for every gram of baby food tested, an average of 54 microplastic particles were identified in Gerber baby food pouches and up to 99 particles in Happy Baby Organic ones. The quantity is equivalent to as many as 270 microplastics per teaspoon in Gerber products and 495 in Happy Baby Organics’ items.

Analysing three pouches each of two baby food products, Nestlé’s Gerber yoghurt puree and Danone’s Happy Baby Organics fruit puree, the researchers tested these items as sold and so were not heated. As a result, this suggests plastic packaging may be a source of contamination, exposing babies to potentially thousands of harmful microplastic fragments.

The study estimated there were more than 11,000 microplastic particles in each Happy Baby Organics pouch and 5,000 in each Gerber pouch.

It also found a range of plastic-associated chemicals in both the products’ packaging and food, including a potential endocrine disruptor in the Gerber samples tested. Endocrine disruptors are natural or manufactured chemicals that may mimic or disrupt the body’s hormones.

Due to the nature of the tests conducted, it is not currently known which part of the production process microplastics entered the baby food.

Nestlé and Danone's response

“Nestlé and Danone responded to Greenpeace International about the findings of the research with excuses instead of action to reduce the microplastic and chemical exposure risk for babies who eat their pouched baby food products,” said Read.

The Break Free From Plastic movement has ranked Nestlé and Danone as among the world’s top plastic polluters numerous times, in its global brand audits.

Greenpeace is calling on both household names and all baby food producers to urgently investigate their products and prove they are not putting young children at risk of exposure. Furthermore, they want to see these companies commit to phasing out plastic packaging.

“Both companies must commit to further testing of their products and to phase out plastic pouches for plastic-free, non-toxic, reusable packaging alternatives,” Read added.

Plastic squeeze pouches dominate baby food packaging

Globally, plastic squeeze pouches have quickly become the fastest-growing packaging format, up 8.18% year on year (YoY) to 2031. Due to extensive marketing, limited options in the packaging sector and their convenience, plastic squeeze pouches accounted for 37.15% of the global baby food market by volume in 2025, surpassing all other packaging types, including glass jars.

Despite advocacy efforts, plastic production and use have surged, with packaging accounting for approximately 40% of global plastic production.

Flexible multilayer plastics, which include baby food pouches, are known for their difficult-to-recycle properties and are major contributors to pollution in certain regions. These are also expected to grow by 5.3% YoY to 2035.

Preventing microplastics in production

Food manufacturers can take steps to help ensure that microplastics do not enter production environments.

“This study is a wake-up call for parents everywhere, who trust these brands to put their kids first. Plastic-dependent companies like Nestlé and Danone owe families a clear answer: what are they doing to eliminate microplastics and chemicals from the products they sell to babies?” said Graham Forbes, global plastics campaign lead from Greenpeace USA.

The precautionary principle, established over 20 years ago, forms the basis of environmental law and contributes to the development of health policies. It states that when an activity poses threats to human health or the environment, precautionary measures are warranted. This is the case even if some cause-and-effect relationships are not yet fully established scientifically.

“Corporations have more than enough information to apply the precautionary principle and take immediate action to reduce the production and use of harmful plastics and chemicals,” Read said.

Greenpeace said it hopes the research will serve as a warning to all brands selling baby food and other products packaged and sold in plastic that they may be exposing their customers to unintended plastic ingredients.

“As major sellers of baby food under national and house brands, retailers have an added responsibility to transform the baby food aisle so only non-toxic, plastic-free, reusable packaging is on offer for parents to choose from,” Read added.

Governments around the globe are currently negotiating on the United Nations’ Global Plastics Treaty. Greenpeace wants leaders to act urgently to ban these products, reduce plastic production and end uncontrolled, unregulated contamination by plastics and chemicals.