The absorbent pads used when wrapping meat or fish products sold in the market were exposed to microplastics during distribution.

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker An Ho-young (representative of Wanju, Muju, Jinan, Jangsu) purchased 200g of beef from three major supermarkets and had a testing agency analyze the contents. On October 20, in a parliamentary inspection of the Ministry of Environment, An announced that the results showed microplastics stuck to the absorbent pads that came with the meat.

When you buy pre-packaged meat or fish products sold in the market, there is a thin soaking pad underneath to absorb the blood from the meat inside. The side where the absorbent pad touches the meat or fish is covered in felt and inside the pad is a super absorbent polymer (SAP). Analysts found microplastics in the polymer.

Test results showed that there was on average 1.60 mg of microplastics in the three beef products. They found over 7,200 microplastic particles that were as big as a hair’s breadth (75μm). Analysts also found over 110,000 smaller particles (30μm).

The lawmaker also confirmed that relevant ministries had no knowledge of the situation. Lawmaker An’s office requested the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for details on the leaching tests of products imported or distributed in the name of absorbent pads in the last three years, but the ministry answered that all domestic and imported products “passed” the test.

Lawmaker An said, “The answer from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety was based on the results of a test on the felt wrapping and not the SAP contents of the absorbent pad, so the ministry has no knowledge of the reality of the soaking pads distributed in the market.” He further explained, “The U.S. FDA has a regulation restricting the amount of toxic materials in the polymer when it is used for food products, but our country does not have any regulations at all.”

An also said, “Who would think that they are also eating plastic when they’re eating meat? The government should apologize for the blind spot in the people’s safety caused by the government’s ignorance.” He added, “Since the Ministry of Environment declared to strengthen its management of microplastics, they should immediately inspect the volume of absorbent pads being distributed and their contents along with cosmetics and quasi-drug products.