{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,8]],"date-time":"2026-07-08T15:01:30Z","timestamp":1783522890535,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Oxford University Press (OUP)","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]],"date-time":"2026-05-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1778198400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/pages\/standard-publication-reuse-rights"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Microplastics (MPs) in the environment pose a significant threat to human health, particularly for vulnerable populations like infants. Over the past decades microplastics have infiltrated food systems, air, water, and consumer products, leading to widespread human exposure. Infant foods, including formula and complementary foods, may be contaminated with MPs during processing or packaging or through environmental pollutants. This scoping review was aimed to explore the extent of MP contamination in infant foods, its potential nutritional and health impacts, and the associated risks to the health of children. Following the search strategy, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across 5 electronic databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane, Scopus, and EBSCO HOST). All records identified through the databases were exported into EndNote X9 reference manager for deduplication and selection in line with the inclusion criteria. In all, 1871 records were identified in which 28 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. All studies were published during 2020-2024. The studies were classified into 2 designs: systematic reviews (n\u2009=\u200916) and primary studies (n\u2009=\u200912). Studies detected MPs in infant formula, breast milk, food-contact materials, feeding bottles, indoor air, and selected human biological matrices, including placenta, meconium, and infant feces. Ingestion and inhalation emerged as the most consistently supported exposure pathways, while prenatal and breastfeeding-related exposures were supported by biomonitoring evidence and dermal exposure remained weakly evidenced. Reported polymer types varied widely, with limited and inconsistent reporting of particle size and nanoplastics across studies. No studies originated from Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting a major geographic gap. This scoping review indicates that infants are exposed to MPs through multiple pathways\u2014most consistently via ingestion and inhalation\u2014yet infant-specific health effects remain poorly defined, underscoring the need for improved particle characterization, broader geographic evidence, and precautionary, nutrition-sensitive approaches to research and practice.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1093\/nutrit\/nuag057","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,20]],"date-time":"2026-03-20T12:45:34Z","timestamp":1774010734000},"source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["A Scoping Review of Microplastic Contamination in Infant Foods: Exposure Pathways and Implications for Nutrition and Health of Children"],"prefix":"10.1093","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1232-0170","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Patience K","family":"Gaa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana , Korle-Bu, Accra, Greater Accra, P. O. Box KB 143,","place":["Ghana"]},{"name":"Department of Dietetics, School of Allied Health Sciences, University for Development Studies , Tamale, Northern Region, P. O. Box TL 1883,","place":["Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rebecca K","family":"Steele-Dadzie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana , Korle-Bu, Accra, Greater Accra, P. O. Box KB 143,","place":["Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Laurene","family":"Boateng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana , Korle-Bu, Accra, Greater Accra, P. O. Box KB 143,","place":["Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Freda D","family":"Intiful","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dietetics, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana , Korle-Bu, Accra, Greater Accra, P. O. Box KB 143,","place":["Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Samuel Jerry","family":"Cobbina","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Natural Resources and Environment, University for Development Studies , Nyankpala, Northern Region, P. O Box TL 1882,","place":["Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Victor","family":"Mogre","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Professions Education and Innovative Learning, School of Medicine, University for Development Studies , Tamale, Northern Region, P. O. Box TL 1883,","place":["Ghana"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"286","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.2307\/jj.41379738","volume-title":"Plastic Soup: An Atlas of Ocean Pollution","author":"Abbing","year":"2019"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1212","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17041212","article-title":"A detailed review study on potential effects of microplastics and additives of concern on human health","volume":"17","author":"Campanale","year":"2020","journal-title":"IJERPH"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"115994","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2020.115994","article-title":"A review of the impact of xenobiotics from dietary sources on infant health: early life exposures and the role of the microbiota","volume":"269","author":"Arroyo","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ Pollut"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"371","DOI":"10.3390\/life14030371","article-title":"An overview of the possible exposure of infants to microplastics","volume":"14","author":"Mi\u0161\u013eanov\u00e1","year":"2024","journal-title":"Life"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B5","first-page":"768","article-title":"Plastic waste inputs from land into the ocean","volume":"347","author":"Jambeck","year":"2015","journal-title":"Science (1979)"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B6","first-page":"68","article-title":"The challenges of measuring plastic pollution. Field Actions Science Reports.","volume":"19","author":"Boucher","year":"2019","journal-title":"Field Actions Sci Rep"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"em0314","DOI":"10.29333\/ejosdr\/16359","article-title":"A review of plastic waste management for a sustainable environment: composition and approaches","volume":"9","author":"Orhorhoro","year":"2025","journal-title":"Eur J Sustain Dev Res"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"9","DOI":"10.1039\/D1VA00012H","article-title":"Microplastics in ecosystems: their implications and mitigation pathways","volume":"1","author":"Roy","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ Sci Adv"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2123","DOI":"10.1111\/jiec.13140","article-title":"Aquatic micro-and nano-plastics in life cycle assessment: development of an effect factor for the quantification of their physical impact on biota","volume":"26","author":"Lavoie","year":"2022","journal-title":"J Ind Ecol"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"518","DOI":"10.1007\/s13280-021-01589-9","article-title":"The potential effects of microplastics on human health: what is known and what is unknown","volume":"51","author":"Blackburn","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ambio"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e04501","DOI":"10.2903\/j.efsa.2016.4501","article-title":"EFSA panel on contaminants in the food chain. Presence of microplastics and nanoplastics in food, with particular focus on seafood","volume":"14","year":"2016","journal-title":"Efsa J"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B12","first-page":"100608","article-title":"Microplastics from food packaging: an overview of human consumption, health threats, and alternative solutions","volume":"16","author":"Jadhav","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ Nanotechnol Monit Manag"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1349","DOI":"10.3390\/life11121349","article-title":"Microplastics in the food chain","volume":"11","author":"Cverenk\u00e1rov\u00e1","year":"2021","journal-title":"Life"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"41","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-32-9956-6_4","article-title":"Microplastic contamination and life cycle assessment of bottled drinking water","author":"Choudhary","year":"2020","journal-title":"Springer"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e0194970","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0194970","article-title":"Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt","volume":"13","author":"Kosuth","year":"2018","journal-title":"PLoS One"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138580","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2020.138580","article-title":"First study of its kind on the microplastic contamination of soft drinks, cold tea and energy drinks-Future research and environmental considerations","volume":"726","author":"Shruti","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"109677","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2020.109677","article-title":"Micro-and nano-plastics in edible fruit and vegetables. The first diet risks assessment for the general population","volume":"187","author":"Conti","year":"2020","journal-title":"Environ Res"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B18","author":"Garrido Gamarro","year":"2022"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"12743","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms232112743","article-title":"Plastic and placenta: identification of polyethylene glycol (PEG) compounds in the human placenta by HPLC-MS\/MS System","volume":"23","author":"Ragusa","year":"2022","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"158699","DOI":"10.1016\/j.scitotenv.2022.158699","article-title":"Detection of various microplastics in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk and infant formula: a pilot prospective study","volume":"854","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sci Total Environ"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"44","DOI":"10.1186\/s13584-024-00628-6","article-title":"Adverse health effects of exposure to plastic, microplastics and their additives: environmental, legal and policy implications for Israel","volume":"13","author":"Belmaker","year":"2024","journal-title":"Isr J Health Policy Res"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"015001","DOI":"10.1289\/EHP9086","article-title":"A children\u2019s health perspective on nano-and microplastics","volume":"130","author":"Sripada","year":"2022","journal-title":"Environ Health Perspect"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1330396","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2023.1330396","article-title":"Microplastics exposure: implications for human fertility, pregnancy and child health","volume":"14","author":"Zurub","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/foods12163043","article-title":"Nano- and microplastics migration from plastic food packaging into dairy products: impact on nutrient digestion, absorption, and metabolism","volume":"12","author":"Kaseke","year":"2023","journal-title":"Foods (Basel, Switzerland)"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24046","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-021-03458-7","article-title":"Detection and characterization of small-sized microplastics (\u2265\u20095 \u00b5m) in milk products","volume":"11","author":"Da Costa Filho","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114260","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ecoenv.2022.114260","article-title":"Potential risk of microplastics in processed foods: preliminary risk assessment concerning polymer types, abundance, and human exposure of microplastics","volume":"247","author":"Lin","year":"2022","journal-title":"Ecotoxicol Environ Saf"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"305","DOI":"10.1080\/19440049.2022.2157894","article-title":"Analysis of microplastics released from plastic take-out food containers based on thermal properties and morphology study","volume":"40","author":"Hu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Food Addit Contam: Part A"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"118535","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envres.2024.118535","article-title":"The potential impact of nano- and microplastics on human health: understanding human health risks","volume":"251","author":"Winiarska","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environ Res"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"108150","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envint.2023.108150","article-title":"Microplastics: human exposure assessment through air, water, and food","volume":"179","author":"Zuri","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ Int"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95139","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-023-29182-5","article-title":"Micro problems with macro consequences: accumulation of persistent organic pollutants and microplastics in human breast milk and in human milk substitutes","volume":"30","author":"Caba-Flores","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ Sci Pollut Res Int"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121197","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2023.121197","article-title":"Release of microplastics from breastmilk storage bags and assessment of intake by infants: a preliminary study","volume":"323","author":"Liu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ Pollut"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ijms241814391","article-title":"Microplastics and kidneys: an update on the evidence for deposition of plastic microparticles in human organs, tissues and fluids and renal toxicity concern","volume":"24","author":"La Porta","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Mol Sci"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2646","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules27092646","article-title":"Analysis of microplastics in takeaway food containers in China using FPA-FTIR whole filter analysis","volume":"27","author":"Zhou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Molecules"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"138246","DOI":"10.1016\/j.foodchem.2023.138246","article-title":"Isolation and identification of microplastics in infant formulas\u2014a potential health risk for children","volume":"440","author":"Kadac-Czapska","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Chem"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4841","DOI":"10.1038\/s41598-020-61146-4","article-title":"Microplastics generated when opening plastic packaging","volume":"10","author":"Sobhani","year":"2020","journal-title":"Sci Rep"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"224","DOI":"10.3390\/toxics9090224","article-title":"Microplastics in the environment: intake through the food web, human exposure and toxicological effects","volume":"9","author":"Pironti","year":"2021","journal-title":"Toxics"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"724989","DOI":"10.3389\/fendo.2021.724989","article-title":"A review of human exposure to microplastics and insights into microplastics as Obesogens","volume":"12","author":"Kannan","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"121225","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envpol.2023.121225","article-title":"Microplastics in infant milk powder","volume":"323","author":"Zhang","year":"2023","journal-title":"Environ Pollut"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B39","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59813","DOI":"10.1007\/s11356-021-14939-7","article-title":"Microparticles and microplastics released from daily use of plastic feeding and water bottles and plastic injectors: potential risks to infants and children in China","volume":"28","author":"Song","year":"2021","journal-title":"Environ Sci Pollut Res Int"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"114879","DOI":"10.1016\/j.fct.2024.114879","article-title":"First occurrence and risk assessment of microplastics in enteral nutrition formulas","volume":"191","author":"Basaran","year":"2024","journal-title":"Food Chem Toxicol"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1093","DOI":"10.1111\/liv.15879","article-title":"Plastic compounds and liver diseases: whether bisphenol A is the only culprit","volume":"44","author":"Sangwan","year":"2024","journal-title":"Liver Int"},{"key":"2026050807013080400_nuag057-B42","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"100555","DOI":"10.1016\/j.envadv.2024.100555","article-title":"Particulate contamination of human placenta: plastic and non-plastic","volume":"17","author":"Zurub","year":"2024","journal-title":"Environ Adv"}],"container-title":["Nutrition Reviews"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/nutritionreviews\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/nutrit\/nuag057\/68248969\/nuag057.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"syndication"},{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/nutritionreviews\/advance-article-pdf\/doi\/10.1093\/nutrit\/nuag057\/68248969\/nuag057.pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]],"date-time":"2026-05-08T11:01:39Z","timestamp":1778238099000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/nutritionreviews\/advance-article\/doi\/10.1093\/nutrit\/nuag057\/8672844"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]]},"references-count":42,"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/nutrit\/nuag057","relation":{},"ISSN":["0029-6643","1753-4887"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0029-6643","type":"print"},{"value":"1753-4887","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,8]]},"article-number":"nuag057"}}