Written question asked by Andrew Smith (Labour) on Tuesday, 24 January 2017, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 26 January 2017. It was answered by Baroness Blackwood of North Oxford (Conservative) on Wednesday, 1 February 2017 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Microplastics: Seas and Oceans

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect on the food chain of microplastics in the sea.

Answer: The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has been monitoring the scientific evidence concerning the occurrence and effects of microplastics in seafood. On the basis of current information, the FSA considers it is unlikely that the presence of the low levels of microplastic particles that have been reported to occur in certain types of seafood would cause harm to consumers. The FSA will continue to monitor and assess emerging information concerning microplastics in food.

Secondary information