A Greenpeace Study finds microplastics in baby food pouches

By Food Safety Tech Staff
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May 27, 2026


• Categories: Food Manufacturing, Food Safety Consortium

Greenpeace International announced that a new investigation they commissioned has found microplastics in every baby food pouch it tested, and estimates that a single Gerber pouch contains more than 5,000 microplastic particles and more than 11,000 in a Happy Baby Organics pouch. The study traced the likely source to the plastic lining of the pouches
themselves.

The report, Tiny Plastics, Big Problem: The Hidden Health Risks of Baby Food Plastic Pouches, also detected a range of chemicals in both the food and the packaging, including a potential endocrine-disrupting chemical in the Gerber pouches.

The testing commissioned by Greenpeace International in 2025 found plastic particles in the baby food products of two global consumer goods companies – Danone and Nestlé. The study suggests a link between the type of plastic the pouches are lined with – polyethylene – and some of the microplastics found. Tests also suggest a range of plastic-associated chemicals in the packaging and food of both products. Key findings are:

• In every gram of baby food tested, researchers found up to 54 microplastic
  particles in Gerber pouches and up to 99 particles in Happy Baby Organics
  pouches, on average. That’s equivalent to as many as 270 (Gerber) and 495
  (Happy Baby Organics) microplastics per teaspoon.
• The study also identified a range of plastic-associated chemicals present in
  both the packaging and the food, including a chemical in the Gerber samples
  that is a known endocrine disruptor.
• The study suggests a link between polyethylene, the plastic lining the pouches,
  and some of the microplastics found in the baby food tested.

The study was conducted by SINTEF Ocean in Norway in 2025 and commissioned by Greenpeace International. It tested three pouches each of two baby food products, Nestlé’s Gerber brand yogurt puree and Danone’s Happy Baby Organics brand fruit puree. Products were analyzed as sold (not heated).

A Nestlé spokesperson told Food Safety Tech  “We understand the concerns raised in this report. We want to reassure all consumers that our products are safe to consume. We take our responsibility in feeding babies extremely seriously and apply strict controls across our entire value chain, including the rigorous selection and management of packaging.” materials.”