Practical, fast and increasingly present in our freezers, i ready meals to be heated at microwave they seem like the ideal solution for those with little time. However, they would hide behind this convenience significant health risks and for the environment, according to a new report.
The investigation, published by Greenpeace International, examines 24 recent scientific studies that analyze the potential dangers of ready meals packaged in plastic containers.
The picture that emerges is worrying: during heating, hundreds of thousands of tiny plastic particles can migrate into food, along with dangerous chemicals, with possible long-term health consequences.
Damage to health
The report indicates that at least 1,396 chemicals present in food contact plastics have been detected in the human body, including several already recognized as dangerous to health, associated with pathologies such as tumors, infertility, neurodevelopmental disorders and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, such as obesity.
The risks
“When they buy and reheat a meal packaged in plastic, people think they are making a harmless choice,” says Graham Forbes, head of the global campaign against plastic at Greenpeace USA. “In reality, we are exposed to a cocktail of microplastics and chemicals that should never be in our food.”
An impact that goes beyond human health
Contamination does not only affect those who consume these products.
Plastic trays, films and packaging generate pollution throughout their life cycle: from the extraction of fossil fuels to energy-intensive production, up to final disposal.
Once thrown away, these single-use materials — often composed of multiple layers that are difficult to separate — are complex to recycle. Over time they fragment into micro and nanoplastics which accumulate in the soil, rivers and oceans, damaging ecosystems and re-entering the food chain.
Even when plastic is recycled, the process can degrade the material, encouraging the release of dangerous chemical additives in new products.
According to the report, the term “microwave safe” can be misleading. In fact, the label generally indicates that the container maintains its structural integrity during heating, but does not guarantee that it does not release microplastics or chemicals into the food.
One cited study finds that, after just five minutes in the microwave, between 326,000 and 534,000 micro- and nanoplastic particles can migrate into food simulants. Nanoplastics, due to their extremely small size, could potentially pass through organs and the bloodstream.
Plastic can also contain over 4,200 chemicals considered dangerous. Many are unregulated in food packaging and some are associated with conditions such as cancer, infertility, hormonal changes and metabolic diseases.
At least 1,396 chemicals linked to food contact plastic have already been identified in the human body, with growing evidence linking exposure to neurological developmental disorders, cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
High temperatures, extended heating times, worn containers, and fatty foods — which tend to absorb more chemicals — significantly increase the migration of particles and additives into meals.
Regulations still insufficient
In the European Union, plastic materials in contact with food are regulated through migration limits for some known chemical substances, based on guidance from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). However, there are currently no specific thresholds for microplastic particles.
In a communication to Euronews Green, EFSA stated that it is aware of the growing concern on the topic and has already identified it as a priority in 2021. The Authority highlights the need to fill gaps in available data, develop harmonized analytical methods and obtain more complete information on exposure along the entire food chain.
At the request of the European Parliament, EFSA is currently carrying out an assessment of the potential health risks arising from the presence of microplastics in food, water and air. Results are expected by the end of 2027.
A growing phenomenon
Plastic pollution continues to increase. According to the International Energy Agency, packaging represents 36% of all global plastic production, which could double by 2050.
The market for ready meals packaged in plastic, already worth more than 160 billion euros, could reach almost 300 billion by 2034, driven by the demand for quick and practical solutions. In 2024, 71 million tonnes of ready-to-eat meals were produced globally, equivalent to approximately 12.6 kg per person.
Greenpeace is calling for the next UN Global Plastics Treaty to introduce stricter controls on food contact materials, including the phasing out of dangerous additives instead of relying solely on recycling.
“The risk is clear, the stakes are high and now is the time to act,” concludes Forbes.
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