A new international study reveals that microplastics, which contaminate agricultural soil and enter cattle feed from sources like silage wraps and packaging, do not simply pass through a cow’s digestive system but actively interact with the rumen’s microbiome. This interaction alters fermentation processes, reduces gas production, and causes stress in the microbial community, leading to shifts in microbial populations and the partial breakdown of the plastics themselves. Since microplastic particles smaller than 100 micrometers can pass the intestinal barrier, the research raises significant food safety concerns, suggesting that these fragments or their byproducts may accumulate in animal tissues, thus potentially contaminating meat, milk, and other products that enter the human food chain.

Source: Earth.com