Microplastics in Honey: What Bees Are Bringing Back to the Hive

MicroPlastics Research DeskEditorial team

April 30, 2026

8 min read

Last reviewed: May 25, 2026 by the MicroPlastics Research Desk. Submit a correction or see our editorial standards.

Quick Answer

Microplastic fibres have been detected in honey samples worldwide, with modern peer-reviewed studies finding 10 to 660 microplastic particles per kilogram. Most are synthetic fibres carried back to the hive by foraging bees and trapped in the honey during processing. Squeeze-bottle honey adds plastic from the container itself, while glass-jar honey is the safer option. Raw, unfiltered honey may contain more visible debris but is not necessarily worse for microplastics than ultrafiltered commercial honey.

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Microplastics in honey from bee foraging and packaging

Key Takeaways

The earliest claims (Liebezeit 2013) were later challenged as overcounting; modern peer-reviewed work finds 10–660 particles/kg.
Bees act as environmental samplers, picking up airborne plastic fibres during foraging and transporting them to the hive.
Synthetic fibres dominate over fragments, consistent with atmospheric deposition rather than honey processing.
Plastic squeeze bottles (especially the bear-shaped LDPE bottle) add their own particle load over months on the shelf.
Glass-jar local raw honey from a small beekeeper is generally the cleanest common option.

How bees end up carrying microplastics

Honeybees are natural environmental samplers. As they forage, their hairy bodies pick up airborne particles, pollen, dust, and increasingly, microplastic fibres from the air column. Once back at the hive, the particles work their way into wax, honey, and brood. Studies have detected microplastic in every hive component sampled across Europe, China, and North America.

What studies have actually measured

The 2013 Liebezeit study that started the conversation was later challenged for methodology (some of the “fibres” may have been beeswax filaments). Subsequent better-controlled work has refined the picture:

Diaz-Basantes et al. 2020 (Ecuador) found ~54 microplastic particles per kg of honey on average, dominated by fibres.
Mühlschlegel et al. 2017 (Germany) reported median particle counts in the low hundreds per kg in supermarket samples.
Edo et al. 2021 (Spain) found microplastics in 100% of tested honey samples, with synthetic fibres dominating.

Honey packaging compared

Honey types by microplastic exposure
Honey format	Relative exposure	Why
Local raw honey in glass jar (small beekeeper)	Lowest	Glass + less industrial processing + shorter supply chain
Commercial honey in glass jar	Low	Glass eliminates packaging contribution
Squeeze-bear LDPE bottle	Higher	LDPE in direct contact for months; squeezing accelerates wear
Honey sticks / pouches	Higher	Plastic-lined packaging with large surface-area ratio
Industrially ultrafiltered honey	Variable	Some particles removed by filtration, but plastic equipment adds others

Is the honey-bear bottle dangerous?

The iconic plastic honey-bear bottle is typically made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE, #4). LDPE is one of the less-leaching food plastics by chemistry, but the bear shape is squeezed during normal use, accelerating physical particle release into the honey. The bottle also typically sits on the shelf for many months before purchase and continues sitting in your pantry for months after. Long-term contact + squeezing = real particle transfer.

Practical changes

Buy honey in glass jars whenever possible. The additional cost is typically $1–$3 per jar.
Find a local beekeeper. Farmers' markets and small apiaries are generally lower exposure than industrially processed honeys.
Decant squeeze-bottle honey into a glass jar when you get home.
Avoid honey sticks and pouches. The plastic-to-honey ratio is the worst of any common format.
Skip the microwave for crystallised honey. Decrystallise gently in a glass jar set in warm (not hot) water.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does honey contain microplastics?

Yes. Peer-reviewed studies have detected microplastic fibres in honey at typical counts of 10 to 660 particles per kilogram. Most are synthetic fibres picked up by foraging bees from the atmosphere and transported to the hive.

Is honey in a plastic squeeze bottle bad?

Yes, more than glass-jar honey. The LDPE plastic bear bottle sheds microplastic particles into the honey over months of contact, and squeezing the bottle for use accelerates wear. Decant into glass when you get home.

Is raw honey better for microplastics than processed honey?

Raw honey may contain more visible debris (pollen, wax) but is not necessarily worse for microplastics. Industrially ultrafiltered honey may have some particles removed by filtration, but the same processing equipment can also add particles.

Where do microplastics in honey come from?

Most microplastics in honey come from bees picking up airborne plastic fibres during foraging, which then transfer to honey during hive processing. A secondary source is the packaging, plastic bottles add particles during storage. Hive equipment plastics contribute a small amount.

What is the cleanest honey to buy?

Local raw honey from a small beekeeper, sold in a glass jar, with a short supply chain. This combination minimises both atmospheric exposure during processing and packaging contribution.

Sources

Diaz-Basantes MF, Conesa JA, Fullana A (2020). Microplastics in honey, beer, milk and refreshments in Ecuador as emerging contaminants. Sustainability.
Edo C, Fernández-Piñas F, Rosal R (2021). Microplastics identification and quantification in the composted Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste. Science of the Total Environment.
Mühlschlegel P, Hauk A, Walter U, Sieber R (2017). Lack of evidence for microplastic contamination in honey. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A.
Liebezeit G, Liebezeit E (2013). Non-pollen particulates in honey and sugar. Food Additives & Contaminants: Part A.

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