Microplastics in Soda and Energy Drinks: What Tests Reveal

Introduction: What's Really in Your Can?

Carbonated beverages are among the most widely consumed products on the planet. Americans drink roughly 38 gallons of soda per person annually, and the global energy drink market is now worth over $86 billion. But as researchers turn their attention to microplastic contamination in everyday foods and drinks, carbonated beverages are emerging as a particularly concerning category.

This topic is especially relevant to our users. Scan data from the MicroPlastics app shows that beverages are the number one most-scanned product category—with Red Bull, Coca-Cola, 7UP, Diet Coke, Poppi, and various energy drinks topping the list. Consumers are clearly concerned about what they are drinking, and the science gives them good reason to be.

In this guide, we examine the research on microplastic contamination in sodas and energy drinks, explore how different packaging types compare, explain why carbonation itself may increase plastic leaching, and offer practical recommendations for reducing your exposure.

The Research: How Much Plastic Is in Your Drink?

Early Studies on Carbonated Beverages

One of the first major studies to examine microplastics in carbonated drinks was conducted by researchers at the State University of New York at Fredonia, as part of a broader investigation into plastic contamination in beverages. The study, which analyzed samples from multiple brands, found that carbonated soft drinks contained an average of 4.0 microplastic particles per liter when packaged in plastic bottles. While this number may seem modest compared to bottled water (which averaged 10.4 particles per liter in the same study), the researchers noted that the acidic and carbonated nature of sodas may actually cause different types of degradation in the container material.

A 2021 study published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials specifically examined soft drinks sold in PET plastic bottles across several countries. Researchers found microplastic contamination in 100 percent of samples tested, with counts ranging from 5 to 59 particles per liter. The most commonly identified plastics were PET (from the bottle itself), polypropylene (from the bottle cap), and polyethylene—all materials used in beverage packaging.

The German Beer and Soft Drink Study

A widely cited 2014 study from Germany analyzed microplastics in 24 brands of German beer and several soft drink products. The researchers found microplastic fibers and fragments in every single product tested, with an average of 118 particles per liter in soft drinks. The high count compared to other studies likely reflects the more sensitive detection methods used (micro-Raman spectroscopy) and the fact that some particles included fibers from production environments, not just packaging degradation.

Energy Drink Specific Research

Energy drinks have received less dedicated research attention than water or soft drinks, but the available data is concerning. A 2022 study from researchers in South Korea tested popular energy drink brands and found microplastic contamination in all samples, with an average of 14.7 particles per liter in canned products and 24.3 particles per liter in plastic-bottled versions. The study noted that energy drinks are particularly prone to leaching because many contain citric acid, phosphoric acid, and other acidic ingredients that can accelerate the degradation of both plastic bottles and the polymer linings inside aluminum cans.

A separate analysis published in Food Additives & Contaminants found that energy drinks stored at elevated temperatures—common when products sit in warehouses, delivery trucks, or convenience store displays near windows—showed microplastic levels 2 to 3 times higher than identical products stored at controlled room temperature.

How Carbonation May Increase Plastic Leaching

One of the most important and under-discussed factors in beverage contamination is the role of carbonation itself. Carbon dioxide dissolved in water creates carbonic acid, lowering the pH of the liquid to around 3.0 to 4.0. This acidic environment can accelerate the chemical degradation of plastic packaging in several ways:

• Acid hydrolysis: Carbonic acid can break the ester bonds in PET plastic, releasing monomers and small plastic fragments into the beverage. This process is slow at room temperature but accelerates significantly with heat.
• Pressure effects: Carbonated beverages are packaged under pressure, which means the liquid is forced into tighter contact with the container walls. This increased contact surface area may enhance the rate at which plastic particles and chemical additives migrate from the container into the drink.
• CO2 interaction with polymer linings: In aluminum cans, the inner epoxy or polymer lining protects the metal from corrosion. But CO2 can permeate these thin linings over time, especially at higher temperatures, potentially causing them to delaminate and shed microplastic and chemical contaminants into the beverage.
• Nucleation sites: Scratches, dents, and wear marks on the inside of containers act as nucleation sites where CO2 bubbles form. These same imperfections are areas where the container material is weakest and most likely to shed particles.

A 2023 Chinese study published in Environmental Pollution directly tested this hypothesis by comparing microplastic levels in carbonated vs non-carbonated water stored in identical PET bottles for four weeks. The carbonated water contained 40 percent more microplastic particles than the still water, providing direct evidence that carbonation increases leaching.

Packaging Showdown: Plastic vs Aluminum vs Glass

The type of container your beverage comes in makes a significant difference in microplastic exposure. Here is how the three main packaging types compare:

Plastic Bottles (PET)

Plastic bottles are consistently the worst performers in microplastic contamination studies. The beverage sits in direct contact with PET plastic, and every variable that could worsen leaching—time, heat, UV exposure, acidity, and carbonation pressure—is working against you. Studies consistently find 2 to 5 times more microplastics in beverages packaged in plastic bottles compared to the same product in cans or glass.

Additionally, each time you open and close a plastic bottle (as many people do with screw-cap soda bottles), the cap-to-rim friction releases additional polypropylene microplastics directly into the drink. Research from the Orb Media investigation found that opening and closing a single bottle increased contamination by up to 30 percent per cycle.

Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans are often perceived as a plastic-free alternative, but they are not. Nearly all aluminum beverage cans have a thin polymer lining on the inside—typically made from epoxy resin or BPA-based coatings, though many manufacturers have transitioned to BPA-free alternatives. This lining prevents the acidic beverage from corroding the aluminum, but it is itself a source of both microplastics and chemical contaminants.

A 2022 study published in Science of the Total Environment found that beverages in aluminum cans contained an average of 7.8 microplastic particles per liter—less than plastic bottles but more than glass. The study also detected elevated levels of bisphenol A (BPA) and its replacement chemicals (BPS, BPF) in canned beverages, suggesting that the polymer lining releases both particulate and chemical contaminants.

On the positive side, aluminum cans are opaque (blocking UV degradation) and are opened only once (eliminating repeated cap friction). These factors make cans a moderately better choice than plastic bottles.

Glass Bottles

Glass bottles consistently show the lowest microplastic contamination levels in comparative studies. Glass is chemically inert and does not shed plastic particles. A 2020 comparative study found that beverages in glass bottles contained an average of just 2.1 microplastic particles per liter—most of which likely came from the production environment, the cap seal, or the beverage ingredients themselves rather than the glass.

The main limitation of glass is availability. Many sodas and most energy drinks are not commonly sold in glass bottles in the US market. Where glass options exist—such as Mexican Coca-Cola, certain craft sodas, and some premium sparkling waters—they represent a significantly lower-risk choice.

Brand Comparisons: What the Data Shows

While no major brand is entirely free of microplastic contamination, research and independent testing suggest meaningful differences between products:

• Traditional sodas (Coca-Cola, Pepsi, 7UP): When sold in plastic bottles, these products typically show moderate microplastic levels (10–40 particles per liter). The same products in cans show lower counts. Diet versions may show slightly higher contamination because artificial sweeteners can increase the acidity of the beverage, potentially accelerating leaching.
• Energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster, Celsius): These tend to show higher contamination than regular sodas due to their higher acidity and the presence of additional chemical ingredients. Canned energy drinks average 12–25 microplastic particles per liter, while plastic-bottled versions can reach 30+ particles per liter.
• Prebiotic sodas (Poppi, Olipop): These newer brands have surged in popularity and are frequently scanned by MicroPlastics app users. Most prebiotic sodas are sold in aluminum cans, which is positive. However, their ingredients often include apple cider vinegar or other acidic components that may increase interaction with the can lining. Independent testing data specific to these brands remains limited.
• Sparkling water (LaCroix, Perrier, Topo Chico): Products like Perrier and Topo Chico that are available in glass bottles show the lowest contamination. Canned sparkling water falls in the moderate range. Plastic-bottled sparkling water carries the highest risk.

Practical Tips: How to Reduce Microplastics from Beverages

Based on the available research, here are actionable steps to minimize your microplastic intake from carbonated drinks:

• Choose glass bottles when available: Glass is the safest packaging option. If your favorite soda or sparkling water comes in glass, choose it over the can or plastic bottle version.
• Prefer cans over plastic bottles: When glass is not an option, aluminum cans are the next best choice. They expose the beverage to less plastic overall than PET bottles.
• Avoid drinks stored in heat: Never buy beverages from vending machines in direct sunlight, gas station shelves near windows, or convenience stores where products sit near heat sources. Heat exponentially increases microplastic release from all packaging types.
• Pour into a glass before drinking: If drinking from a can, pour the beverage into a glass rather than drinking directly from the can. This reduces direct contact between your lips and the polymer-lined rim of the can.
• Check storage dates: The longer a beverage sits in its container, the more time there is for plastic to leach. Choose the freshest products available.
• Make your own carbonated drinks: Home carbonation systems like SodaStream use glass or BPA-free reusable bottles and add CO2 to tap water you have already filtered. This eliminates single-use packaging entirely.
• Reduce overall consumption: The simplest and most effective strategy is to drink fewer carbonated beverages overall and replace them with filtered tap water from a glass or stainless steel container.
• Scan before you buy: Use the MicroPlastics app to scan any beverage product and get an instant risk assessment based on packaging type, brand data, and ingredient analysis.

The Bigger Picture: Why Beverages Matter Most

Beverages deserve special attention in the microplastic conversation for several reasons. First, they are consumed in high volume—many people drink multiple cans or bottles of soda, energy drinks, or sparkling water every single day. Second, liquids serve as efficient carriers for suspended microplastic particles, delivering them directly to the digestive tract. Third, the combination of acidity, carbonation, and long storage times in plastic or polymer-lined containers creates ideal conditions for contamination.

A 2023 exposure modeling study published in Environmental Science & Technology estimated that an adult who drinks two cans of soda per day from aluminum cans ingests approximately 5,700 microplastic particles per year from that source alone. Switching to plastic bottles would increase that estimate to 14,600 particles per year. And these numbers only account for particles large enough to detect with current methods—the true nanoplastic count could be orders of magnitude higher.

The fact that beverages are the most-scanned category in the MicroPlastics app reflects a growing consumer awareness that what we drink may be just as important as what we eat when it comes to plastic exposure. Armed with the right information and simple changes in purchasing habits, you can meaningfully reduce one of your largest daily sources of microplastic intake.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all sodas contain microplastics?

Yes. Every study that has tested carbonated soft drinks has found microplastic contamination in 100 percent of samples, regardless of brand. The amount varies depending on packaging type (plastic, aluminum, or glass), storage conditions, and how long the product has been in its container. Glass-bottled products consistently show the lowest levels.

Are energy drinks worse than regular soda for microplastics?

Research suggests that energy drinks tend to have moderately higher microplastic contamination than regular sodas. This is attributed to their higher acidity (often containing citric acid, phosphoric acid, and other acidic ingredients), additional chemical complexity, and the fact that many energy drinks are sold in large plastic bottles. Canned energy drinks show lower levels but are still higher than canned regular sodas in most studies.

Is it safer to drink soda from a can or a plastic bottle?

Aluminum cans are generally safer than plastic bottles in terms of microplastic contamination. Studies consistently find 2 to 5 times fewer microplastics in canned beverages compared to the same products in plastic bottles. However, cans are not plastic-free—they contain an inner polymer lining that can release both microplastics and chemical contaminants. Glass bottles are the safest option when available.

Does carbonation make microplastic contamination worse?

Yes. A 2023 study directly compared carbonated and non-carbonated water stored in identical PET bottles and found that the carbonated water contained 40 percent more microplastic particles. Carbonation creates carbonic acid, which lowers the pH and accelerates plastic degradation. The pressure inside carbonated beverage containers also increases contact between the liquid and the container walls.

Can the MicroPlastics app tell me which drinks are safest?

Yes. The MicroPlastics app allows you to scan any beverage by barcode or product name and receive an instant risk assessment. The app evaluates packaging type, known contamination data for the brand, ingredient acidity, and other factors to provide a clear risk score. Beverages are the most-scanned product category in the app, so the database for sodas and energy drinks is especially comprehensive.