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Summary
Background. Nowadays, researchers are alarming that our everyday food products may be
contaminated with plastics during the processing and packaging process. Plastic polymers and
harmful chemical additives, such as plasticizers, dyes or modifiers, may enter our body along
with food in the form of microplastic particles and cause harm to human health. Risk assessment
of microplastics in food products is still at an early stage due to the heterogeneity of research and
methodology.
Material and methods. The present study analyzed the abrasion of plastic particles from several
different Himalayan salt and black pepper grinders with burrs made of polymers using FT-IR and
SEM techniques.
Results. The study confirms the effect of the polymers used on the amount of microplastic released
as well as the rate of wear of the grinder burrs from the ground spice.
Conclusions. However, determining the impact of using such devices on human health requires
further research.
Keywords: wear of burrs, Himalayan salt, spice grinders, microplastics, black pepper