Reports published on July 30, 2026 said multiple studies found concerning levels of microplastics in everyday soybean oil, milk and sugar in Bangladesh. Researchers attributed contamination to food processing, plastic packaging and environmental pollution. Loose soybean oil contained 45,000 to 70,000 particles per litre, while bottled soybean oil contained 44,000 to 54,000 particles per litre, according to the reported findings.

Processed milk contained an average 156.06 particles per 10 millilitres, compared with 93.39 in raw milk. Loose sugar contained about 403 particles per kilogram and branded packaged sugar about 322. A study led by Jashore University of Science and Technology professor Md Omar Faruk found polymers including PTFE, PET, nylon-6 and PVC in milk samples. Jahangirnagar University researcher Dr Shafi Muhammad Tareq described the levels reported in soybean oil as alarming.

BSTI urged people to remain aware rather than panic, saying no brand or product should be declared unsafe without complete scientific and legal verification. It said it was gathering information from research institutions, manufacturers and importers and would take legal action over violations of standards. Information and Broadcasting Adviser Zahed Ur Rahman called the issue a global public-health crisis and said coordinated action would be taken quickly.