CUP OF TEA--Can’t Use Plastic On Fine Tea
Plastic Tea Bags
May Be Killing You
By Joel D. Joseph
(Mr. Joseph is the CEO of WarAgainstPlastic.com)
I have always believed that tea was very healthy. Unfortunately, during the past ten years, many tea companies have replaced paper tea bags with plastic tea bags.
Microbiologists at the Independent University of Barcelona (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, UAB), Spain, studied plastic released by three different tea bags and their effect on human cells. This study was conducted in 2024. Ricardo Marcos Dauder, one of the study authors from UAB, said, “when scientists talk about microplastics, they don't just mean plastic that degrades and produces small pieces of plastic, but pieces of plastic that can be easily measured in micrometers: between 1 and 1000 micrometers, equivalent to one thousandth to one millimeter. This study specifically looked at nanoplastics, measured between 1 and 1000 nanometers—which is even smaller.
"All the data shows that the smaller the size, the higher the uptake [of plastic] into the cells," said Dauder. "The smaller the size, the higher the risk."
The microbiologists found that commercially available tea bags released huge amounts of plastic particles into hot water when brewed. They experimented with tea bags made from three plastics: polymers called polypropylene, nylon-6 and cellulose.
They found that tea bags containing polypropylene released approximately 1.2 billion particles of plastic per drop—or milliliter—of tea. Those containing cellulose released 135 million particles per drop and nylon-6 released 8.18 million particles per drop.
After 24 hours, a specific type of digestive cell that produces mucus in the intestines had absorbed considerable amounts of micro and nanoplastics. The plastics had even entered the nucleus of some of these cells, which is where genetic material is kept.
In 2023, the International Journal of Surgery published an article on the significant health risks posed by microplastics in tea bags. March 24, 2023. The article reported:
“Due to the potential health risks and negative impacts on the environment, the use of MPs in tea bags and other products is a major issue. In spite of the material’s nonbiodegradability, polypropylene is frequently used in manufacturing tea bags. Given that tea bags are subjected to high temperatures during the brewing process, it is concerning that certain branded teas are offered in tea bags made from allegedly ‘food grade’ polymers, such as nylon. In tea bags additionally available are fluorine compounds, arsenic, radium salt, aluminum, copper, lead, mercury, cadmium, barium, nitrates, and many more. So you are sipping tea and consuming these dangerous substances in the same bag. Tea bag plastics, which can take hundreds of years to decompose in nature, may fragment into [micro] particles. . . .”
How to Protect Yourself
The easiest way to protect yourself from plastic in tea bags is to brew your tea using loose leaf tea. You can also find tea bags that do not contain plastics. The following teas do not contain plastics:
• Stash Stash tea bags are free of microplastics and are non-GMO certified.
• Republic of Tea Republic of Tea bags are plastic free, compostable, and come in a reusable tin
• Lipton Quality Black and Intense These traditional tea bags are made from cellulose fibers and Manilla hemp, and are compostable
• The Tea Spot The Tea Spot's sachets are made from sugar cane fibers, which are biodegradable and compostable.
• Numi Tea -“Our teas are pesticide-free and non-GMO verified,” confirms a company rep. “Our tea bags are made from manila hemp cellulose, and free of epichlorohydrin. The tags are made from 100% recycled material and soy-based inks.”
• Rishi Tea - Rishi’s certified organic line is bagged with PLA—polylactic acid, creating “silken” bags. Unlike other “silky” bags, which can be made with PET plastic, these are corn- and potato starch-based. Adds Assistant Tea Buyer Jeff Champeau, “Our Natural Fiber Loose Leaf Tea Filters are made without glue or any other binding agent.”
• EDEN Organic- “The bags are made from oxygen washed manila fibers with no polluting whiteners used,” confirms company rep Wendy Esko. “Once filled, the bags are crimped and sealed with 100% cotton string. No staples, plastics, or glue are ever used.”
• Organic Stash - “The filter paper used for the bags is made from 100% cellulose fibers (wood) and is made to appear white by forcing air between the fibers. No bleach is used,” explained at Stash. “The filter paper is not coated with the compound called epichlorohydrin, and does not contain any free epichlorohydrin.”
• Choice Organic Teas - One of the company’s consumer relations experts, Nia, assured consumers that their line is not only organic but free of epichlorohydrin.
• Two Leaves Organic Teas - “We pride ourselves on being pesticide-free as well as on having corn-based tea sachets,” says a company rep. The website adds, “Our sachets are made of biodegradable cornstarch based nylon, not petroleum based nylon.”
Organic Yogi Teas (USA & Canada) “We currently use a non-heat seal-able filtration paper made from a select blend of high quality manila hemp (abaca) fibers and wood pulp,” says a Yogi representative. “The filtration paper does not contain epichlorohydrin, nor plastic or polypropylene. It is oxygen bleached using a natural process that is completely free of chemicals or toxins, including dioxin.”
Brands With Tea Bags the Contain Plastic
Some of the largest tea companies, Tazo, Celestial and Mighty Leaf, use plastic tea bags. I have given these three companies legal notice under California Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. This law requires businesses to warn Californians about significant exposures to chemicals that may cause: cancer, birth defects, and other reproductive harm. I asked these companies to either cease using plastic tea bags or to comply with the law and print a warning notice on their packages indicating that their tea could be hazardous to your health.