Microplastic Reduction Through Food safety Act

 

The purpose of this act is to reduce the consumption of microplastics by Minnesotans by establishing maximum contaminant

levels for microplastics in bottled water and other packaged beverages sold within the state and mandating the use of

filtration technology in their production.

Provisions:

a. Filtration Mandate: All manufacturers of Bottled Beverages sold in Minnesota shall utilize Polishing Filtration in

the production process for all such beverages by the effective date of this Act.

b. Microplastic Standard: No Bottled Beverage sold in Minnesota shall contain a microplastic concentration exceeding 10

particles per liter.

Testing and Compliance:

1. Manufacturers must test their products annually at an Accredited Laboratory to verify compliance with the

microplastic standard.

2. Test results must be made available to the MDA upon request.

3. The MDA is authorized to conduct random, independent testing of products on the market to verify manufacturer

compliance.

 

Microplastics, defined as synthetic polymer particles under 5.00 mm, have been consistently detected in bottled

beverages at measurable levels. Peer-reviewed scientific studies have linked microplastic ingestion to potential

inflammatory responses among other health concerns. As bottled beverages are a significant and controllable source of

dietary microplastic intake, state action is necessary to protect public health. This Act establishes a clear,

science-based standard and requires proven filtration technology to ensure the safety of these products.

 

a. Microplastic: any synthetic polymer particle, fragment, fiber, bead, or film under 5.00 mm in any dimension.

b. Bottled Beverage: any product intended for human consumption whose primary matrix is liquid at room temperature and

is sold in a sealed bottle, carton, or pouch. This includes, but is not limited to, water, pop, juice, and milk.

c. Polishing Filtration: a final stage filtration process installed immediately before product filling and packaging

that is capable of removing particles larger than 1 micron (1 µm) in size.

d. Accredited Laboratory: a testing laboratory accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 standards and using polymer identification

methods (such as µ-FTIR or Raman spectroscopy) recognized by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

e. Small Manufacturer: any entity that produces Bottled Beverages for commercial sale in Minnesota with annual

state-wide sales under $2,000,000.

 

The implementation of this Act is contingent upon the legislature appropriating sufficient funds to the Minnesota

Department of Agriculture for oversight, testing, and enforcement.

 

a. Notice of Violation: A manufacturer found in violation of this Act shall receive a written notice and have 180 days

to achieve compliance.

b. Civil Penalties: A manufacturer who fails to correct a violation within 180 days may be subject to a civil penalty

not to exceed $1,000 per day for a Small Manufacturer and $5,000 per day for all other manufacturers.

c. Product Recall: The MDA may order the recall of any Bottled Beverage found to be in violation of the microplastic

standard.

 

This Act shall take effect on January 1 of 2027, to provide manufacturers adequate time to install necessary filtration

equipment and adjust production processes.