There have been many references in the news in the last few days about a new study that confirms that plastic tea bags release plastic particles into brewed tea (1).  One tea bag can release billions of microplastic and nanoplastic particles into the brew.  This is thousands of times higher than previously found in other food and drink.  There is not sufficient research to determine the health impact of ingesting this amount of plastic on a regular basis.

How to Tell if Your Tea Bag is Made of Plastic

Fancier tea bags that come in pyramid shapes, sometimes called sachets, are often made of nylon or PET plastic.  You can see a slight sheen to the material.  Unfortunately, this is not the only type of tea bag that may contain plastic.  Many tea bags made with natural fibers are sealed with polypropylene plastic.  These bags may not be as much of a concern as those made entirely of plastic but there are plastic-free alternatives.

Other Things to Worry About in Your Tea

Epichlorohydrin is an epoxide often added to tea bags, coffee filters and sausage casings to make them stronger.  Though considered food safe, epichlorohydrin is an occupational human carcinogen.

Heavy metals such as lead, aluminum, arsenic and cadmium have been detected in both organic and conventional teas (2).   The heavy metals are contaminants from the soil in which the tea is grown.  A 2013 study found lead in all samples ranging from 0.1 mcg/L (micrograms per liter) to 4.39 mcg/L.  This is below the action level of lead for public drinking water (15 mcg/L) but lead is thought to be harmful to human health at lower levels.  The study found that some countries of origin had higher levels of metals but later studies contradict the results so it might not be as simple as looking for tea from specific countries.  Steeping time of 2 to 4 minutes reduces the transfer of metals to the tea by 10% to 50%, so make sure you are not steeping too long.

Pesticides have been detected in tea samples.  A French study found 17 pesticides among popular tea brands, with many above EU safety limits.  Look for organic tea with certification from reputable organizations such as USDA, QAI or CCOF.

You Can Find Plastic-Free Tea Bags

Look for tea bags made of natural fibers such as manila hemp.  Steer clear of bags made of polylactic acid, which is derived from corn starch.  It may sound like a natural material but is actually a synthetic polyester.  There are no independent studies that confirm one way or another that it releases plastic into tea but more natural choices are available.

Here are some certified organic tea brands with plastic-free bags:

Numi Organic Tea is USDA Certified tea with compostable tea bags made from manila hemp.  They are oxygen-whitened and the tag is made from 100% recycled materials and soy-based inks.

Organic India is USDA Certified tea with tea bags made from unbleached, biodegradable fiber.

Choice Organic Teas are USDA Certified.  The tea bags are made from 100% unbleached, natural abaca fibers and are free of plastics and plasticizers.  They are sewn shut with a natural cotton string or use a staple to seal the bag and attach the string.

Traditional Medicinals are CCOF Certified herbal teas.  The compostable tea bags are madefrom a combination of wood pulp and manila hemp. The tea bags are attached with food grade aluminum staple wire to teabag string made of raw cotton and a paper tea tag. They are whitened using oxygen and peroxide.

Bigelow -All of their 18/20/28 count boxes and 100 count boxes are made from wood pulp and abaca.  They are free of plastics, chlorine and epichlorohydrin.  Only 5% of their products (40 count boxes) use a thermoplastic seal to close the bags but they are in the process of converting that to a plant-based sealer over the next few months.  Not all Bigelow teas are organic but those that are have been USDA Certified.

Loose Leaf Tea is Best, if Brewed in Non-Toxic Containers

You can eliminate the tea bag entirely and opt for loose leaf tea.  There are many certified organic loose leaf tea companies on Debra’s List.  Look for cups, teapot and strainers made of non-toxic materials that will not leach toxins into tea.

Glass is the most non-toxic material for brewing, straining, and drinking tea.  Teapots with glass infuser or teacups with glass infuser are readily available.  You can also use a French Press made of glass to brew tea.

Organic Cotton Reusable Tea Bags are both non-toxic and environmentally friendly.  Here is an example.

Ceramic teapots or cups are safe choices if they are made with lead-free glaze.

Stainless Steel may leach nickel if left to brew for a long period.  If you are an infrequent tea drinker and are not sensitive to nickel, using a stainless steel strainer for 2 to 3 minutes at a time is not concerning.

The health benefits of tea are well documented.  If you select natural fiber tea bags or use loose leaf tea and brew it using non-toxic utensils, the benefits should outweigh any risks.