The abstract of a September 10, 2022 Science of The Total Environment article https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155827 by researchers with Loyola University Chicago “… examines the abundance and types of microplastic (MP) content in the digestive system of different bird species … The lower GI tracts of six bird species (Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla), Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis), Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrine), White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)) were collected for MP analysis ... Results of plastic analysis showed that the lower GI tracts of all bird species contained different types of MPs (i.e., fibers, fragment, beads). Fiber was the most dominant … Microplastics were polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon, and polyvinyl base materials … Further study should be conducted to investigate the potential transfer of MPs from aquatic insects to birds …” #PlasticWaste #SingleUsePlastic #MicroPlastics @LoyolaChicago
Animal Digestible Food Packaging Initiative
Our reason-for-being/goal/purpose/objective/intent is to convince/inspire/persuade/encourage the food processing industry to establish and fund a public private partnership for the discovery of new food packaging materials that would be digestible by animals (farm animals as well as ubiquitous microbes).
