SATV Kathmandu sept 01: You might believe that glass bottles are safer or cleaner than plastic—but new research suggests otherwise. A recent French study found that drinks like soda, beer, iced tea, and lemonade in glass bottles can contain up to 100 microplastic particles per liter—that’s 5 to 50 times more than plastic or metal bottles.

The surprising culprit? Not the glass itself, but the plastic-lined caps. Tiny scratches from handling, transport, or even opening the bottle can release plastic directly into your drink.

Not all drinks are affected equally. Water—still or sparkling—had much lower microplastic levels, as did wine. The worst offenders were soft drinks, lemonade, and beer, suggesting carbonation or acidity may worsen the problem.

The good news? A simple solution exists. Cleaning bottle caps with air and alcohol before sealing can reduce microplastic contamination by 60%. For manufacturers, this small step could make a huge difference.

This study is a wake-up call: even something as small as a bottle cap can impact what ends up in your glass. Maybe it’s time we rethink what “safe” really means when it comes to our beverages.