Summary
Plastic cutting boards may not be as harmless as we thought. Recent research reported by TIME finds that every knife strike on a plastic cutting board can shed 100–300 microplastic particles — about half may cling to food, the rest end up in wastewater. Over time, frequent chopping can expose people to substantial amounts of microplastics. Some animal studies suggest that plastic‑cut food disrupts gut bacteria and causes intestinal inflammation. Substituting plastic boards for wood (preferably solid wood without glue) reduces microplastic risk — though wood carries its own hygiene challenges.
Time
