Packaging Survey of Baby Food Products, Including Fruit Purees and Yogurts, in Major Retail Channels in Taiwan

Taipei, July 14, 2026 – A new report released today by Greenpeace Taiwan reveals a pervasive reliance on plastic pouches for infant complementary foods, raising significant concerns about children’s early exposure to microplastics and associated chemicals. The survey, titled "Packaging Survey of Baby Food Products, Including Fruit Purees and Yogurts, in Major Retail Channels in Taiwan," found that nearly 80 percent of baby fruit puree and yogurt products available in Taiwan are packaged in plastic pouches. This figure escalates to 100 percent in hypermarkets, leaving parents with virtually no non-plastic packaging alternatives for these essential first foods.

The comprehensive survey, conducted in April 2026, examined a wide array of baby food products across major retail channels, including hypermarkets, pharmacies, dedicated baby product stores, and prominent online shopping platforms such as Momo, PChome, Shopee, and Coupang. The findings indicate a stark lack of diversity in packaging options, with plastic pouches dominating the market. While hypermarkets presented exclusively plastic-packaged options, other retail segments showed a slightly lower but still substantial prevalence, ranging from 74 percent to 79 percent. Prominent brands such as Babybio, HiPP, Pascual, and Earth Love were identified among those utilizing plastic pouch packaging.

Chi Lo, Communications Officer at Greenpeace Taiwan, articulated the urgency of the situation, stating, "Parents purchase baby food with the primary intention of nourishing their children, not to subject them to plastic risks from their very first bites. When nearly 80 percent of products utilize plastic pouches, this transcends mere parental choice. The market has demonstrably failed to provide adequate safer alternatives, and governmental regulations have not kept pace with emerging scientific understanding and consumer needs."

Microplastic Exposure: A Growing Concern for Infants

The report highlights the growing scientific consensus that plastic pouches, often constructed from multi-layered composite materials including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), aluminum foil, and polyethylene (PE), pose a potential source of microplastic exposure for consumers, particularly infants. The inner PE layer, spout, and cap of these pouches come into direct contact with the food, leading to concerns that microplastics can leach into the product.

Building on previous research, Greenpeace International commissioned a study by Norway’s SINTEF Ocean laboratory in 2025 to investigate microplastic contamination in pouch-packaged baby food from two major multinational brands. The findings were alarming: microplastics were detected in every product tested. Some fruit puree samples contained an astonishing concentration of up to 99 microplastic particles per gram of food, translating to over 10,000 microplastic particles per pouch. Similarly, some yogurt products were estimated to contain more than 5,000 microplastic particles per pouch.

The SINTEF Ocean study identified polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) within the tested food samples, strongly suggesting that the packaging materials themselves are a significant source of microplastic contamination. Furthermore, the laboratory detected dozens of plastic-related chemicals, including substances known for their potential toxicity and endocrine-disrupting properties. These findings underscore the complex and potentially hazardous nature of plastic packaging in direct contact with food intended for vulnerable populations.

Expert Calls for Precautionary Principle to Safeguard Children’s Health

In light of these revelations, medical and scientific experts are urging the adoption of the precautionary principle to better protect infants and young children. Dr. Tzung-Hai Yen, a nephrologist at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou, emphasized the need for proactive measures. "While scientists are still working to fully ascertain the extent of microplastic exposure’s harm to human health, existing animal and cell studies indicate that high levels of microplastic exposure may induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and even organ damage," Dr. Yen stated.

"Action should not be deferred until the health impacts on humans are definitively proven," he continued. "The precautionary principle should guide our actions to proactively reduce human exposure to microplastics. Infants and young children are at a critical stage of physical development, making them more vulnerable than adults to harmful substances in their environment. Therefore, mitigating their exposure must be a paramount priority."

Adding to these concerns, Dr. I-Lun Hsiao, Director of the Food Safety Testing and Functional Development Research Center at Taipei Medical University, pointed out that plastic pouches can release not only microplastics but also a range of other chemically complex substances. These "non-intentionally added substances" (NIAS) can be generated during the manufacturing process or through the degradation of plastic materials during use.

Dr. Hsiao noted that Taiwan’s regulatory framework for chemicals in plastic food packaging and their disclosure lags behind international standards in regions like the European Union, the United States, and Japan. She highlighted that certain plastic-related chemicals possess endocrine-disrupting properties. When multiple such chemicals are ingested concurrently, they can interact, potentially creating synergistic effects that amplify health risks.

Joint Appeal for Enhanced Government Regulation and Industry Responsibility

Greenpeace Taiwan and the assembled experts are jointly urging Taiwan’s Food and Drug Administration (TFDA) and other relevant government agencies to implement robust measures to address the risks associated with plastic food packaging. Their recommendations include:

• Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks: Developing and enforcing comprehensive regulations for chemicals used in food packaging, particularly for products intended for infants and children. This includes establishing stricter limits for known hazardous substances and requiring thorough risk assessments for all food-contact materials.
• Mandating Transparency and Disclosure: Requiring manufacturers to clearly disclose all components of their food packaging, including any additives or processing chemicals, and to make this information readily accessible to consumers.
• Promoting Safer Alternatives: Incentivizing the development and adoption of sustainable and safe packaging alternatives to single-use plastics, such as glass, metal, or compostable materials, particularly for baby food products.
• Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Schemes: Holding producers accountable for the environmental impact of their packaging throughout its lifecycle, encouraging them to invest in waste reduction and recycling initiatives.
• Conducting Regular Market Surveillance: Establishing a proactive system for monitoring the food packaging market to identify and address potential risks and ensure compliance with regulations.

In addition to governmental action, Greenpeace is also calling upon baby food manufacturers to take proactive steps. This includes conducting rigorous internal testing of their products for microplastics and hazardous chemicals and publicly disclosing the results of these tests. Such transparency would empower consumers to make informed choices and encourage industry-wide improvements.

"Every parent strives to provide the best nutrition for their children. The next generation should not have to bear the health risks associated with plastic packaging," reiterated Chi Lo. "Given the scientific uncertainty surrounding the impacts of plastic pollution on human health, the government must strengthen food packaging regulations. Simultaneously, it is imperative to reduce unnecessary plastic production at its source and phase out single-use plastic products and packaging that are deemed unnecessary or pose high risks. Only through these comprehensive measures can we genuinely reduce the next generation’s exposure to microplastics and plastic-related chemicals."

The implications of this report extend beyond Taiwan’s borders, highlighting a global challenge in balancing convenience and product safety with environmental and health concerns. As scientific understanding of microplastic impacts continues to evolve, calls for stricter regulations and greater industry accountability are likely to intensify worldwide, particularly for products targeted at the most vulnerable demographic – infants and young children. The future of infant nutrition may hinge on a critical reassessment of packaging choices, prioritizing health and sustainability over the ubiquitous use of plastic.