Life Hack: What are microplastics and should I swap my plastic chopping board for wood?

Plus, tips on how to clean a wooden chopping board

Despite being easier to sanitise, over time plastic chopping boards develop deep groves from knife use, much like their wooden counterparts. However, unlike wood, these cannot be planed away so the next step is to replace the board.

How concerned are you about microplastics? If you’re not familiar with them, as the name suggests, microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic — ranging from one nanometer to 5mm in size — that are turning up everywhere. Microplastics are contributing to plastic pollution worldwide, and as a result, they are creeping into our food supply.

Recent studies suggest more and more microplastics are being found the human body after being ingested, and the long-term health implications of this are as yet unclear — but consuming plastic chemicals is unlikely to have a positive impact on us.

How are we eating these tiny bits of plastic?

Well, one heart surgeon recently shared his concerns about plastic chopping boards being a source on TikTok.

“Using plastic cutting boards regularly over the course of the year, you can ingest up to almost 50 grams of microplastics. That’s the same as 10 credit cards,” said Dr Jeremy London.

There’s been a trend in the data to show that this can affect fertility, endocrine function and maybe even
cardiovascular health.

This sounds very worrying. Plastic chopping boards are a popular choice in many kitchens, with plenty of people preferring them due to their ease of cleaning. They can be popped into a dishwasher on a regular cycle or scrubbed normally in a sink.

'Wooden chopping boards can be more expensive and cannot be put into a dishwasher, so a cheap and cheerful, easy-to-wash plastic one can be a very tempting purchase.'

However, if you are concerned about accidentally scraping some plastic onto your plate along with the food, you should consider a wooden board instead.

Some people shy away from wooden boards as they fear they will not get cleaned as easily, particularly when being used to prepare raw meat. Here’s what you need to know.

What type of wooden board should I use?

High-quality hardwood with a high-end grain is what you need in a wooden chopping board. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has a few additional suggestions for finding the best board.

“Wooden chopping boards can be used for food preparation as long as they are kept in a clean and hygienic condition,” they advise.

“Generally, all surfaces which come in contact with food must be of sound condition and be easy to clean and, where necessary, disinfect. They must be made of smooth, corrosion-resistant, washable, and non-toxic material.

Chopping boards must be constructed in a way that will minimise the risk of contamination. They must be kept in a good state of repair.

If your wooden chopping board becomes deeply scored with knife marks, don’t immediately toss it into the bin. Check to see if it can be replaned to restore a smooth surface. With this method, you can get many more years out of your board.

How to wash a wooden board

There are two stages in cleaning and disinfecting wooden chopping boards, according to the FSAI. First comes general cleaning with a suitable detergent.

After each use, the board should be wiped down with a clean, damp cloth to remove residual food particles. They advise the board should be scrubbed with a scrubbing brush, hot water, and a suitable detergent to remove all residues from the surface. Rinse the board thoroughly and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

The second stage is disinfection. After a chemical disinfection, rinse the board thoroughly and wipe it with a clean, dry cloth. Before putting the board away again, make sure it is completely dry — any moisture can promote bacterial growth.

Any benefits to a plastic board?

Wooden chopping boards can be more expensive and cannot be put into a dishwasher, so a cheap and cheerful, easy-to-wash plastic one can be a very tempting purchase. If you own one, you will see that despite being easier to sanitise, over time they develop deep groves from knife use, much like their wooden counterparts. However, unlike wood, these cannot be planed away, so the next step is to replace the board.

Another benefit of plastic boards is how lightweight they are. For anyone with mobility issues, it will be a more practical choice over a heavy wooden board that may be hard to lift.