Microplastic contamination in food products has become an increasing environmental concern due to its widespread occurrence in marine and coastal ecosystems. Edible salt, a commonly consumed marine-derived product, has been recognized as a potential pathway of human exposure to microplastics. This study investigated the occurrence, abundance, and physical characteristics of microplastics in commercial table salt marketed in Sungsang Village, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Two locally marketed salt brands were analyzed using density separation, vacuum filtration, and microscopic examination. Microplastic particles were characterized according to their shape and size distribution. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with abundances ranging from 513 to 587 particles/kg. Fragments were the predominant particle type. Most particles were within the 50–300 μm size range, indicating that small-sized microplastics constituted a substantial proportion of the contamination. Based on average salt consumption rates, consumers may have been continuously exposed to microplastics through their daily consumption of salt. The presence of microplastics in all analyzed samples indicated that contamination could have occurred throughout the production and distribution chain of commercial salt. These findings contributed to the growing body of evidence regarding microplastic contamination in edible salt and highlighted the importance of routine monitoring and improved plastic waste management in coastal environments to reduce contamination of food products.

Microplastic contamination in food products has become an increasing environmental concern due to its widespread occurrence in marine and coastal ecosystems. Edible salt, a commonly consumed marine-derived product, has been recognized as a potential pathway of human exposure to microplastics. This study investigated the occurrence, abundance, and physical characteristics of microplastics in commercial table salt marketed in Sungsang Village, Banyuasin Regency, South Sumatra, Indonesia. Two locally marketed salt brands were analyzed using density separation, vacuum filtration, and microscopic examination. Microplastic particles were characterized according to their shape and size distribution. Microplastics were detected in all samples, with abundances ranging from 513 to 587 particles/kg. Fragments were the predominant particle type. Most particles were within the 50–300 μm size range, indicating that small-sized microplastics constituted a substantial proportion of the contamination. Based on average salt consumption rates, consumers may have been continuously exposed to microplastics through their daily consumption of salt. The presence of microplastics in all analyzed samples indicated that contamination could have occurred throughout the production and distribution chain of commercial salt. These findings contributed to the growing body of evidence regarding microplastic contamination in edible salt and highlighted the importance of routine monitoring and improved plastic waste management in coastal environments to reduce contamination of food products.