This popular fermented food may help remove tiny plastic particles from the gut. Research finds shocking revelation

Kimchi is already known for its strong flavour and fermented goodness. Now, scientists have found another reason to take a closer look at it. A bacterium found in kimchi was able to attach itself to tiny plastic particles and help remove them from the gut of mice, according to a new study. The finding could eventually lead to new ways of reducing nanoplastic exposure, although researchers say much more work is needed before knowing whether the same thing happens in humans.

A Bacterium In Kimchi Trapped Nanoplastics

The researchers studied a type of bacteria called Leuconostoc mesenteroides CBA3656, which was taken from kimchi. Nanoplastics are extremely tiny pieces of plastic, smaller than one micrometre. They can enter the body through food and drinking water. In laboratory tests, the kimchi bacteria was able to bind 87% of the nanoplastics under certain conditions. The researchers then tested whether it could continue doing this in conditions similar to those inside the human intestine.

The Bacteria Kept Working In Gut-Like Conditions

When the scientists placed the bacteria in a liquid designed to copy conditions in the intestine, it still attached itself to 57% of the nanoplastics. A different bacterial strain tested in the same conditions managed to bind only 3%. According to NutraIngredients, the researchers believe the plastic sticks to the surface of the bacteria rather than being broken down by it. The study found that parts of the bacterial cell surface may be responsible for this binding. The researchers described the result as promising because the bacteria continued to work even when conditions changed, including differences in acidity and temperature.

Mice Passed More Plastic In Their Waste

The team then moved from laboratory tests to an experiment involving germ-free mice. Some mice were given the CBA3656 bacteria before being exposed to nanoplastics. These mice later passed more than twice as much nanoplastic in their faeces compared with the control group. KBS World reported that the researchers believe the bacteria interacted with the plastic inside the intestine and helped the animals remove it from their bodies. That does not mean the bacteria destroyed the plastic. Instead, the findings suggest that it may hold on to the particles and help carry them out of the digestive system.

Does Eating Kimchi Remove Plastic From The Human Body?

This is where the study needs to be viewed carefully. The researchers did not show that eating kimchi removes nanoplastics from people. They tested one particular bacterial strain in laboratory experiments and mice. Phys.org reported that the researchers themselves said biological methods for reducing nanoplastics in the gut are still at an early stage. More research is needed to find out whether the bacteria can reduce plastic buildup or provide any health benefit in humans. So, the findings should not be treated as proof that kimchi is a “plastic detox” food.

Could This Lead To A New Kind Of Probiotic?

The researchers believe the bacteria could eventually be studied for use as a microbial tool to capture nanoplastics. The study, published in Bioresource Technology, found that CBA3656 worked across a wide range of conditions and also increased nanoplastic removal in mice. For now, the discovery is an early step rather than a ready-made solution. Scientists still need to test the bacteria in humans and determine whether removing more plastic through faeces actually improves health.

Still, the idea is unusual: a bacterium found in a traditional fermented food has shown an ability to grab tiny plastic particles and help move them out of the gut. If future research confirms the effect in humans, kimchi-derived bacteria could become part of a very different approach to dealing with plastic exposure.