The "Toward the Design of At-Home Test for Microplastic Detection in Food" Challenge, powered by HeroX, is sponsored by Consumer Reports (CR), an independent nonprofit organization with over 6 million members. CR advocates for consumer rights and aims to shape a more trustworthy marketplace through informed consumer choices and corporate responsibility. The goal of this challenge is to generate ideas for affordable, simple methods of microplastic detection in food that can be performed by consumers at home.

The challenge arises from the growing environmental and health concerns surrounding microplastics, which are small plastic fragments under 5 millimeters in size. These particles, whether primary (manufactured for specific uses, like microbeads in cosmetics) or secondary (formed through the breakdown of larger plastics), are pervasive in the environment. Microplastics have been found in oceans, rivers, and even in remote places like the Arctic ice, leading to concerns about their potential ecological and health impacts. The potential risks for human health, exacerbated by microplastics' ability to carry toxic chemicals and heavy metals, further highlight the need for efficient monitoring.

The primary problem addressed in this challenge is the lack of simple, consumer-friendly methods for detecting microplastics in food. Current methods rely on expensive and complex lab-based techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), which take several weeks and can cost up to $250 per sample. These methods are impractical for everyday consumers, hence the need for a more accessible solution.

The goal of the challenge is to develop simple, inexpensive tests that consumers can use at home to detect microplastics in various foods, including liquids (milk, beverages), semi-solids (eggs, pastes), and solids (fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry). An important focus is on ultra-processed foods, which have been linked to several health issues like obesity and heart disease. The detection methods should also extend to drinking water, and they need to be able to detect microplastics of at least 5-10 micrometers in size at a concentration of 500 particles per liter.

Success in the challenge requires that the proposed detection methods meet several criteria: they should be fast (results within two hours), low-cost (under $15 per test), and backed by solid research data. Participants are encouraged to create solutions that could be commercially available within 1-2 years.

The submissions must be research-based and submitted in the form of a 10-15 page report, with an executive summary. The reports will be evaluated based on their transformability into at-home tests, the sensitivity of the proposed method, and the potential cost of implementation. Up to three winners will be selected, with awards of $5,000 for the first prize and $2,500 each for two runners-up.