A number of popular breakfast foods,
including cereals, granola bars and instant oats, were tested and found
to contain potentially dangerous amounts of cancer-linked glyphosate,
the main ingredient in weed killer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), an environmental advocacy organization that conducted the study, said Wednesday that glyphosate was found in all but five of 29 oat-based foods that were tested.
Glyphosate
is the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup, the most heavily used
herbicide in the United States. Every year, according to the EWG, more
than 250 million pounds of glyphosate is sprayed on American crops.
The
World Health Organization has determined that glyphosate is "probably
carcnogenic to humans" and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has
set a safety level for the potentially dangerous chemical. Just last
week, Monsanto was ordered by a court to pay nearly $300 million
to a man who claims his terminal cancer was caused by exposure to
Roundup. Hundreds of other cases are working their way through the
courts.
Monsanto
strongly disputes the finding that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen
and notes that over four decades, the EPA has consistently supported the
safe and effective use of glyphosate.
The company
notes on its website that on Dec. 18, the EPA stated the following: “The
draft human health risk assessment concludes that glyphosate is not
likely to be carcinogenic to humans.
The agency’s assessment found no other meaningful risks to human health
when the product is used according to the pesticide label. The agency’s
scientific findings are consistent with the conclusions of science
reviews by a number of other countries as well as the 2017 National
Institute of Health Agricultural Health Survey.”
The products tested by the EWG showed levels dramatically lower than current EPA standard for glyphosate.
For
example, the amount allowed in grains is 30 parts per million. Most of
the products tested by the EWA showed glyphosate levels that measured in
parts per billion.
Yet California, which
is known for its robust cancer warnings, has determined there is a one
in 100,000 risk of cancer from glyphosate when more than 1.1 milligrams
is consumed per day. EWG says it has calculated a one in one million
risk if more than 0.1 milligrams is consumed and a similar risk for
children if even 0.01 milligrams is consumed daily.
The
worst offenders were Quaker oat products, which regularly clocked in at
400 or more glyphosate parts per billion — meaning they would be
dangerous for children if even 27.5 grams were consumed daily. A single
packet of Quaker's dinosaur eggs instant oatmeal contains more than
three times EWG's daily safe limit for children.
Kellogg
products largely passed muster — of the two evaluated, only one of the
Michigan-based cereal company's oat foods came anywhere near dangerous
to children and neither posed a threat to adults.
The full list of products tested and their results is available below:
Potentially dangerous to children
Back to Nature Classic Granola
Quaker Simply Granola Oats, Honey, Raisin and Almonds
Nature Valley Granola Protein Oats 'n Honey
Giant Instant Oatmeal Original Flavor
Quaker Dinosaur Eggs, Brown Sugar, Instant Oatmeal
Great Value Original Instant Oatmeal
Umpqua Oats, Maple Pecan
Market Pantry Instant Oatmeal, Strawberries & Cream*
Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal
Lucky Charms (without marshmallows)
Barbara's Multigrain Spoonfuls, Original, Cereal
Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran oat cereal*
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, Oats 'n Honey
Quaker Steel Cut Oats
Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats*
Contains safe amounts of glyphosate
Back to Nature Banana Walnut Granola Clusters
KIND Vanilla, Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds
Kellogg’s Nutrigrain Soft Baked Breakfast Bars, Strawberry
Nature's Path Organic Old Fashioned Organic Oats
Whole Foods Bulk Bin conventional rolled oats
Bob's Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats
Contained no glyphosate in any tests
Nature's Path Organic Honey Almond granola
Simple Truth Organic Instant Oatmeal, Original
Kashi Heart to Heart Organic Honey Toasted cereal
Cascadian Farm Organic Harvest Berry, granola bar
365 Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats
*This
product underwent multiple tests and tested above the dangerous level
in one or more and below the dangerous level in one or more.