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Cheerio To Cheerios? Popular Breakfast Cereals Contain Toxic Chemical That Can Cause Infertility

Those "o"s in your Cheerios are apparently a sign to say "Oh O!" to the popular breakfast cereal, as well as Quaker Oats. A study published... in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemioolgy by The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reveals that a toxic pesticide by the name of chlormequat is found in oat-based foods. The EWG said in a separate report that these numbers are troubling because they “suggest consumer exposure to chlormequat could be on the rise.” They also noted this analysis “rings alarm bells, because the chemical is linked to reproductive and developmental problems in animal studies, suggesting the potential for similar harm to humans.”

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Articles of Interest

A pilot study of chlormequat in food and urine from adults in the United States from 2017 to 2023

Chlormequat chloride is a plant growth regulator whose use on grain crops is on the rise in North America. Toxicological studies suggest that exposure to chlormequat can reduce fertility and harm the developing fetus at doses lower than those used by regulatory agencies to set allowable daily intake levels.

Chemical Found In Cheerios, Quaker Oats May Cause Fertility Issues, Study Suggests: What To Know About Chlormequat

Chlormequat only stays in the body for 24 hours, so the high levels found in the test population suggest “regular exposure,” according to the EWG; the group recommends buying and consuming organic oat products, which aren’t grown with synthetic pesticides like chlormequat, to reduce exposure to the chemical.

Chlormequat: What you need to know about this problematic pesticide

Chlormequat is a highly toxic agricultural chemical the EPA refers to as a pesticide. It works by altering plant growth. When applied to oat and grain crops while they’re growing, it stops the plants from bending over, which can make harvesting difficult. Animal studies show chlormequat can damage the reproductive system and disrupt fetal growth, creating particular concerns about how ingesting it might harm children.

EPA Proposal to Allow Use of Pesticide Chlormequat for Grains Raises Food Safety Concerns

Chlormequat chloride is currently registered for use as a plant growth regulator (PGR) in ornamentals grown in greenhouses and nurseries. EPA intends to allow the use of the pesticide on small grains like wheat, barley, oats, and triticale to address the issue of “lodging,” which is the bending over or breakage of stems. Lodging affects grain yield, harvestability, and quality.

EWG investigation: Dangerous agricultural chemical chlormequat found in popular oat-based products

A new EWG investigation finds for the first time troubling concentrations of the toxic agricultural chemical chlormequat in oat-based products sold in the U.S., including everyday brands marketed to adults and children. The chemical may be harmful to human health.

Study: 80% of Americans test positive for chemicals found in some grains that can cause infertility and stunted fetal growth

The vast majority of Americans have been exposed to a toxic agricultural chemical that has been linked to impaired fetal growth, damage to the reproductive system, delayed puberty and reduced fertility in animal studies, according to a new peer-reviewed article published in the Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental epidemiology.

Traces of “toxic” pesticide found in 80 percent study participants

A new study has revealed that chlormequat, a pesticide, has been found in four out of five test participants.