I about fell over when I saw the results from this study! Pesticides in Oats?!?!
Huge amounts of pesticides were found in popular oat-based cereals, oatmeal, granola, and snack bars your kids are likely eating.
In my household,my son needs to eatgluten free, so oats are a staple, and many gluten-free products contain oats instead. Tolearn that many popular oats products are high in pesticides is alarming! I buy organic, and the majority of those were low in pesticides, thank goodness! Please take a look at the data yourself (see table below).
Glyphosate Does Not Belong In Cereal, Or In Your Body
Pesticide residue in oats is so common that 43 of the 45 samples studied contained the pesticide glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup). Glyphosate is the most heavily used pesticide in America, and it’s linked to cancer and so many other terrible health conditions.
Almost three-fourths of the popular products tested in this study had glyphosate levels higher than what EWG scientists consider protective of children’s health (160 ppb). 31 of the 45 samples made with conventionally grown oats had more than 160 ppb of glyphosate per serving.
Don’t take glyphosate in your food lightly – it’s patented as a pesticide, antibiotic and chelating agent (binds minerals). On top of that, it’s one of many hormone disruptors, which mimics estrogen in your body. Glyphosate was originally developed as a cleaner to remove the calcium deposits off big machines, so no wonder it’s so detrimental to our body. Glyphosate isn't the only harmful substance we're exposed to just about every.single.day. Here are 13 other hormone-altering chemicals and how to avoid them.
Levels of glyphosate in your body are cumulative because it stores in fatty tissues—fat cells. Your liver will detoxify it if your liver is healthy, but it might need some help. Here are some great ways to support healthy detoxification for infants and children.
What Constitutes Dangerous Levels of Glyphosate?
Each year more than 250 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed on American crops, primarily on “Roundup-ready” corn and soybeans genetically engineered to withstand the herbicide.
The Environmental Working Group’s benchmark for daily exposure to glyphosate for protecting children’s health is 160 ppb. The Environmental Working Group calculated a one-in-a-million cancer risk would be posed by ingesting 0.01 milligrams of glyphosate per day. To reach this maximum dose, you would have to eat a single 60-gram serving of food with a glyphosate level of 160 parts per billion, or ppb.
Is Glyphosate In The Conventional Oats You Buy?
Take a look at this chart…the majority of samples of conventional oat products exceeded 160 ppb – Quaker Old-Fashioned Oats, Quaker Steel Cut Oats, Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Quaker granola – they all FAILED miserably.
If a child eats one product that exceeds 160 ppb per serving, or they eat two of these foods or a larger portion per day, they’re far exceeding what’s healthy. Those amounts add up very fast!
Type of Food | Product Name | Glyphosate (ppb)* | ||
Sample 1 | Sample 2 | Sample 3 | ||
Granola | Nature's Path Organic Honey Almond granola | ND** | ND | |
Back to Nature Classic Granola | 620 | 170 | ||
Quaker Simply Granola Oats, Honey, Raisins & Almonds | 430 | 400 | ||
Back to Nature Banana Walnut Granola Clusters | 30 | 30 | 340 | |
Nature Valley Granola Protein Oats 'n Honey | 220 | 170 | ||
KIND Vanilla, Blueberry Clusters with Flax Seeds | 50 | 60 | ||
Instant Oats | Giant Instant Oatmeal, Original Flavor | 760 | ||
Simple Truth Organic Instant Oatmeal, Original | ND | ND | ||
Quaker Dinosaur Eggs, Brown Sugar, Instant Oatmeal | 620 | 780 | ||
Great Value Original Instant Oatmeal | 450 | |||
Umpqua Oats, Maple Pecan | 220 | 220 | ||
Market Pantry Instant Oatmeal, Strawberries & Cream | 120 | 520 | ||
Oat Breakfast Cereal | Kashi Heart to Heart Organic Honey Toasted cereal | ND | ND | |
Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal | 490 | 470 | 530 | |
Lucky Charms**** | 400 | 230 | ||
Barbara's Multigrain Spoonfuls, Original, Cereal | 340 | 300 | ||
Kellogg’s Cracklin’ Oat Bran oat cereal | 250 | 120 | ||
Snack Bar | Cascadian Farm Organic Harvest Berry, granola bar | ND | ND | |
KIND Oats & Honey with Toasted Coconut | ND | 120 | ||
Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, Oats 'n Honey | 340 | 120 | ||
Quaker Chewy Chocolate Chip granola bar | 120 | 160 | ||
Kellogg’s Nutrigrain Soft Baked Breakfast Bars, Strawberry | 30 | 80 | ||
Whole Oats | 365 Organic Old-Fashioned Rolled Oats | ND | ND | |
Quaker Steel Cut Oats | 530 | 290 | ||
Quaker Old Fashioned Oats | 390 | 1100 | 1300 | |
Bob's Red Mill Steel Cut Oats | 300 | ND | ||
Nature's Path Organic Old Fashioned Organic Oats | 30 | 20 | ||
Whole Foods Bulk Bin conventional rolled oats | 10 | 40 | ||
Bob's Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (4 samples tested) | ND | 10 | 20, 20*** | |
Source: EWG, from tests by Eurofin Analytical Laboratories
*EWG's child-protective health benchmark for daily exposure to glyphosate in food is 160 ppb.
** ND = none detected
*** Two product samples tested both had 20 ppb glyphosate concentration.
**** Lucky Charms Frosted Toasted Oat Cereal with Marshmallows. Marshmallows were manually removed from the samples prior to shipping to the lab and testing for glyphosate.
How Does Glyphosate Get Into Organic Food?
Glyphosate was detected at concentrations of 10 ppb to 30 ppb in five of 16 samples made with organic oats. This could be because glyphosate drifts from nearby fields of conventionally grown crops, or by cross-contamination during processing at a facility that also handles non-organic crops. Glyphosate is able to adhere to water and soil particles long enough to travel through the air or in a stream to nearby organic farms.
What Can Parents Do?
Parents shouldn’t have to wonder whether feeding their children oat-containing foods will also expose them to a pesticide that increase the risk of cancer.
1. Definitely purchase only organic oats and organic cereals since those did have lower glyphosate levels overall.
I always use one particular organic brand, so I emailed the company to ask questions about their oats, such as whether they're tested for glyphosate, and if so, what were the results. It's time-consuming, but definitely worth it!
2. There are urine tests that can measure glyphosate levels in the body. An Organic Acid test has a glyphosate tox screen on it.
3. Support your kiddo's liver and gut microbiome through diet and kid-friendly supplements. Cruciferous vegetables promote normal detoxification, so serve those at least a couple times per week. I like this gut supporting powder that tastes great and provides so many great nutrients the gut needs to maintain a healthy balance.
Featured Products
Glycophagen GI Wellnessavailable here
Kelly Harrington, MS, RDN
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist for Healthy Goods
References:
1)Round-up for breakfast, part 2: in new tests, weed killer found in all kids’ cereals sampled. EWG.
2) Massive study finds eating organic slashes cancer risks. EWG.
3) Temkin, A. Breakfast with a dose of Roundup? EWG.
As a registered dietitian nutritionist deeply entrenched in the field, I am genuinely concerned about the recent revelations surrounding the pervasive presence of pesticides in popular oat-based products, particularly those consumed by children. My expertise spans various aspects of nutrition, and I am well-versed in the implications of pesticide exposure on human health, particularly in the context of the recent study you mentioned.
The study's findings are indeed alarming, revealing that a significant number of widely consumed oat-based cereals, oatmeal, granola, and snack bars contain substantial amounts of pesticides, notably glyphosate, which is the active ingredient in Roundup. Glyphosate is the most extensively used pesticide in the United States, and its association with cancer and other adverse health conditions is well-documented.
The evidence presented in the study is compelling, indicating that 43 out of the 45 samples studied contained glyphosate. Moreover, nearly three-fourths of the tested products exhibited glyphosate levels surpassing the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) benchmark considered protective of children's health (160 ppb). The fact that glyphosate is a patented pesticide, antibiotic, and chelating agent, coupled with its role as a hormone disruptor mimicking estrogen, underscores its potential harm to the body.
Accumulation of glyphosate in fatty tissues, specifically fat cells, is a cause for concern. While a healthy liver can detoxify glyphosate, the cumulative nature of its storage necessitates attention to supporting detoxification, especially in infants and children. The study also sheds light on the staggering amount of glyphosate sprayed on American crops annually, emphasizing the need for awareness regarding daily exposure limits to protect children's health.
The detailed chart provided in the article highlights specific products and their glyphosate levels, indicating that many conventional oat products exceed the 160 ppb threshold. This includes well-known brands such as Quaker, Cheerios, and Lucky Charms. The gravity of the situation becomes apparent when considering the potential health risks associated with exceeding the recommended daily exposure to glyphosate.
One notable aspect addressed in the article is the detection of glyphosate in organic oat products. This occurrence is explained by the potential drift from nearby fields of conventionally grown crops or cross-contamination during processing. It underscores the need for thorough scrutiny when choosing organic products and the importance of seeking information from manufacturers regarding glyphosate testing.
The article concludes with actionable steps for parents concerned about pesticide exposure. It recommends opting for organic oats and cereals, citing lower glyphosate levels in organic products. The suggestion to contact manufacturers for information on glyphosate testing and results is particularly noteworthy. Additionally, the article advises parents to consider urine tests measuring glyphosate levels in the body and emphasizes the importance of supporting children's liver and gut health through diet and supplements.
In summary, the comprehensive information presented in the article is a call to action for parents to be vigilant about the food choices they make for their children, especially when it comes to oat-based products. The depth of my knowledge and experience in nutrition reinforces the importance of these findings and the urgency of promoting awareness and informed decision-making in the realm of food consumption.
