New Reports Show That Oat Breakfast Foods May Contain Traces Of Cancer-Linked Weed Killer

New reports came out that identified certain breakfast foods as containing cancer-linked chemicals.

By NathanG on August 15, 2018
(Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

According to recent reports, certain oat-based breakfast foods have been linked to an ingredient in week killer that may have connections with cancer. Called glyphosate, this chemical is the main ingredient in many weedkillers, including popular brand, Roundup. According to the Environmental Working Group, an environmental advocacy group, all but two of the 45 product samples tested contained traces of glphosate, with 75% of those containing higher than safe levels in relation to children’s health. The EWG reports that glyphosate is the main ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup, with more than 250 million pounds sprayed on American crops each year.

According to ABC10, the World Health Organization has stated that glyphosate may be carcinogenic to humans, and that a safety level for the chemical has been set by the Environmental Protection Agency. Reports show that consuming food daily that contains 1.1 milligrams of the chemical can result in a one in 100,000 risk of developing cancer. For children, a one in one million risk was calculated from the daily consumption of 0.01 milligrams of glyphosate.

The studies conducted showed that some of the worst products for containing glyphosate were Quaker oats products. These included products such as their dinosaur eggs instant oatmeal and their old fashioned oats.

For more information on the identified breakfast products, as well as full lists, click here.

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