A brand new investigation by Mothers Throughout America has revealed that many widespread breakfast cereals include chlormequat, a pesticide banned to be used on meals crops within the U.S¹. The investigation discovered traces of chlormequat in 11 of 14 cereal samples examined, together with Quaker Instantaneous Oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice, Fruit Loops, Rice Krispies, and Cocoa Krispies. Even natural choices like Cascadian Farm Honey Nut Cereal and Kashi Cocoa Clusters have been contaminated. The best ranges of the pesticide have been present in Basic Mills’ Honey Nut Cheerios, with 134.16 ppb.

Sadly, that is removed from the primary time we’ve handled pesticides in locations they shouldn’t be. These findings verify earlier analysis funded by EWG that was revealed in 2024 within the Journal of Publicity Science & Environmental Epidemiology. The analysis discovered traces of the chemical in each standard and natural oat- and wheat-based meals together with Cheerios, Quakers Meals oatmeal and granola bars, and Walmart and Goal store-brand granola and cereals, amongst others².

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What Is Chlormequat Used For?

Chlormequat is often used to stunt the expansion of decorative crops and grains like wheat, oats, and barley, making them simpler to reap. However it’s not with out its unwanted side effects. 

Within the early ‘80s, Danish pig farmers started observing a decline within the reproductive capability of pigs raised on grains handled with chlormequat. The remark led to additional analysis on pigs and mice, which confirmed this regarding hyperlink³. Lab experiments on mice and rats have since confirmed that the pesticide decreases male fertility, delays onset of puberty, and reduces testosterone ranges, particularly when publicity occurs throughout gestation and early improvement⁴.

Chlormequat was first registered within the U.S. as a plant development regulator in 1962, and it was initially solely allowed to be used on decorative crops. However in 2018, the EPA started to allow the import of meals, primarily grains, handled with the chemical from the EU, UK, and Canada. In these areas, chlormequat is authorized to make use of on meals crops destined for human consumption. In actual fact, within the UK and EU particularly, chlormequat is usually probably the most detected pesticide residue in grains and cereals². In 2020, the EPA elevated the permissible stage of chlormequat residues on imported oats.

We’re About to See Extra Chlormequat, Not Much less

The repercussions of those coverage adjustments are already detectable: In response to the 2024 examine, which examined urine samples from 96 People throughout the nation from 2017 to 2023, 80 p.c of People have detectable ranges of chlormequat of their methods — and ranges have considerably elevated over time².

This drawback of chlormequat in meals is more likely to worsen in coming years. Following a 2019 utility submitted by chlormequat producer Taminco, the EPA underneath the Biden administration proposed permitting the first-ever use on meals crops grown within the U.S. In 2023, the EPA launched a proposed choice for public remark. If finalized, the rule would permit the appliance of chlormequat on barley, oat, triticale and wheat grown within the U.S. If there was ever a greater time to hunt alternate options to Cheerios and different breakfast cereals with pesticides, it’s now.

Different Pesticides in Our Breakfast

Along with chlormequat, Mothers Throughout America’s new exams discovered that two widespread cereals — Quaker Instantaneous Oatmeal and Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies — additionally contained diquat and paraquat residues. Diquat is banned within the UK, EU, and China, however is broadly utilized in vineyards and orchards within the U.S. Paraquat has been banned in 70 nations together with the UK, EU, Morocco, Cambodia, Chile, and China, however stays authorized within the U.S.

2025 analysis confirmed that diquat can disrupt the stability of intestine microbiota, resulting in irritation, metabolic points, and different well being issues⁵. Paraquat, one of many oldest pesticides in use, has been linked in a number of research to an elevated threat of growing Parkinson’s Illness⁶. Evidently, these banned pesticides don’t have any place in our breakfast.

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Sources:

1. https://www.momsacrossamerica.com/banned_pesticide_replacing_glyphosate
2. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41370-024-00643-4#Sec8
3. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16466532/
4. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32622971/
5. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1562182/full
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38309714/ 

Tags: breakfast cereals chemical pesticide ban pesticides pesticides in meals