photo courtesy ponce_photography, Pixabay
Misinformation about levels of glyphosate found in cereals is creating a stir, not to mention a great deal of fear, for parents.
On Wednesday, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) issued an emotional report declaring glyphosate residues in oats.
We want to set the record straight: You don't need to fear your Cheerios. Even at the highest level of residue reported by EWG (1,300 parts per billion), the residue is nowhere close to a level of concern. The EPA and other regulatory authorities have strict rules when it comes to pesticides reisudes. And those set limits are at least 100 times below levels shown in safety studies to have no negative effects.
To put it in perspective, an adult would have to eat 118 pounds of the food item every day for the rest of his or her life to reach the EPA limit. If you apply that 118 pounds to oatmeal consumption, it stacks up like this:
118 pounds of oatmeal = 228 servings. You would have to eat 9 1/2 servings every hour of the day without sleep for the rest of your adult life to reach the EPA limit.
Eat the Cheerios. Have the oatmeal. You don't have to worry about pesticide residue for breakfast.
Read these articles and stories for more information:
A mother allows her children to walk into a GMO field sprayed with glyphosate
Dismantling the EWG's glyphosate study