According to a recent study, four in five Americans tested positive for an agricultural chemical found in several wheat and oat products, including brands such as Cheerios and Quaker Oats.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology on Feb. 15, looked at urine samples from American citizens to determine their exposure to chlormequat chloride—a plant growth chemical. Exposure to the chemical can result in lower fertility and harm developing fetuses even at doses below acceptable levels set by regulators. Researchers detected chlormequat in 80 percent of urine samples collected between 2017 and 2023, with “a significant increase in concentrations for samples from 2023.”
