In a recent study published in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology and shared on Nature, it has been revealed that a chemical called chlormequat, which is banned for use on edible plants in the United States, has been found in popular breakfast cereals such as Cheerios and Quaker Oats. Astonishingly, the study also states that about 80% of Americans have been exposed to this chemical.
Chlormequat is a chloride salt registered for use on ornamental plants grown in greenhouses and nurseries, according to the National Library of Medicine. Although it is not approved for use on edible plants in the United States, it is allowed in other countries. Surprisingly, in 2018, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) even permitted the importation of plants treated with this chemical, as reported by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
