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Pesticide Used in Monsanto’s Roundup and Linked to Cancer Found in Breakfast Cereals

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) just released a report that found glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto’s weedkiller Roundup, in all but two of the 45 conventional breakfast cereals, snack bars, and granola brands it tested.

The EWG’s report comes just days after a historic verdict in a California court awarded $289 million to a man who alleged Monsanto’s Roundup lead to his cancer. As many as 5000 more lawsuits have been filed against Monsanto related to its flagship product – the weedkiller Roundup.

The EWG tested oat-based products and included both organic and conventional brands. Almost three-fourths of the conventional brands had glyphosate levels higher than what EWG scientists deem safe for children. Of the 16 organic brands tested, five showed traces of glyphosate but none had levels of glyphosate about the recommended safe level.

Some of the brands tested that showed highest levels of glyphosate were found in Quaker Simply Granola Oats, Quaker Steel Cut Oats, Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, Cheerios Toasted Oats, Back To Nature Classic Granola, Lucky Charms, Giant Instant Oatmeal and Barbara’s Multigrain Spoonfuls.

For years Monsanto has denied any links between its Roundup weedkiller and cancer, but last week’s verdict found Monsanto knew it’s product was hazardous but failed to properly warn consumers. The verdict also claimed Monsanto schemed to disprove evidence that established a link between glyphosate or Roundup and cancer.

In 2015, after conducting an extensive review of glyphosate the World Health Organization determined glyphosate was probably carcinogenic. Two years later, California followed suit and listed it as a chemical known to cause cancer, all despite Monsanto’s consist denials.

Children and developing fetus’ are especially vulnerable to pesticide use. A new documentary called Genetically Modified Children details the abnormally high rates of children born with severe neurological defects in Argentinian farm communities which have used pesticides for decades. The farmers were never warned of the potential health consequences of the pesticides they handled every day and only in recent years have come to understand their dangers.

Doctors in Argentina have found that the pesticides cause transgenic damage, meaning the genetic damage the pesticides cause is being passed down through generations.

The EWG’s findings of glyphosate in organic products is not entirely unsurprising considering the extensive use of glyphosate in agriculture. It’s estimated over 250 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed on crops in the U.S. each year. Organic crops can pick up traces of glyphosate through contaminated soil, water or the phenomenon of pesticide drift, where sprayed pesticides drift to other areas as Nature’s Path explained.

“While organic farming certifications prohibit the use of glyphosate, organic products do not always end up completely free of glyphosate residue. While this news may come as disappointing, it is not entirely surprising. Glyphosate use has skyrocketed in the past decade, and it maintains the ability to adhere to water and soil particles long enough to travel through the air or in a stream to nearby organic farms,” said Nature’s Path.

You can read the full report from the EWG and see their test results here.

New Documentary ‘Genetically Modified Children’ Links Monsanto, Philip Morris to Birth Defects in Argentina

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Lauren von Bernuth

Lauren is one of the co-founders of Citizen Truth. She graduated with a degree in Political Economy from Tulane University. She spent the following years backpacking around the world and starting a green business in the health and wellness industry. She found her way back to politics and discovered a passion for journalism dedicated to finding the truth.

3 Comments

  1. Lorie Simon August 21, 2018

    Laura Nunes…

    Reply
  2. Misty Cooper August 21, 2018

    Thanks trump for making this happen!

    Reply
  3. Dellene Garlock August 21, 2018

    Dude. I love me some damn lucky charms!! ????

    Reply

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