EPA reviewed explosive report on toxic chemical found in Cheerios, Quaker Oats

EPA reviewed explosive report on toxic chemical— even as US considers expanding its use

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is contemplating permitting U.S. farmers to utilize a contentious chemical present in popular breakfast cereals like Cheerios and Quaker Oats, despite an ongoing "review" of a recent study that raised safety concerns, as per sources familiar with the matter. A study conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) last week revealed that four out of five Americans tested positive for chlormequat chloride, a relatively obscure chemical associated with decreased fertility, altered fetal growth, and delayed puberty. While the EPA acknowledged its scrutiny of the study, it also disclosed its consideration of allowing U.S. farmers to utilize chlormequat. This chemical has increasingly surfaced in breakfast products due to oats sourced from Canadian farms where chlormequat usage is permitted.

In response to an application from chlormequat manufacturer Taminco, the EPA issued a proposal last year to sanction the chemical's use by U.S. farmers, citing its purported benefits in boosting crop yields by enhancing grain stability for easier harvesting. Chlormequat has been present in the U.S. food supply since 2018, permitted in imported oats, wheat, barley, and select animal products. According to EWG, its usage has expanded in recent years. The EPA contends that its assessment found no significant risks associated with the chemical, emphasizing that the protective dose against chronic dietary exposure is significantly lower than the threshold where reproductive effects typically occur.