A study reveals the concentration of glyphosate, the famous herbicide marketed by Monsanto, in breakfast cereals. How dangerous is this for health? We take stock.
Breakfast cereals, granolas, cereal bars… According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an American association, these foods are riddled with glyphosate. Since they published a study on the levels of herbicide concentration in these food products, the American media have pointed out the dangers to our health, particularly that of children.
In addition, glyphosate made headlines again, when a California jury condemned Monsanto, which markets Roundup, to pay 289 million euros to a gardener with incurable cancer. According to International Agency for Research on Cancer, glyphosate is probably carcinogenic. Should we ban cereals from our diet? In reality, it’s all a question of dosage.
Rates below the legal limit
According to the website IFLScience, the 45 products analyzed by the Environmental Working Group have herbicide rates well below the legal limit. While “legal” doesn’t mean “safety”, the presence of glyphosate in cereals doesn’t mean “panic” either.
The World Health Organization (WHO) strictly limits one milligram of this substance per kilogram of body weight, per day. An average adult would then need to consume about 1000 servings (or 60 grams) of oat cereal per day to exceed this limit. Note that in the European Union, the limit is halved. It is 0.5 milligrams per kilogram.
Other affected food products
Already last year, a Study of Future Generations, a association anti-pesticide, denounced the presence of herbicide in breakfast cereals. Traces have also been found in certain legumes (lentils, chickpeas, kidney beans) or in pasta. Beyond the risk of cancer, some studies make the link between pesticides or herbicides and diseases, such as Parkinson disease for example. Also, these chemicals in fruits and vegetables would be dangerous for the female fertility.
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