Researchers believe 80% of Americans have been exposed to the plant pesticide chlormequat, a toxic agricultural chemical linked to fertility and birth issues in animals.
The pesticide was found in popular oat-based breakfast cereals like Cheerios and Quaker Oats.
Individuals from three geographic regions were tested between 2017 and 2023, and 80% of those tested had traces of chlormequat in their urine.
Chlormequat is usually expelled by the body within 24 hours, but the high rate of positive tests indicated there was regular exposure.
General Mills, the maker of Cheerios, and PepsiCo, the maker of Quaker Oats, didn’t comment on the report.