• Majority of children’s cereals tested positive for chlormequat, a banned pesticide with severe health risks
• High levels of this banned pesticide have been linked to infertility, cancer, Parkinson’s, and other harms
• Lax regulations and loosened trade agreements allow dangerous chemicals in the U.S. food supply. Two cereal samples were positive for diquat and parquat, banned in other countries but allowed in the USA
• General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios tops the list with 134.16 ppb of chlormequat

アメリカ中のママ recently tested 14 different U.S. children’s cereals for glyphosate. We were surprised to find levels lower than expected in conventional brands, and higher levels in some organic brands. This raised an alarming possibility: could a different, potentially more acutely toxic pesticide be taking glyphosate’s place? Unfortunately, this is typical of companies like Bayer, who often replace one chemical hazard with another, sometimes far worse than the original chemical.

Thanks to MAA supporters, we were able to retest all 14 samples of the same children’s cereals we previously tested for diquat, paraquat, and chlormequat.

Full test results here.

You may have noticed at stores like Home Depot that Roundup and other herbicides now contain diquat. Diquat is a dangerous chemical linked to Parkinson’s disease and banned across Europe, including the U.K., and in China. Bayer has been phasing out glyphosate in its Roundup formula to reduce litigation risk related to its link to Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. But instead of replacing it with a safe alternative, they swapped it for something far more toxic, buying time before more lawsuits can catch up to them again. Similar to diquat, paraquat is also banned in over 70 countries, yet millions of pounds are sprayed in the U.S. each year. Paraquat is linked to cancer, Parkinson’s disease, reproductive dysfunction, infertility, and even suicide.

With such widespread use, we expected these chemicals to show up most in our cereal tests. What we did not expect was that chlormequat would be the primary contaminant.

What is Chlormequat?

Chlormequat has been banned for use on food crops in the United States since its initial registration in 1962, when it was approved exclusively for use on ornamental plants. Yet this pesticide presented with the highest levels in the 14 popular children’s cereal we tested. There should be zero detectable levels of chlormequat on any foods, especially children’s food. The presence of any amount of the banned chemical points to a serious lack of regulation and oversight by the EPA, USDA and FDA.

Chlormequat is only allowed on ornamental plants because of its toxicity. For fifty years, imported food products containing chlormequat were prohibited in the U.S. That changed in 2018, when the EPA began allowing grains treated with chlormequat to enter the food supply. Acute ingestion of this pesticide can be fatal to humans, and the long-term impact of chronic, low-level exposure is not fully understood. Studies show it can disrupt fetal growth, damage the reproductive system, interfere with developing hormones, and even harm the liver and kidneys. Its DNA-altering properties also raise concerns about long-term cancer risk. Pregnant women and children are particularly vulnerable.

An astounding 11 of the 14 children’s cereals tested positive for chlormequat. When we compare the pesticide residues found in these cereals to the EPA’s established maximum residue limits (MRLs), the results are striking, especially for chlormequat. Since chlormequat is not approved for use in the U.S. on food crops, the legal tolerance should be effectively zero for domestically produced cereal. In 2018, the allowable level jumped from zero to around 100 ppb (usually ranging in detection from 100 to 500 ppb depending on the crop) on imported crops. We believe this was a result of loosening trade agreements with foreign countries, putting Americans at risk of poisoning by foreign food sources.

Conventional cereals that we tested contained alarmingly high levels, including 134.16 ppb in General Mills Honey Nut Cheerios, 70.2 ppb in Quaker Instant Oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice, and 55.41 ppb in Kellogg’s Fruit Loops. These levels are well above what could be considered safe, particularly since chlormequat is banned on edible crops. Consuming multiple servings—or combining these cereals with other foods that contain chlormequat—could easily push exposure far beyond the FDA’s established limits.

For diquat and paraquat, both highly toxic herbicides, the results also raise serious concerns. Our tests detected 4.29 ppb of diquat in Quaker Instant Oatmeal and 4.22 ppb of paraquat in Kellogg’s Cocoa Krispies, both well above the levels most consumers would expect to find in children’s cereals. Chronic exposure to either chemical, even at low levels, is linked to Parkinson’s disease, reproductive harm, and other severe health outcomes

Solutions and Taking Action

The contrast between organic and conventional cereals is also clear. Organic brands consistently had much lower residues, often near or below trace levels. This reinforces the value of choosing organic, particularly for children, pregnant women, and other vulnerable populations, whose developing bodies are far more susceptible to long-term effects from endocrine-disrupting and reproductive toxins. Conventional cereals not only exceeded safe thresholds for chlormequat but some also contained detectable levels of pesticides that are banned or heavily restricted elsewhere, underscoring systemic regulatory failures and the urgent need for stronger protections.

The findings from these tests highlight an urgent need for action at the consumer, corporate, and policy level. Consumers should choose organic as much as possible. And from a policy standpoint, the FDA must recall contaminated cereals and enforce regulations to inform consumers of any and all ingredients and contaminants. Food companies must commit to rigorous batch testing of all grains and cereal products for pesticides like chlormequat, diquat, and paraquat before they reach store shelves. Transparency in testing and accountability in sourcing are critical to protecting children and families from chronic chemical exposure. At the same time, the public can drive change by signing the petition to ban the 86 hazardous pesticides still allowed in U.S. agriculture, sending a clear message that safety and health must come before corporate profits. By demanding rigorous testing, stricter regulations, and through our advocacy, we can create a safe and healthy food system.

Top Cereals Contaminated with Chlormequat

• General Mills – Honey Nut Cheerios (Conventional USA) → 134.16 ppb
• Quaker – Instant Oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice (Conventional USA) → 70.20 ppb
• Kellogg’s – Fruit Loops (Conventional USA) → 55.41 ppb
• Cascadian Farm – Honey Nut Cereal (Organic USA) → 10.30 ppb
• Kellogg’s – Rice Krispies (Conventional USA) → 2.52 ppb
• Kashi – Cocoa Clusters (Organic USA) → 2.00 ppb
• Green Wise – Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal (Organic USA) → 1.89 ppb
• Kellogg’s – Cocoa Krispies (Conventional USA) → 1.25 ppb
• Cascadian Farm – Cinnamon Crunch Cereal (Organic USA) → 1.51 ppb
• Nature’s – Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla (Organic USA) → Trace (<1 ppb)
• Green Wise – Corn Flakes (Organic USA) → Trace (<1 ppb)
• Kashi – Cinnamon Harvest (Organic USA) → ND (Not Detected)
• General Mills – Cookie Crisp (Conventional USA) → ND
• Kellogg’s – Corn Flakes (Conventional USA) → ND

Top Cereals Contaminated with Diqua

• Quaker – Instant Oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice (Conventional USA) → 4.29 ppb
• All other cereals tested → ND

Top Cereals Contaminated with Paraquat

• Kellogg’s – Cocoa Krispies (Conventional USA) → 4.22 ppb
• All other cereals tested → ND