{"hq_id":"hq-p-fod-000095","name":"Glyphosate Residue in Oat Products (Cereal, Granola Bars, Oatmeal)","category":{"primary":"food_contact","secondary":"grain","tags":["glyphosate","oat","cereal","Cheerios","granola","EWG","desiccation","pre-harvest"]},"product_tier":"FOD","overall_risk_level":"moderate","description":"Glyphosate residues in oat-based products from pre-harvest desiccation — spraying glyphosate on oat fields to accelerate drying before harvest. EWG testing found glyphosate in 95% of oat-based foods tested, including Cheerios, Quaker Oats, and Nature Valley. Levels below EPA tolerance (30 ppm) but above EWG's health benchmark (160 ppb). Organic oats have significantly lower glyphosate. Pre-harvest desiccation is the primary source — not weed control.","synthesis":{"derived_risk_level":"moderate_to_high","synthesis_confidence":0.749,"synthesis_method":"compound_composition","context_used":"human_child","context_source":"product_users","exposure_modifier":0.977,"vulnerability_escalated":true,"escalation_reason":"Child exposure group","compounds_resolved":1,"compounds_total":1,"synthesis_date":"2026-05-09","synthesis_version":"1.2.0","methodology_note":"exposure_modifier and adjusted_magnitude are computed from ALETHEIA-calibrated heuristics (route × duration × frequency multipliers, clamped to [0.5, 1.4]). Multipliers are directionally informed by EPA Exposure Factors Handbook (2011) and CalEPA OEHHA but are not regulatory consensus. See /api/methodology for full disclosure."},"hazard_summary":{"sensitive_populations":"children (daily cereal consumption), pregnant women","overall_risk":"moderate","primary_concerns":["95% of oat-based foods contain detectable glyphosate (EWG)","IARC Group 2A probable carcinogen present in children's daily breakfast","Pre-harvest desiccation sprays glyphosate directly onto food crop","Below EPA tolerance but above EWG health benchmarks"],"exposure_routes":"Oral via oat-based breakfast cereals, granola, oatmeal"},"exposure":{"routes":["oral"],"contact_types":["oral_direct"],"users":["adult","child"],"duration":"minutes","frequency":"daily","scenarios":["Daily oatmeal/cereal consumption (children's breakfast staple)","Multiple oat products per day (cereal + granola bar + oat milk)","Children: higher cereal consumption per body weight"],"notes":"EWG 2018-2023: glyphosate in 95% of tested oat products. Cheerios: 470-730 ppb. Quaker Old Fashioned Oats: 390-1300 ppb. EPA tolerance: 30,000 ppb (30 ppm) — all products well below. EWG health benchmark: 160 ppb — most products exceed. Pre-harvest desiccation is not standard organic practice — organic oats have dramatically lower glyphosate."},"consumer_guidance":{"usage_warning":"Choose organic oats to minimize glyphosate exposure. Pre-harvest desiccation is not permitted in organic agriculture. Check EWG testing database for specific brand results. Diversify breakfast grains (quinoa, millet, buckwheat).","safer_alternatives":["USDA Organic oats (no pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation)","Bob's Red Mill Organic, Nature's Path Organic","Non-oat breakfast alternatives (buckwheat, quinoa flakes)","Glyphosate Residue Free certified products"],"red_flags":[{"indicator":"No testing data or regulatory oversight for this food category","meaning":"Potential contaminant exposure without monitoring.","action":"Choose tested/certified alternatives when available."}],"green_flags":[{"indicator":"USDA Organic or third-party tested","meaning":"Lower contaminant levels verified.","verification":"Check for USDA Organic seal or third-party testing results."}],"what_to_ask":[{"question":"Has this product been tested for the contaminants relevant to its category?","why_it_matters":"Testing provides assurance beyond regulatory minimums.","good_answer":"Third-party tested with published results.","bad_answer":"No testing beyond regulatory minimum."}],"alternatives":[{"name":"USDA Organic oats","notes":"no pre-harvest glyphosate desiccation"},{"name":"Bob's Red Mill Organic, Nature's Path Organic","notes":"Alternative"},{"name":"Non-oat breakfast alternatives","notes":"buckwheat, quinoa flakes"}]},"regulatory":{"applicable_regulations":[{"jurisdiction":"USA","regulation":"EPA glyphosate tolerance on oats: 30 ppm","citation":"40 CFR 180.364","requirements":"Tolerance of 30 ppm glyphosate on oat grain.","compliance_status":null,"effective_date":null,"enforcing_agency":"EPA","penalties":null,"source_ref":null}],"certifications":[],"labeling":{"required_disclosures":[],"prop65_warning":{"required":null,"chemicals":[],"endpoint":null,"notes":null},"ghs_labeling":{"required":null,"signal_word":null,"pictograms":[],"hazard_statements":[],"notes":null},"hidden_ingredients":{"trade_secret_protected":null,"categories_hidden":[],"estimated_count":null,"known_concerns":null,"notes":null},"notes":null},"recalls":[],"regulatory_gap":null,"notes":null},"lifecycle":{"recyclable":true,"disposal_guidance":"Regular food waste. Recycle packaging.","hazardous_waste":false,"expected_lifespan":"months"},"formulation":{"form":"varies","key_ingredients":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000001","name":"Glyphosate","role":"desiccant_residue","concentration_pct":"100-1000+ ppb"}],"certifications":[]},"materials":{"common":[],"concerning":[],"preferred":[]},"compound_composition":[{"hq_id":"hq-c-org-000001","compound_name":null,"role":"desiccant_residue","typical_concentration":"100-1000+ ppb"}],"identifiers":{"common_names":["glyphosate residue in oat products (cereal, granola bars, oatmeal)"],"aliases":[],"manufacturer":null,"brands":[]},"brand_examples":[{"brand":"Purina","manufacturer":"Nestlé","market_position":"mass_market","notable":"Market-leading pet food brand"},{"brand":"Royal Canin","manufacturer":"Mars","market_position":"premium","notable":"Veterinary-recommended pet food"},{"brand":"Blue Buffalo","manufacturer":"General Mills","market_position":"premium","notable":"Natural ingredient pet food"}],"brand_examples_disclaimer":"Representative branded products of this category. Concerning ingredients listed in materials.concerning[] apply to the category, not necessarily to every named brand. Specific formulations vary by SKU and may have changed since this record was written; consult the brand's current ingredient label before drawing brand-level conclusions.","sources":[{"type":"expert_curation","name":"ALETHEIA Safety Database","date":"2026-03-25"},{"type":"regulation","title":"EPA glyphosate tolerance on oats: 30 ppm (40 CFR 180.364)","jurisdiction":"USA","citation":"40 CFR 180.364","id":"src_80d5c203"},{"id":"src_001","type":"epa","title":"Glyphosate Interim Registration Review Decision Case Number 0178","url":"https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate","accessed":"2025-01-13","year":2020,"notes":"EPA registration review concluding 'not likely to be carcinogenic to humans'","inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000001"},{"id":"src_002","type":"iarc","title":"IARC Monographs Volume 112: Glyphosate","publication":"IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans","year":2015,"url":"https://monographs.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/mono112.pdf","accessed":"2025-01-13","notes":"IARC classification: Group 2A (probably carcinogenic to humans)","inherited_from_compound":"hq-c-org-000001"},{"type":"regulatory","title":"US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)","jurisdiction":"USA","id":"src_defdd418","extraction":"description_reference"}],"meta":{"schema_version":"4.0.0","last_updated":"2026-03-25","timestamp":"2026-05-13T22:23:12.312Z"}}