General Mills Inc. recently introduced Cheerios' new vegetarian blends, which are currently available for purchase. However, did you know that there's a hidden ingredient present in this particular brand?
Cheerios New Veggie Blends
(Photo : Pixabay/Aline Ponce )
In addition to their upcoming 2024 cereals, General Mills is launching Cheerios Veggie Blends with secret ingredients: vegetables and fruits! Each serving of the new cereal contains a quarter cup of fruit and vegetables, including a mixture of carrot, spinach, and sweet potato, along with oats manufactured from whole grains. According to the manufacturer, the cereal uses fruit puree and vegetable powder, but it is not meant to substitute for eating fruits or vegetables.
This cereal is available at Walmart in two flavors: apple strawberry and blueberry banana. If you want to purchase a box of cereal that is 18 ounces in size, the suggested retail cost is $5.69.
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Cheerios' Hidden Ingredient
In 2018, low levels of glyphosate herbicide are found in Cheerios and other cereals and items made from grains. Health professionals have engaged in extensive discussion regarding the carcinogenic potential of this substance, which is a primary component of the widely used weed pesticide called Roundup.
As a result of multiple legal actions in 2018, which asserted that Glyphosate is a substance that causes cancer, the volume of debate regarding this chemical increased dramatically. An investigation into the potential dangers was carried out by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which concluded that Glyphosate can cause cancer in human beings.
Despite this, some organizations, such as the Environmental Working Group (EWG), argue that the amounts of Glyphosate in Cheerios remain above safe levels. Glyphosate is not included on the list of ingredients for Cheerios or any other food product available to consumers. Scientists determined if it is present in foods by analyzing them for herbicides and pesticide residues. They reportedly use a unit of measurement known as parts per billion (ppb) to determine the amount of Glyphosate and other toxic substances in different products.
According to the findings of the EWG, the amount of Glyphosate in Cheerios was 729 ppb, while the levels in Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch reached 833 ppb. The organization believes a concentration of 160 ppb is the highest level safe for children's diet.
On the other hand, although Cheerios contain glyphosate levels significantly more significant than the maximum quantity that the EWG recommends, it is not reportedly evident whether or not Cheerios carry a risk of cancer. Glyphosate's absence of carcinogenic potential in humans has also been confirmed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In a statement regarding Glyphosate, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) referenced the findings of the EPA and mentioned that the amounts of Glyphosate found in the food products that the FDA had evaluated were all within the specifications set forth by the EPA.
Because of this, two of the most important regulatory bodies responsible for the safety of consumer products have concluded that foods that contain trace quantities of glyphosate residue are not expected to cause cancer when consumed in proportions that are considered normal.
Nevertheless, health professionals are warning that there is a need for more studies on the impacts of glyphosate on human health that are independent of any assistance from the industry.
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