Scientists issue urgent warning about eating CEREAL

Next time you chow down on your morning cereal, you could be consuming dangerous ‘forever chemicals’, scientists have warned.

A new study from Pesticide Action Network (PAN) Europe has detected a toxic ‘forever chemical’ in cereal products sold across the continent.  

The synthetic substance, trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), comes from pesticides sprayed over crops like wheat and corn. 

Worryingly, TFA is known to have several adverse effects on human health. 

This includes disruptions to breathing pathways, liver function and the development of babies in the womb.

While the study didn’t name specific breakfast cereals or their manufacturers, TFA is likely widespread – especially in those containing wheat. 

Angeliki Lysimachou, head of science and policy at PAN Europe, said pesticides that contain TFA ‘must be urgently banned’. 

‘We cannot allow children and pregnant women to be exposed to chemicals that we know harm reproductive health,’ she said. 

TFA comes under the group known as PFAS (per–and polyfluoroalkyl substances), dubbed ‘forever chemicals’ because they are designed not to break down in the environment.

Studies have linked PFAS to infertility, behavioural problems, birth defects, high cholesterol levels and even various cancers, including kidney, testicular and ovarian.

This study – which focused on TFA – analysed 66 cereal–based products sold across 16 EU countries, including Ireland, Greece, France, Italy, Spain and Germany. 

As well as breakfast cereals, the researchers also looked at wholemeal and refined bread, pasta, croissants and flour, breadcrumbs, and biscuits. 

Overall, TFA was detected in 81.8 per cent (54 out of 66) of samples, with an average TFA concentration of 78.9 micrograms (µg) per kg. 

Breakfast cereal purchased in Ireland was most contaminated with the forever chemical, at concentrations of 360 micrograms (µg) per kg.

Average concentrations of TFA in Irish breakfast cereal were found to be 107 times higher than those in tap water, another well–known source of the forever chemical.  

Also high on the list was Belgian wholemeal bread (340 µg/kg), wheat flour produced in Germany (310 µg/kg), French baguette (210 µg/kg), and Swiss Rauchbrot, a dark bread (200 µg/kg). 

There was also 180 µg/kg in French croissant and 130 µg/kg in Dutch gingerbread pepernoten – a popular children’s treat on Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas Day, December 5). 

Interestingly, wheat products were significantly more contaminated (approximately 7.6 times more) than other cereal–based products.

This is either because forever chemicals are used in greater quantities on wheat cereals, or because the chemicals ‘accumulate more readily in wheat plants as a result of physiological differences’, the report says. 

By contrast, products consisting of other cereal varieties, such as rye, oats, maize and rice had a considerably lower average TFA concentrations.  

Some products without any traces of TFA included chocolate wafer from Bulgaria, rye bread from Hungary and lady fingers biscuits – but they were the exception rather than the norm. 

Experts warn that beyond drinking water, food is the most significant route of exposure to TFA, which is considered a corrosive and persistent acid. 

TFA is thought to damage the human reproductive system, fertility and foetal and child development. 

Industry studies also link it to reduced sperm quality, and adverse effects on the thyroid, liver and immune functions. 

Breathing in TFA can also irritate the nose, throat and lungs, causing coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. 

Some ‘forever chemicals’ have been linked to cancer, although TFA has not been tested for its carcinogenic ability. 

Although UK–purchased groceries were not part of the study, experts fear their testing results are representative of cereal–based products across the western world. 

The report – which can be accessed on the PAN Europe website – shows our diet is a significant pathway of human exposure, the researchers say. 

They wants regulators to set a far more protective TFA safety limit and to ban all PFAS pesticides and other sources of TFA. 

Previous reports have revealed high TFA levels in European wines and widespread contamination of tap water.