The Clean Label Project (CLP) examined 77 different cereals from major brands for hidden toxins. The cereals included brands from major companies like General Mills, Kellogg’s and Post. They were looking for arsenic, acrylamide, bisphenols (like BPA or BPS), glyphosate, lead and pesticides.
Four cereals passed the test. They were free from contaminants and heavy metals and were nutritionally healthy options. The four varieties were Arrowhead Mills Puffed Kamut, Lovebird Cinnamon O’s, Love Grown Power Os Original and Three Wishes Cinnamon. In addition to not containing heavy metals or harmful substances, they were free of artificial sweeteners and preservatives while also being low in sugar.
There was some good news for all of the cereals. None of the 77 cereals tested had BPA or BPS in them. That’s an improvement from the 2018-2019 study.
When picking a cereal not on that short list, there are other ways to protect yourself. Rice-based cereals in the study contain 12 times more arsenic than the corn, wheat or oat options. If you’re looking for a chocolate choice, you should be aware that 12 out of the 13 chocolate-flavored cereals contained lead. However, lead and heavy metals are often found in dark chocolate. Therefore, it’s unsurprising it’s in chocolate cereal that contains cocoa powder.
There are major flaws in this study. CLP did not reveal the concentration of contaminants found in the cereals. It’s impossible to know if the amounts were within what is considered to be a safe amount, just that it was there. They also didn’t name the other cereals in the test other than the winners. Eighty-one percent of the herbicide glyphosate that was found in the cereals was in just four cereals. However, we don’t know what cereals they are, and we don’t know the amount of glyphosate. Without that information, it becomes flashy fearmongering over cereal rather than information you can use.
This study is informative about the four cereals that came out on top being healthy choices. If you are someone who loves breakfast cereal, those are lower-sugar options that don’t contain lead, arsenic or other contaminants.
If you like to start your day off with cereal, as well as picking a lower-sugar option, there are other ways to make your breakfast healthier. Pairing it with plain yogurt can help prevent blood sugar spikes. The protein in the yogurt can help you stay fuller longer and make the meal more complete. There’s room for all foods in moderation in a healthy diet. It’s a matter of finding the right pairings and portion control.
