A breakfast cereal that appears healthy on the supermarket shelves based on its nutritional label does not guarantee it is free of environmental toxins, according to new data.
The study determined that cereals containing cocoa, chocolate, or cacao typically had more than twice as much lead as those without and that 12 out of 13 containing chocolate had detectable lead.
The study further found that rice-based cereals contained 12 times as much arsenic per serving compared to the rest of the category and the presence of acrylamide is nearly universal.
Arsenic is a poison and acrylamide is a chemical formed during high-heat processing that, at high doses, is classified as a probable human carcinogen, according to EBSCO Information Services.
Wheat and oat cereals contained 2.5 times more acrylamide per serving than rice or corn options.
“The encouraging news is that levels weren’t the same across products,” the study states. “Some cereals contained considerably less than others. In fact, some cereals contained 21 times more acrylamide than others, showing that lower levels are achievable.”
Only one tested cereal did not contain acrylamide. However, the Clean Label Project did not reveal the specific name of that solo cereal.
“We recognize that cereal remains a convenient and affordable choice for families,” study officials said. “However, as a category, cereal still has work to do to deliver the nutrient density found in simple, minimally processed alternatives like eggs.”
Not all 77 cereals fared the same. Four varieties made the Back-to-School Honor Roll based on low levels of contaminants, lower added sugars, no artificial additives and higher relative levels of fiber, protein, or healthy fats.
Winners are Arrowhead Mills’ Puffed Kamut, Lovebird’s Cinnamon O’s, Love Grown’s Power O’s Original, and Three Wishes’ Cinnamon.
When browsing the cereal aisle, Clean Label Project leaders suggest a few rules of thumb to minimize toxin intake without sacrificing nutrition.
For example, limit daily consumption of chocolate-flavored cereals because cacao naturally concentrates lead.
Second, diversify away from pure rice and instead alternate between rice-based cereals and whole oats, corn, and grain-free options in order to keep inorganic arsenic ingestion low.
Finally, look for certified products and check for third-party certifications, such as the Clean Label Project Purity Award or pesticide-free labels on packaging that indicate batch testing.