Researchers found four in five Americans have been exposed to the “toxic” pesticide chlormequat, which is used in oat-based foods like Cheerios and Quaker Oats Old Fashioned Oats and can cause fertility problems in animals.

Around 80% of Americans have been exposed to the plant pesticide chlormequat, which causes fertility and growth issues in animals, according to a new study published Thursday…

  • Bell@lemmy.worldOP
    1·
    7 months ago

    Okay then what is a suitable animal to test on?

    But pesticides and herbicides are also breeding less robust crops. E.g. corn doesn’t need something to discourage bugs or competitive plants, so it slowly loses that ability. And maybe it slowly loses some of nutrients we want on the way.

    Besides which, isn’t the point that we humans learn to fit into the ecosystem?

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      2·
      7 months ago

      It’s not that the animals aren’t suitable to test it on. It’s fine to do preliminary safety tests with animals. The problem is that the media runs with the story before it’s also tested on humans as if reactions in mice will always be the same as reactions in people, when they often are not.

      • Bell@lemmy.worldOP
        1·
        7 months ago

        “Hey we’re conducting a study to see if this stuff is fatal or alters your hormones, who wants to be first?”