When it comes to staple breakfast meals, oatmeal is about as basic as it comes. And for years, the brand that’s been a key player in the oatmeal arena has been Quaker Oats. We’ve almost all grown up on it.
Recently, the recognized brand, which is owned by PepsiCo, was dragged into a class action lawsuit in both California and New York with questioning about its packaging stating that the product is 100-percent natural. Purportedly, scientists have found an ingredient known as glyphosate in the oatmeal, which is used in weed killer and is pretty well-known for being a carcinogen.
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According to a statement released by Quaker Oats, the levels of the carcinogen are within the zone of what’s considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). But an attorney representing the other side disagrees and says that’s not really the major matter at hand. As reported by The New York Times, Kim Richman, lead lawyer for the firm representing the plaintiffs in the case, said that, “The issue is that Quaker advertises these products as 100-percent natural and glyphosate in any amount is not natural.”
So, is a case of buyer beware considering the fact that just because a label says something doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true? It just may be especially because, at this time, the FDA doesn’t have a concrete definition for natural products (or the like), which is why, oftentimes, navigating through labels is quite daunting.
The only way to make sure that the food you eat is as safe as possible is too look for products that are labeled as USDA certified organic. That means that the food is absent of chemicals and pesticides and that 95 percent of the ingredients fall under proper organic standards. While it may cost you a few dollars more, organic is the way to go.
