🌾 Chlormequat in Our Oats? What Every Health Conscious Person Needs to Know

Hey sweet readers 💛

You know I’m all about doing our best to nourish our families from the inside out—real food, clean ingredients, and holistic living. But sometimes, even foods that seem safe come with hidden surprises... and today we’re talking about one of those: Chlormequat.

You may not have heard of it, but it's showing up in a lot of oat-based products that many of us feed our kiddos—including cereals and oatmeal. 😳 Let’s break it down together.

🌿 What is Chlormequat?

Chlormequat chloride is a chemical used in farming to help grains like oats grow straight and tall so they’re easier to harvest. That sounds harmless at first—but here's the kicker...

👉 It’s not allowed to be used on food crops grown here in the U.S., yet it’s still ending up in many of the oat products we buy. 😕

🧪 What’s the Concern?

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), animal studies have linked Chlormequat to some pretty serious things:

• 🚼 Reproductive problems

• 🧠 Developmental delays in offspring

• 🧬 Hormone disruption

That’s especially concerning for little ones, pregnant mamas, and anyone trying to support their fertility or balance hormones naturally. 💔

🥣 Where Is It Showing Up?

EWG tested a bunch of oat-based foods and found Chlormequat in 92% of non-organic products—including brands like Quaker and Cheerios.

And get this... Quaker Old Fashioned Oats had the highest levels. 😬 If you’ve got a toddler who lives off oatmeal like mine did, that might hit a little close to home.

🧍‍♀️How Often Are We Exposed?

A recent study showed that 4 out of 5 people in the U.S. had Chlormequat in their urine between 2017 and 2023—and those levels have been increasing over time. 😩

So it’s not just “out there”—it’s in here, in our everyday lives, in our bodies.

💡 So What Can We Do?

Let’s keep this practical and hopeful, mamas. You don’t need to panic—but you do deserve to feel empowered. Here are some easy shifts we can make:

🌱 Choose Organic Oats When Possible
Organic farming practices don’t allow Chlormequat, so this is one simple way to reduce exposure.

🛒 Read Labels & Support Brands You Trust
You vote with your dollar! Look for transparent brands that value clean ingredients.

📣 Speak Up
Support regulations that keep harmful chemicals out of our food supply. EWG and other advocates are working hard—our voices matter too.

👩‍👧‍👦 Extend Grace
Don’t feel guilty if you’ve used these products in the past. We’re all learning, and we do better when we know better.

🌼 Final Thoughts from One Momma to Another

This isn’t about fear—it’s about awareness. As holistic moms, we can’t control everything (wouldn’t that be nice?), but we can take small, intentional steps to protect our families and support our bodies naturally.

Let’s keep doing what we do best—nurturing with love, staying curious, and leaning into God’s wisdom as we grow. 💕

The full Environmental Working Group article can be found HERE.

With you on this journey,
Holistic Health Momma 🤍

Want a printable list of clean oat brands or a pantry checklist? Drop a 🌾 in the comments and I’ll send it your way!

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