Trader Joe’s is a supermarket with a wide array of in-store brands, making everything from bagels to soups, and even has its own brand of oats. However, with oat-based cereal, you may be curious as to whether or not it contains any amount of glyphosate.
Trader Joe’s states on its websites that its organic products are produced using high-quality ingredients, but it doesn’t give a clear answer on whether or not they contain glyphosate. The CEH conducted a study in 2018 and found that Trader Joe’s Toasted Whole Grain Oats Cereal contained traces of glyphosate.
This article will discuss whether or not there’s any concrete proof to suggest that Trader Joe’s oats contain the pesticide ingredient glyphosate. So keep reading! We have all the answers you need to know.
Are Trader Joe’s Oats a Popular Breakfast Cereal?
Trader Joe’s is one of the most popular supermarket chains across the United States, known for their wide array of in-store brands that are made using natural and organic ingredients. They are loved across the United States for their fairly reasonable prices when it comes to organic and fresh produce.
One of the most popular staples available at Trader Joe’s is their oatmeal products, which come in numerous forms. This breakfast staple is a popular traditional breakfast that many of us in the western world love.
It’s a soothing warm breakfast on a cold day that helps us stay full so we can hit the ground running no matter what we have planned for the day. As many of us know, oatmeal is a slow-release carb that ensures you’ll have a release of energy for most of the morning.
To check the current price and availability of Trader Joe’s Oat Products, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
Trader Joe’s Wide Selection Of Oat Based Cereals
Trader Joe’s offers a wide selection of oat products to its many customers. These include organic and non-organic products such as their extremely popular Trader Joe’s Rolled Oats, Trader Joe’s Steel Cut Oats, and Trader Joe’s Organic Oats ; Flax Instant Oatmeal even offer Gluten Free Organic Oats With Ancient Grains And Seeds.
Trader Joe’s is known for sourcing high-quality ingredients, which they process with little to no unnatural ingredients.
Any product with the Trader Joe’s label should be free of artificial colors and preservatives, with no genetically modified ingredients or MSG.
However, while the processing of the oats can be left in the hands of Trader Joe’s to ensure their customers receive the highest quality product, unfortunately, the source of the oats may have a harmful ingredient.
One common ingredient that’s causing worry with all oat products throughout America is the Monsanto-produced pesticide glyphosate.
Does Trader Joe’s Oat Products Contain Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a fairly harmful pesticide used by various crop growers to control weeds. However, glyphosate is also used to dry out oats just before they are harvested.
But does this mean Trader Joe’s Organic Oats contain glyphosate?
While organic doesn’t necessarily mean no pesticides, typically, extra protection is involved when trying to source the best natural and organic ingredients for products.
Unfortunately, as glyphosate is not an ingredient, you won’t see it labeled on the back of the product.
Depending on where Trader Joe’s sources their oats ultimately determines whether or not they’ll contain glyphosate.
In a study by the Center For Environmental Health, which tested various popular oat-based cereals, Trader Joe’s Toasted Whole Grain Oats Cereal contained around 672 ppb (parts per billion).
To put this into comparison, the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act has a maximum contamination level of 700 ppb.
So, if you’d like to avoid the consumption of glyphosate in your morning cereal, it’s probably best to avoid Trader Joe’s non-organic oat products until further studies have been done.
However, most organic products are generally sourced from crop farmers who don’t use nasty pesticides such as glyphosate.
But again, unfortunately, the study done by the CEH proved that over 16 popular varieties of organic oats contained glyphosate.
This could result from nearby conventional crops being sprayed with glyphosate, and the wind has caused cross-contamination.
Tips For Choosing Oats Without Glyphosate
If you want to avoid the consumption of glyphosate, we don’t blame you. However, it can be tricky to avoid any glyphosate, but there are products that will be labeled with the Detex Projects “glyphosate residue free” label.
The next best option is to shop for organic products as this will at least ensure that the far producing the crops is somewhat trying to produce oats free from glyphosate.
Organic crops are not allowed to be treated with glyphosate; thus, the only way it’ll be found in the crops is through cross-contamination.
Alternatives For Oats At Trader Joe’s
As Trader Joe’s Organic Oats products have not been tested by a lab to determine whether or not they contain glyphosate, and unfortunately, one of their oat-based products does contain the pesticide, you may opt for an alternative at Trader Joe’s.
There are a few other options that do not contain glyphosate, such as their organic oat products. If the most popular Steel Cut Organic Oats are not available, there are a few other options you can choose from.
You can choose one of their instant oatmeal products, such as Trader Joe’s Organic Oats ; Flax Instant Oatmeal, or if you’d like to try a gluten-free product, they have Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Organic Rolled Oats with Ancient Grains ; Seeds. Both of these products should be made without the use of glyphosate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Oats Are Glyphosate Free?
Organic oats should be glyphosate free, as organic crop growers are prohibited from using glyphosate on their crops.
Does All Oatmeal Have Glyphosate?
Oatmeal grown conventionally will likely use glyphosate. However, if you opt for organically grown oatmeal, it should not have any glyphosate.
Should I Worry About Glyphosate In Oats?
Glyphosate may have links to cancer; however, this depends on the amount consumed over a long period of time. According to the CEH, children can be particularly affected by glyphosate.
Final Thoughts
So, while Trader Joe’s Organic oats should contain no glyphosate, it’s possible that they may be cross-contained due to spraying in a nearby field.
On top of this, if you opt for one of Trader Joe’s non-organic oat products, such as their Toasted Whole Grain Oats Cereal, then it’s been proven by the CEH that this contains a fairly high amount of glyphosate.
