Cereal suspect

Some popular cereals, oats and snack bars sold on local supermarket shelves could be at risk of containing traces of the chemical found in Round Up.

When contacted on Thursday, however, local officials said while they were unaware of the recent findings, promised they would be investigating them right away.

News carried in international newspapers and networks including CBS News, USA Today and Newsweek over the past two days stated that the Environmental Working Group, a Washington, D.C. advocacy group that assesses chemicals in consumer products, on Wednesday released the results of a test it conducted on the popular oat-based products and others, to determine whether they contained any of the herbicide glyphosate. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer, and at high levels, has been linked to cancer.

The articles reported that after tests, cereals like Cheerios and Lucky Charms, Nature Valley bars and Quaker Old Fashioned Oats, were found to contain traces of the deadly chemical.

Acting director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Bertram Johnson told the NATION that while they were not aware of this issue, “we work with our partners and who ever could assist us we make sure to publish something once we find there’s cause for concern”. (DB)

Please read the full story in the Weekend Nation, or in the eNATION edition.