USA – In a troubling discovery, Consumer Reports has identified the presence of perchlorate, a chemical component of rocket fuel, in various fast foods and grocery items, raising alarms over public health.
Perchlorate, widely used in rocket fuel, missiles, explosives, airbags, and certain plastics, has long been recognized as a contaminant in water and food. Despite decades of awareness, the issue remains largely unaddressed by federal regulators.
Perchlorate can infiltrate the food supply through several channels, including contaminated water, plastics containing the chemical, and bleach used in food processing plants. Research suggests that food is the primary source of perchlorate exposure for most people.
The chemical has been linked to thyroid issues, which in turn can affect metabolism and increase the risk of conditions like type 2 diabetes. Of particular concern is the impact on fetuses and young children, as thyroid hormone levels are crucial for brain and nervous system development.
Consumer Reports’ findings
The latest tests conducted by Consumer Reports analyzed 196 samples from 63 supermarket products and 10 fast food items. The results revealed that 67 percent of the samples contained measurable levels of perchlorate, with concentrations ranging from just over 2 parts per billion (ppb) to 79 ppb.
The highest levels were found in baby and children’s foods, with an average of 19.4 ppb.
Certain foods, particularly baby rice cereal, multigrain cereal, and organic yogurt, were identified as having perchlorate levels that could lead to concerning exposure levels in young children.
Even healthy produce items like cucumbers, baby carrots, and collard greens showed perchlorate concentrations that could pose risks if consumed regularly by children.
Regulatory inaction
For years, environmental health advocates have called for stricter regulation of perchlorate in water and food. However, federal action has been limited and inconsistent.
In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) denied a petition from several environmental and health groups to ban perchlorate in food packaging. The following year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) walked back plans to set limits on perchlorate in drinking water, leading to legal challenges from advocacy groups.
A U.S. Court of Appeals panel ruled in favor of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), ordering the EPA to establish limits on perchlorate by November 2025. Yet, the delay has left consumers vulnerable to ongoing exposure, with little they can do to mitigate the risks.
Implications for consumers
While the perchlorate levels detected in the Consumer Reports study were not acutely dangerous, the cumulative exposure over time, especially for children, raises concerns.
Perchlorate is known to disrupt the thyroid by interfering with iodine absorption, which is essential for hormone production. The potential effects are more pronounced in individuals with iodine deficiency, a growing concern in the U.S., particularly among pregnant women.
Efforts to address perchlorate contamination have been sporadic and insufficient. Although the EPA has issued guidelines for water utilities on bleach storage, which can help reduce perchlorate formation, broader measures are needed to protect the public.
Experts argue that the FDA should revoke the approval of perchlorate in food contact materials and set stricter limits on its presence in food, particularly in products intended for young children.
A longstanding issue
The issue of perchlorate contamination is not new. It first gained attention in 1985 when large-scale contamination was discovered near California Superfund sites. The problem became more apparent in the late 1990s with improved testing protocols, revealing widespread contamination linked to military-industrial activities.
Despite some progress in cleanup efforts, such as reducing contamination in the Colorado River, which supplies water to much of California’s agricultural regions, perchlorate remains a persistent problem.
According to Consumer Reports, the FDA’s 2005 decision to allow perchlorate in food-contact materials has only exacerbated the issue, with advocates pointing to a spike in contamination levels in baby foods following this ruling.
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