Rocket fuel chemical found in dozens of food items. Here’s what you need to know

(NEXSTAR) — A chemical used in rocket fuel, fireworks, and airbags has been detected in various supermarket and fast food items, according to a recent study. But how worried should you be?

Researchers with Consumer Reports tested 196 food samples and discovered that about 67% contained varying levels of the chemical perchlorate.

The findings, published on August 7, showed that baby and children foods, fast food and fresh produce had the highest levels, while beverages, seafood and meats had the lowest. Consumer Reports did not disclose any companies or brand names in its study.

The Environmental Protection Agency recommends a limit of 0.7 micrograms of perchlorate per kilogram of body weight per day, which it considers safe and unlikely to cause harm.

None of the foods tested had enough perchlorate in a single serving that would exceed the EPA’s daily limit. Consumer Reports suggested, however, that these amounts could “potentially add up to concerning levels” if multiple servings are consumed.

Despite this, James E. Rogers, the nonprofit’s director of product safety testing, said parents should not worry too much about the findings.

“Feeding your children a wide variety of healthy foods is the best way to make sure they get the nutrients they need and to minimize the potentially harmful effects of contaminants in food and water,” Rogers said in the report.

It’s unclear why some items in the study had higher levels of perchlorate, but there are two possible explanations: food packaging and contaminated water. Consumer Reports explained that perchlorate is occasionally found in certain plastics used in packaging for products like baby and kids food. And fruits and vegetables could contain it if grown with contaminated water.

According to the Food and Drug Administration , perchlorate can occur naturally in the environment or be manufactured as an industrial chemical. The agency said high levels can cause thyroid problems. It can block iodide from entering the thyroid gland, disrupt thyroid functions, and potentially reduce thyroid hormone production.

The Environmental Defense Fund, along with nine other advocacy groups, had petitioned for the FDA to ban perchlorate in food packaging back in 2019. They claimed that the chemical’s effects on thyroid function in pregnant women could impact fetal and infant brain development. The FDA denied a request for a public hearing on the matter, arguing that the groups’ submission “failed to identify any specific factual dispute that could be resolved by a hearing.”

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Meanwhile, in May 2023, a federal appeals court ruled that the EPA must regulate perchlorate in water. The move came after the Trump administration rolled back an Obama-era decision to set limits on the contaminant, the Associated Press reported. The EPA said it will propose these regulations by Nov. 21, 2025.

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