Oat milk linked to ANOTHER cancer-causing chemical as people flock back to dairy

The health halo of oat milk is quickly disappearing.

People leave it out and experts advise against it due to its lack of nutritional value and highly processed ingredients.

Last week, dietitians at DailyMail.com raised concerns about the presence of emulsifiers in plant-based milks, which some studies have linked to cancer.

Now they’re raising concerns about another chemical linked to tumor growth.

One study found that some popular brands of oat milk contain a herbicide called glyphosate, which has been linked to certain blood cancers.

The World Health Organization has classified the chemical – used to keep weeds off crops – as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’.

U.S. health authorities disagree, and as a result, 250 million pounds of it are sprayed on U.S. crops every year.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), 250 million pounds of the product is sprayed on U.S. fields every year.

Sometimes this ends up in the final product.

A 2023 EWG study found glyphosate in all 14 non-organic oat products they tested – although levels had fallen sharply since 2018.

By 2023, Environmental Health News conducted a series of tests and found ‘traces’ of glyphosate in Silk and MALK brand oat milk.

Courtney Swan, nutritionist, food activist and influencer told Newsweek that for these and other reasons she chooses not to consume oat milk, and actively tells people not to buy it. She said, “I’ve never been a fan of drinking it.”

She’s not alone: ​​Other makers have swapped plant-based milks for dairy milks, citing concerns about pesticides, additives like emulsifiers and the lack of nutrients that can balance blood sugar levels.

Los Angeles-based influencer Steph Robinson went viral last year for sharing her true thoughts on oat milk. She said it causes spikes in blood sugar levels, which can lead to an unhealthy metabolism.

At the same time, celebrities like Gweynth Paltrow are making dairy fashionable again, claiming it’s a more nutritious addition to a morning coffee.

The markets seem to reflect these online trends.

Almond milk sales fell 8.5 percent in 2024 from the previous year, and oat milk sales fell 1.25 percent over the same period. This is evident from a report by SPINSa company that keeps track of store data in America.

The report shows that overall plant-based milk sales fell 5.2 percent last year, although that still generated $2.8 billion in sales for the industry.

In 2015, the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans’ – mainly based on studies conducted in animals.

This led to proposed bans on the herbicide across the EU.

After reviewing data on the herbicide in 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency said “there are no risks endangering human health if glyphosate is used in accordance with its current label.”

EPA has also determined that glyphosate is unlikely to be a human carcinogen.” Yet research into the health effects is being conducted in the US.

A 2023 study conducted by the National Cancer Institute measured levels of oxidative stress — a marker of cellular aging and mutations that can ultimately lead to cancer — in farmers exposed to glyphosate.

The farmers exposed to glyphosate had ‘increased levels’ of oxidative stress compared to average people.

The product most known for its glyphosate content is Monsanto’s Roundup.

Their parent company, Bayer, has steadfastly denied that the chemical is linked to health problems.

Still Bayer, Bayver forced to settle thousands RoundUp lawsuitswith plaintiffs alleging that the company failed to disclose warnings about its product.

Bayer previously told DM.com in a statement: ‘The increased oxidative stress found in the study may have been caused by a number of non-glyphosate-related factors or a combination thereof, and the study does not support the conclusion that glyphosate is harmful. the cause.’

Jessica Cording, a registered dietitian and author, previously told DailyMail.com that she is less concerned about the chemicals in oat milk, and more concerned about the impact it can have on blood sugar levels.

Cording explained, “In my own practice, I tend to steer my clients away from oat milk if they can tolerate dairy and/or other plant-based milks.”

Oat milk generally contains lower amounts of protein and higher amounts of carbohydrates or sugars than dairy milk or nut milk. An average cup of oat milk contains about 4 grams of protein, compared to 8 grams of dairy, soy or pea milk.

When the body breaks down carbohydrates, it causes a blood sugar spike, which causes your body to release insulin. Eating foods with other nutrients that can balance the sugars, making them absorbed more slowly, can make insulin spikes less steep.

Over time, having consistent blood sugar spikes can make it difficult to control your weight and can increase your chances of developing lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, over time.

In addition to blood sugar concerns, Cording said oat milk is a highly processed food and she advises her clients not to eat these types of products on a regular basis.

Oat milk is usually considered highly processed because of the added ingredients it contains.

These include emulsifiers – products added to prevent liquid products from separating. Preliminary research from the University of Miami has linked emulsifiers to colon cancer, after animal studies showed a link between the products and intestinal inflammation.

Chronic inflammation can increase the risk of cancer by damaging DNA. They suggested that this could put the body at greater risk of developing colorectal cancer.

Emulsifiers have also been shown to change the composition of the bacteria that protect the intestines, which may increase the risk of colorectal cancer, according to University of Miami gastroenterologist Dr. Maria Abreu.

Given this data, Cording said, “I think it’s appropriate to be concerned, but I also think we need to keep exploring.”