Watchdog group Consumer Reports is calling attention to the presence of perchlorate—a chemical used in rocket fuel, missiles, explosives, airbags, and some plastics—in foods, after an in-house sampling and testing project revealed a concerning level of contamination, especially in foods for babies and children. The analysis was prompted by prompted by a “lack of action from regulatory agencies” to understand or address perchlorate contamination in food and water, according to Consumer Reports.

Exposure to perchlorate can harm thyroid function, interfering with its ability to absorb iodine, leading to hypothyroidism and related health issues.

In 2005, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set a reference dose for perchlorate of 0.7 micrograms per kilogram of body weight (µg/kg bw) per day, which is higher than the European Food Safety Authority’s (EFSA’s) tolerable daily intake (TDI) of 0.3 µg/kg bw per day.

For the study, Consumer Reports collected 196 food products from 63 supermarkets and 10 fast food samples. The chosen foods were targeted due to historically being shown to contain perchlorate.

The chemical was detected in approximately 67 percent of samples, at levels ranging from 2 parts per billion (ppb) to 79 ppb. Foods intended for babies and children contained the highest levels of any food type, averaging 19.4 ppb, followed by fresh produce (9.3 ppb) and fast food (7.7 ppb).

When analyzing the data for packaging type, foods packaged in plastic containers were the worst offenders, with average perchlorate levels of 54 ppb, followed by foods in plastic wrap and paperboard.  

None of the foods tested by Consumer Reports contained levels of perchlorate at levels high enough to exceed EPA’s or EFSA’s “safe” limits, but the group notes that, taking into account the amount of food a person eats throughout the day, combined exposure to perchlorate could still be putting human health—especially the health of children—at risk. For example, for a child 1–2 years of age, eating one serving of boxed mac and cheese, or a serving of cucumbers or baby carrots, would account for 50 percent of EFSA’s TDI.

Additionally, Consumer Reports argues that EPA and EFSA’s daily limits are too high to be adequately protective of public health.

Read the full study and Consumer Reports’ call to action for regulatory agencies here.