Imagine the raw chemical power that propels rockets beyond Earth’s atmosphere. Now, picture traces of that same compound in your breakfast cereal. Perchlorate, a key ingredient in rocket fuel, isn’t just reserved for space exploration—it’s also approved by the FDA for use in food packaging. The agency insists it’s safe, but health experts and environmental groups are raising alarms.

Perchlorate serves a crucial role in rocket science. It’s a powerful oxidizer that helps propellants deliver explosive energy. But when ingested, it tells a different story. “Perchlorate harms fetal and infant brain development,” says Scott Faber, vice president for government affairs at the Environmental Working Group. The chemical disrupts the thyroid’s ability to produce hormones essential for childhood brain growth.

Rocket fuel in your pantry?

Critics point to FDA data revealing higher levels of perchlorate in children’s foods after its approval in 2005. A Consumer Reports study found detectable perchlorate in 80% of baby food samples, with rice cereal showing the highest levels. According to EDF, one sample contained a staggering 173 parts per billion—nearly 16 times the maximum found before the chemical’s approval.

The FDA argues its 2017 decision to allow perchlorate use relied on sound science. But critics claim otherwise. “The agency grossly underestimated the amount of perchlorate that gets into food,” says Jane Houlihan of Healthy Babies Bright Futures. The Environmental Defense Fund adds that the FDA ignored its own findings, which revealed increased perchlorate exposure in young children.

The truth about the rocket fuel chemical Perchlorate in food

So, why does perchlorate end up in food packaging? Manufacturers use it to reduce static electricity in dry food handling equipment and packaging. However, this use can transfer the chemical into food. “It should never be used in food packaging, let alone for kids’ products,” says Faber.

Environmental advocates demand stricter oversight. “The development of the brain is like a one-way street; there is no U-turn to go back and fix the problems perchlorate exposure may have caused,” says Dr. Maricel Maffini, a consultant for EDF. Critics insist that the FDA must either ban perchlorate or allow public health groups to argue their case in court.

Perchlorate might shine in rocket science, but its presence in food raises serious questions. Are we trading innovation for safety? Until regulators act, parents and consumers are left wondering what’s truly safe to serve at the breakfast table.