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    "story_id": "mp-2026-07-22-010",
    "source_story_id": "tmp-story-zearalenone-pregnancy-pilot-exposure",
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    "headline": "A Grain Mold Chemical Appeared in Every Pregnancy Sample",
    "slug": "a-grain-mold-chemical-appeared-in-every-pregnancy-sample",
    "dek": "A small Rutgers pilot detected estrogen-like mycotoxins in all participants and associated higher exposure with more corn and grain consumption.",
    "summary": "A small Rutgers pilot detected estrogen-like mycotoxins in all participants and associated higher exposure with more corn and grain consumption.",
    "body_text": "Rutgers researchers detected zearalenone-related mycoestrogens in every participant in a pilot study of pregnant people and found higher measured exposure among those reporting more corn and grain products. Zearalenone is produced by Fusarium fungi, can enter meat and dairy through feed, and survives processing. Because the study was small and observational, it establishes an exposure signal—not clinical harm, population prevalence, or advice to avoid staple foods.",
    "why_it_matters": "A small Rutgers pilot detected estrogen-like mycotoxins in all participants and associated higher exposure with more corn and grain consumption.",
    "limitations": [
      "Because the study was small and observational, it establishes an exposure signal—not clinical harm, population prevalence, or advice to avoid staple foods."
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    "first_published_at": "2026-07-22T09:00:00.000-04:00",
    "modified_at": "2026-07-22T09:00:00.000-04:00",
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        "text": "A small Rutgers pilot detected estrogen-like mycotoxins in all participants and associated higher exposure with more corn and grain consumption.",
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        "qualification": "Because the study was small and observational, it establishes an exposure signal—not clinical harm, population prevalence, or advice to avoid staple foods."
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    "source_ids": [
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    "tags": [
      "food safety",
      "pregnancy",
      "mycotoxins"
    ],
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    "corrections": []
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  "sources": [
    {
      "source_id": "source-2026-07-22-010",
      "title": "Rutgers via Newswise: Zearalenone exposure in pregnancy pilot",
      "publisher": "Rutgers University-New Brunswick via Newswise",
      "url": "https://www.newswise.com/articles/in-pilot-study-researchers-find-estrogen-like-contaminant-in-every-pregnant-participant-tested",
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      "published_at": null,
      "accessed_at": "2026-07-22T08:25:00.000-04:00",
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  "publisher": {
    "name": "The Machine Press",
    "url": "https://themachinepress.com",
    "description": "A daily newspaper for the age of artificial intelligence."
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  "cite_this_report": {
    "title": "A Grain Mold Chemical Appeared in Every Pregnancy Sample",
    "publisher": "The Machine Press",
    "published_at": "2026-07-22T09:00:00.000-04:00",
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