What Foods Are High in Glyphosate? (2024)

Certain foods may be high in glyphosate if they have been sprayed with herbicide before harvesting.

What is glyphosate?

Glyphosate is a broad spectrum herbicide that kills plants based on the presence of an enzyme in their cells. The chemical can kill broadleaf plants and grasses and has been widely used in the agricultural and forestry industries as well as domestic settings.

After recent studies linked glyphosate to cancer, some are concerned about the foods that have been sprayed with weed killers containing the chemical, such as Roundup.

Is glyphosate safe?

Glyphosate kills weeds by blocking the production of enzymes that regulate plant growth.

Recently, experts have begun debating whether or not glyphosate is safe for humans. PBS News Hour notes that for many years, it was though that glyphosate was only dangerous to plants, and not humans, because humans do not have the enzyme that is targeted by glyphosate.

However, recent research suggests that glyphosate may be linked to cancer in humans. The World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has dubbed glyphosate a “probable human carcinogen” according to Science Mag.

In contrast, other health organizations maintain that the chemical is safe. One such organization is the Environmental Protection Agency.

Additionally, individuals say that they developed cancer after being exposed to glyphosate-containing weed killers for many years. PBS News Hour notes that the University of Washington conducted a review finding that agricultural workers who used glyphosate extensively were 41 percent more likely to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma during their lifetime than those who used it not at all or used it infrequently.

How does glyphosate make its way into foods?

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) trace amounts of glyphosate may be found in or on come crops after harvesting.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has established “tolerances” for glyphosate on food including corn, soybeans, oilseeds, grains, and some fruits and vegetables. In order for the EPA and FDA to deem a food safe for consumption, foods can only have between 0.1 to 310 parts per million (ppm) of glyphosate.

What foods are high in glyphosate?

Glyphosate has been found at high levels in various grain products including granola and oats. According to research conducted by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), a variety of breakfast foods may be high in glyphosate.

Testing by the EWG was conducted by Anresco Laboratories in San Francisco. Ten samples of different General Mill’s Cheerios were tested along with 18 samples of Quaker brand products. Many of the samples showed that there were significant amounts of glyphosate in the grain products.

The EWG sets the glyphosate children health benchmark at 160 parts per billion (ppb) or 1.6 ppm. This is significantly lower than the higher end of the EPA’s glyphosate limits, but it is the level that the EWG believes glyphosate should be kept under in order to keep children safe.

Of the 28 samples tested, the lowest amount of glyphosate was found in Quaker Instant Oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice which showed between 45 and 128 ppb of glyphosate. The highest amount of glyphosate was found in Quaker Oatmeal Squares Honey Nut, showed a shocking 2837 ppb of glyphosate – nearly 18 times the EWG benchmark.

“How many bowls of cereal and oatmeal have American kids eaten that came with a dose of weed killer? That’s a question only General Mills, PepsiCo and other food companies can answer,” said EWG President Ken Cook.

“But if those companies would just switch to oats that aren’t sprayed with glyphosate, parents wouldn’t have to wonder if their kids’ breakfasts contained a chemical linked to cancer. Glyphosate and other cancer-causing chemicals simply don’t belong in children’s food, period.”

Customers have already filed lawsuits against cereal for allegedly exposing customers to glyphosate in their cereals. Some customers say that the companies knew or should have known that glyphosate was present in their foods, and knew or should have known that the chemical may pose a danger to humans.

Allegedly, customers’ health was put at risk by the cereals and by the fact the companies did not warn the public that the products could contain glyphosate. One such lawsuit was filed against General Mills over glyphosate allegedly in Cheerios.

What are the side effects of glyphosate exposure?

According to the National Pesticide Information Center, short term side effects of glyphosate exposure may include irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat. Swallowing glyphosate may cause increased saliva, mouth and throat burns, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Long term, there is some concern about whether or not glyphosate may cause cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen but other groups like the EPA argue that the chemical is safe.

How can you avoid glyphosate exposure?

Avoiding glyphosate exposure when possible may reduce your risk of experiencing harmful side effects associated with the chemical.

One way to reduce exposure to glyphosate through food products is to look for products that are labeled with the USDA Organic symbol. In order to be certified as USDA Organic, food producers must meet several requirements, including a commitment not to spray foods or ingredients with artificial chemical pesticides such as glyphosate.

Avoiding foods that do not have a USDA Organic certification may reduce your exposure to glyphosate. However, due to the widespread usage of the chemical, glyphosate may still come into contact with crops that have not been directly sprayed with it.

While many consumers believe that products that have been labeled simply “organic” are safe, these products may legally contain up to 5 percent of non-organic ingredients. Foods that are labeled “100 percent organic” are held to a higher standard and should not have been sprayed with potentially hazardous chemicals.

Consumers may also be able to research whether their favorite food products have been tested for glyphosate contamination by FDA-registered labs. Programs such as the Detox Project perform tests on common food products in order to determine whether they contain glyphosate or other chemicals.

By being aware of what they are eating, consumers may be able to reduce their exposure to glyphosate and other potentially dangerous chemicals. While some glyphosate exposure is unavoidable, reducing your exposure when possible may be beneficial.