by HRS Editors
The uninformed shopper or non-prepper might not know that many food products are often contaminated with glyphosate, a potentially dangerous chemical found in certain weed killers used by farmers in the U.S.
This means that as a prepper, you should be careful when buying groceries for your family to protect them from this toxic chemical. Knowing more about glyphosate also ensures that your survival stockpile only contains foods that are free from contamination, such as organic fruits and vegetables. (h/t to ConsumerNotice.org)
Glyphosate is a chemical used in certain weed killers sprayed by farmers throughout the country. Alarming estimates suggest that more than 80 percent of Americans have already been exposed to glyphosate.
Glyphosate is the active chemical ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), and one of the most common is Roundup, a weed killer. The chemical was first introduced to the market in 1974, and initial toxicity testing findings resulted in the belief that all GBHs posed fairly low risks to humans and other species.
Because of those incorrect findings, regulatory agencies in many countries set high acceptable exposure limits. The volume of glyphosate applied to crops has increased exponentially since the late 1970s, in turn expanding Americans’ exposure to the chemical.
Many farmers use herbicides like Roundup because they are effective in combating weeds. Unfortunately, the use of GBHs means more people are exposed to glyphosate.
Within the last two decades, scientists have studied the impact of glyphosate toxicity. In 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that it had determined glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic.”
Note that even Bayer, the company that owns the Roundup brand, announced in 2021 that it would stop selling Roundup in the residential lawn and garden market in 2023. Bayer claimed that the risks to farmworkers and consumers from exposure to Roundup was the primary reason for the decision. (Related: Buyers beware: Turmeric products are often contaminated with lead.)
This announcement came only two years after Bayer was ordered to pay more than $80 million in damages to a man who claimed in a Roundup lawsuit that the product was the cause of his non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Glyphosate-contaminated products to avoid
These foods and food sources are commonly contaminated with glyphosate:
- Genetically modified (GMO) high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS)
- Cows fed GMO corn and soy
- GMO soy protein filler
- Potatoes desiccated with herbicide
- Wheat desiccated with Roundup
Scientists studying the prevalence of glyphosate in certain foods were shocked by the results. Researchers from the nonprofit organization Environmental Working Group (EWG) have reported that glyphosate was present in more than 95 percent of popular oat-based food samples.
A follow-up study showed that several cereals targeting children were some of the most glyphosate-contaminated food products. It measured the levels in parts per billion (ppb) and factored in a benchmark for children’s consumption of glyphosate of 160 ppb.
Some of the most glyphosate-contaminated products are:
- Honey Nut Cheerios Medley Crunch (833 ppb)
- Nature Valley Crunchy Granola Bars, Maple Brown Sugar (566 ppb)
- Nature Valley Granola Cups, Almond Butter (529 ppb)
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheerios (400 ppb)
- Multi Grain Cheerios (216 ppb)
- Fiber One Soft-Baked Cookies, Oatmeal Raisin (204 ppb)
How to protect your family from glyphosate-contaminated food
Every year, the EWG releases a list of the “Clean Fifteen,” which are the 15 fruits and vegetables with the lowest amounts of pesticide residues based on data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
Of this list, only less than 70 percent of the samples had zero detectable pesticide residues.
The 2022 Clean Fifteen are:
- Asparagus
- Avocados
- Cabbage
- Cantaloupe
- Honeydew melon
- Kiwi
- Mangoes
- Mushrooms
- Onions
- Papaya
- Pineapple
- Sweet corn
- Sweet peas (frozen)
- Sweet potatoes
- Watermelon
You can minimize your exposure to glyphosate and other pesticides by learning how to make more informed decisions about your diet.
Purchase organic products
Consuming organic produce is an effective way to avoid glyphosate because certified organic produce is grown without chemicals from any herbicides or pesticides. While eating organic foods is not a complete fix for this issue, it can still help significantly reduce exposure to glyphosate.
