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Earlier last year, the Organic Consumer’s Association reported that they found traces of glyphosate in 10 out of 11 samples of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Months later, a survey conducted by Health Research Institute Laboratories confirmed that Ben & Jerry’s products sold in Europe were also contaminated.
Because Ben & Jerry’s suffered some major backlash after the news went public, they’re working to pinpoint the root of the contamination, as well as launch an organic line of ice cream as soon as possible.
Unfortunately Ben & Jerry’s ice cream certainly isn’t the first food that’s been contaminated with glyphosate. Given the prevalence of glyphosate within our environment, it’s not so surprising that traces of this popular herbicide have been found in our food supply.
Traces of it have even been detected in certified organic food, leaving concerned consumers frustrated and confused about what they should or shouldn’t be eating or feeding their families. Overall, the safety of glyphosate has been widely debated, though there is some evidence of it being carcinogenic and potentially having a negative effect on our health.
The following provides an example of the amount of glyphosate found in popular foods:
– General Mills products:
o Original Cheerios: 1125.3 ppb
o Honey Nut Cheerios: 670.2 ppb
o Wheaties: 31.2 ppb
o Trix: 9.9 ppb
o Annie’s cookies: 55.13 ppb
– Kellogg’s products:
o Cornflakes: 78.9 ppb
o Raisin Bran: 82.9 ppb
o Organic Promise: 24.9 ppb
o Special K: 74.6 ppb
o Frosted Flakes: 72.8 ppb
o Original Cheez-It: 24.6 ppb
o Whole grain Cheez-It: 36.25 ppb
o Kashi cookies: 275.58 ppb
– Nabisco products:
o Ritz crackers: 270.24 ppb
o Triscuit: 89.68 ppb
o Original Oreo: 289.47 ppb
o Oreo Double Stuf Chocolate: 140.90 ppb
o Oreo Double Stuf Golden: 215.40 ppb
– PepsiCo products:
o Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips: 812.53 ppb
o Lay’s Kettle Cooked chips: 452.71 ppb
o Doritos Cool Ranch: 481.27 ppb
o Original Fritos: 174.71 ppb
– Campbell Soup Company products:
o Goldfish crackers original: 18.40 ppb
o Goldfish crackers colors: 8.02 ppb
o Goldfish crackers whole grain: 24.58 ppb
– Other products:
o Little Debbie’s Oatmeal Crème Pies: 264.28 ppb
o Lucy’s gluten-free Oatmeal Cookies: 452.44 ppb
o Whole Foods 365 Organic Golden Round Crackers: 119.12 ppb
o Back to Nature Crispy Cheddar Crackers: 372.22 ppb
To put those levels into perspective, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) limit in the United States is set at 1.75 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight per day (written as 1.75 mg/kg bw/day), versus a more conservative 0.3 mg/kg bw/day in the European Union.
Regardless of the acceptable daily intake standards set by the government, there’s evidence that very low levels, perhaps as low as 0.1 parts per billions (ppb) may be enough to have a negative impact on our health.
To learn more, I urge you to take a look at this report by Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project, titled “Glyphosate: Unsafe on Any Plate, Food Testing Results And Scientific Reasons For Concern.”
Though traces of glyphosate have been detected in both organic and conventional food, testing has determined that people eating a predominately conventional diet have a significantly higher concentration of glyphosate in their bodies compared to those who eat predominately organic.
To my knowledge, there is no way to avoid glyphosate entirely, as it has even been found in rain and air samples in the US. However, limiting your exposure is an option.
Healthy Traditions and their sister company Grass-Fed Traditions tests every food they carry for glyphosate contamination so you can ensure you’re getting the safest products available. Until other companies begin doing the same, they’ll continue to be my go-to for much of the food I purchase!
What are your thoughts on all of the findings mentioned in this article? Are you concerned about glyphosate in your food or have you taken any steps to try to limit your exposure to it? Why or why not? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
♡Sasprig♡ 