A few weeks ago, Monsanto (makers of Roundup) was issued a guilty verdict along with a $289 million dollar fine following a jury’s decision that their weed killer product was responsible for creating one man’s cancer. Following the decision, another 800+ individuals are now also connecting their cancer to the use of this popular weed killer.

Another blow to the company came on August 15th as the environmental working group took it upon themselves to test common wheat and oat-based food products for the presence of RoundUp. 45 conventional (non-organic) and 16 organic wheat/oat-based foods were sampled. Glyphosate was detected in 95.55% (43) of the 45 conventional products and 31.25% (5) of the 16 organic products.

68.88% of the conventional products had amounts that exceeded the allowable health benchmark (160ppb) while 0% of the organic products exceeded the allowable limits.

Each year, more than 240 million pounds of glyphosate are sprayed on American crops. The majority of crops include corn and soybeans genetically engineered to withstand the herbicide, and these are used more for livestock feed and other food products (HFCS, corn starch, other sugars, and soy-based binding agents). When it comes to the food we eat directly, pre and post-harvest processing responsible majority contamination.

Glyphosate (Roundup) is sprayed on wheat, barley, oats, and beans that are not genetically engineered to withstand the product because Glyphosate kills the crop (preparing it for harvest), and also dries it out so that it can be harvested sooner than if the plant were allowed to die naturally. This is also done to prevent the crops from becoming suspect to mold and other organic pathogens.

The highest levels, greater than 1,000 ppb, were detected in two samples of Quaker Old Fashioned Oats. Three samples of Cheerios had glyphosate levels ranging from 470 ppb to 530 ppb. Some organic products also contained glyphosate including Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats and Nature’s Path Old Fashioned Oats. To see a full chart of cereals, oats, and snack bars affected by Glyphosate, read this article published by EWG.

How does glyphosate get into organic foods?

While an organic farm does not apply the product directly, it can be indirectly applied by nearby fields with conventionally grown crops or cross-contamination after harvest in a processing plant that produces both organic and non-organic products.

A quote from Nature’s Path’s website:
While organic farming certifications prohibit the use of glyphosate, organic products do not always end up completely free of glyphosate residue.

I realize this may come as a complete shock to you, and thank GOD the most recent lawsuit and jury decision has begun to wake America up to the dangers of this product. If it wasn’t for the EWG’s commitment to testing and e-porting the information in the figure to the right would not be available to the public!

My only concern is that you may not know about this. It certainly wasn’t broadcasted on mainstream news channels.

In 2016, the non-profit organization Food Democracy NOW conducted a similar test, analyzing glyphosate in samples of various popular foods finding levels as high as 1,000ppb. The Center for Environmental Health also conducted a test on 11 cereal brands (Quaker Oats, Gerber cereal, Honey Nut Cheerios, Market Pantry Oats, etc) with ranges of 300 to 2,000, and 100% of samples tested were positive.

How Concerned Should I Be?

Very!. The research into glyphosate exposure shows that these substances can alter and damage the delicate functions of our bodies’ natural hormones, DNA and mitochondria, making them part of a group of chemicals known as endocrine-disrupting chemicals, or EDCs as well as carcinogenic (cancer-causing).

What About Our Children?
I’m sure you would agree the bigger issue here is that the majority of consumers of these products are children. Because a child’s body is still developing, it’s more sensitive to exposure. Relative to their body size, children eat, drink and even breathe more than adults which also makes them vulnerable to a concentration effect. Bottom line – if you or your children are eating the above foods (or any wheat/oat/barley-based) – STOP IMMEDIATELY and implement an organic grainless diet and consider a “Roundup Detox” using CytoDetox – a zeolite oral suspension that not only removes glyphosate but also heavy metals and other organic and non-organic toxins.