Glyphosate: The Pesky Pesticide Hidden in Our Food

September 22, 2021

Did you know the main ingredient to a popular weed killer can be found in everyday food items?

Unfortunately, it’s true.

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide sold under the common trade name Roundup and is used by landscapers and farmers to kill weeds and grasses.

Startling enough, traces of the lawn care chemical can be found in our fruits, veggies, eggs, bread, and other common foods, even including the water we drink.

Could it get worse?

It does.

Glyphosate has been labeled as a probable carcinogen by the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer. Several lawsuits against products like Roundup have popped up over the last few years for being the cause of cancer.

But how does it all link to cancer?

There is some suggestion that the chemical is an endocrine disruptor in humans, meaning that it adversely affects hormone balance. At very high levels (not representative of normal exposure through food consumption) glyphosate has been found to induce breast cancer in human cells in vitro via estrogenic activity.

So how is it legal for foods to have glyphosate?

The FDA states that “certain trace amounts of pesticides, or pesticide chemical residues, may remain in or on some crops after they’re harvested. The FDA’s role is to ensure that pesticide chemical residues on or in domestic and imported foods do not exceed the limits established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),”

So is there a way to avoid glyphosate?

The best way to try to avoid glyphosate is to choose organic foods and beverages. Organic crops are not allowed to be treated with glyphosate, so any presence of the chemical is incidental and likely to be much lower than in crops treated intentionally. By buying organic, you reduce the likelihood of glyphosate contamination and you also support decreased use of these agricultural chemicals overall.

It’s no surprise that organic foods typically cost more, however, it’s worth it to protect yourself from the lasting effects of glyphosate. Foods that were often found with glyphosate include rice, wheat, soy and corn.

A few tips to avoid glyphosate are:

  • Check labels on foods and drinks
  • Grow your own fruits and veggies
  • Avoid using weed killer around your home
  • Dine at organic restaurants

In the next few months, Integrative Wellness will be opening up Clean Juice, an eatery that will offer USDA certified organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls and other healthy food options. The shop will be located in Bridgeport, WV and will be the first Clean Juice in the Mountain State.

For more information on how to avoid glyphosate or the opening of Clean Juice, reach out to Integrative Wellness at 304-808-6985.

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