Article Does Your Food Contain Glyphosate?
March 01, 2016
Glypho-what? Glyphosate is the main active ingredient in Roundup, a common weed killer available for both household and commercial use. While other herbicides are topical and can be removed by thoroughly washing your produce, glyphosate penetrates the food on a cellular level, making it difficult to avoid eating it.
Why you should be concerned.
Scientists believe glyphosate has many harmful effects on individuals, including:
- Disruption of microbial functions in the body, especially beneficial bacteria that prevents the overgrowth of pathogens, which can lead to food allergies
- Disruption of enzyme activity, which is believed to enhance the damaging effects of other food-borne chemical residues and environmental toxin
- Alteration of nutritional content of crops leading to nutritional deficiencies
Which foods contain glyphosate?
Nearly one billion pounds of glyphosate are used in crops around the world every year, with genetically modified crops receiving the largest amounts. This is because they’ve been altered to withstand doses of herbicides that would kill normal crops. The use of glyphosate is also increasing over time due to resistant weeds.
Glyphosate residues are found in most processed foods because of their prevalence in genetically modified ingredients (especially in sugar beets, corn and soy) used in the manufacturing of these products.
How to protect your family.
You can protect your family from the effects of glyphosate by avoiding processed foods that contain genetically modified ingredients. Look for the Non-GMO Project verified logo. The Non-GMO Project is North America’s only independent body providing verification that products bearing its seal are made with best practices for GMO avoidance.