Once again, residues of the herbicide glyphosate have been found in commonly consumed foods. A new report produced by Food Democracy Now and the Detox Project found “extremely high levels” of glyphosate residues in popular foods, from Cheerios and Ritz Crackers to Kashi cookies. According to the report, glyphosate, the main ingredient in Monsanto‘s Roundup, “is the most heavily used chemical weedkiller in food and agricultural production in human history.”
San Francisco laboratory Anresco tested 29 foods for glyphosate at the request of Food Democracy Now and Detox Project. In the report, the two organizations detail new evidence revealing humans could be harmed with glyphosate levels above 0.1 parts per billion (ppb). Anresco testing meanwhile found foods contained far greater amounts of the herbicide than considered safe. Cheerios contained a whopping 1,125.3 ppb, Ritz Crackers contained 270.24 ppb, and Kashi soft-baked oatmeal dark chocolate cookies contained 275.57 ppb. Other foods tested include Wheaties, Oreo cookies, Goldfish, Lay’s potato chips, Whole Foods 365 crackers, and Annie’s cookies, among several other brands (you can see a full list on pages eight and nine of the report here).
Related: Are you eating Monsanto weed killer for breakfast?
According to the report, the acceptable daily intake (ADI) for glyphosate allowed by the United States is much higher than levels set in other countries. For example, the European Union sets ADI at 0.3 milligrams per kilogram of bodyweight per day (mg/kg/bw/day). But ADI in the U.S. is 1.75 mg/kg/bw/day.
Meanwhile, Monsanto still claims glyphosate residue levels in food are small enough that they won’t harm humans. The company garners $5 billion yearly from selling glyphosate products. The Environmental Protection Agency says glyphosate is used during production of around 70 crops.
The report states Food Democracy Now is “calling for a federal investigation into the likely harmful effects of glyphosate on human health and the environment and is also seeking an investigation into the relationships between the regulators and the regulated industries, which has resulted in the public being exposed to levels of glyphosate which scientific studies show can be damaging to human health.”
Images via Y’amal on Flickr and Chafer Machinery on Flickr
