If you buy organic foods and beverages, you should be technically safe from glyphosate exposure because the chemical is not allowed in organic farming. But it has recently been discovered in wine…even organic wine. The organic wine tested at a lower glyphosate rate, but the chemical was still present.
A 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from a conventional vineyard tested the highest at 18.7 parts per billion (ppb). The lowest was a 2013 Syrah, produced at an organic vineyard, at 0.659 ppb.
This finding is surprising because Roundup (Monsato’s weedkiller that contains glyphosate) isn’t even sprayed directly onto the grapevines. It is sprayed on the soil around the grapevines, but seeps into the plant through the roots. Even organic farms are not safe from the chemical because neighboring vineyards’ Roundup makes its way through the soil into the organic farms. It is also possible that glyphosate remains in the soil after a vineyard changes to organic.
If you’re more of a beer fan, the news isn’t much better. Glyphosate has been discovered in 14 German beers…all of which contained a higher level than the 0.1 microgram allowed in drinking water. No tests have been conducted on American beers, but it can be safe to assume the possibility of contamination. Germany is proud of producing the purest beers, and Monsanto is threatening that reputation.”‘In contrast to our colleagues abroad, German brewers don’t use artificial flavors, enzymes or preservatives,’ said Hans-Georg Eils, president of the German Brewers’ Federation.”
Research shows that glyphosate is a known carcinogen and has been found to cause cancer in rats (Dr. Anthony Samsel). Also, “chronic low-dose oral exposure to glyphosate is a disruption of the balance of gut microbes, leading to an over-representation of pathogens, a chronic inflammatory state in the gut and an impaired gut barrier.”
Others (Laura Kennedy, Risk Assessor) believe the levels discovered are too low to pose a risk. “The glyphosate concentrations are well below those considered to be safe by the European Union, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment and therefore do not represent a concern to human health.”
While this may be the case, another study revealed glyphosate is not the only culprit in the danger that Roundup poses. Certain inactive ingredients “can, and oftentimes do contribute to a product’s toxicity in a synergistic manner – even if they’re non-toxic in isolation.” These findings challenge the currently accepted safe daily intake of glyphosate.
While the jury is still out on the safety of ingesting glyphosate, the wise thing to do would be avoid it as much as you can. The best way to limit your intake of dangerous chemicals is to buy and eat organic as much as possible, invest in a water filtration system, and make fermented foods (like kimchi, which can help break down harmful chemicals in your body) a part of your regular diet.
