Roundup Ingredient (Glyphosate) is in Cheerios, Oreos and…

"Healthy" foods such as wheat, barley, oats, canola, flax, honey, corn, soy and legumes could be contaminated with the herbicide glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide product. Even products like Cheerios and Oreos are said to contain the weed-killing chemical. Monsanto and the EPA claim it’s perfectly safe in trace amounts, but some researchers believe it can cause serious health issues, including cancer.

Leaked documents show there could be more glyphosate in our food than previously believed, and part of this could come down to violations going unreported. 

Traces Everywhere

Roundup can be found in far more than GMO corn. Monsanto’s application guide encourages farmers to apply the herbicide to wheat, barley, oats, canola, flax and most legumes about a week before harvesting in order to kill off the remaining crop, dry it more uniformly and improve yield. On oats alone, U.S. farmers spray an estimated 100,000 pounds of the poison each year -- just to kill crops for easier harvesting. These grains end up in commercial cereals, baby foods, and baking ingredients.

A recently leaked email from FDA chemist, Richard Thompson, has raised questions about glyphosate testing and the actual levels in our foods. According to Thompson, a search for glyphosate-free foods in his own cupboards was grim: “I have brought wheat crackers, granola cereal, and corn meal from home and there’s a fair amount in all of them.”

Other sources have found higher than trace amounts of glyphosate in several brands of commercial honey, and the levels found in soybeans could be an even greater concern. One study found that glyphosate compounded the effects of soy estrogens in humans, increasing the risks associated with estrogen-dependent breast cancers.

Real Health Concerns

Authorities claim glyphosate is safe when used within EPA limits, but others have found regular exposure could cause numerous types of cancers. Other “inert” chemicals found in Roundup have also been proven toxic to humans, and one may even damage developing fetuses.

Another concern is the EPA’s definition of “acceptable” limits and whether Monsanto has too heavy a hand in its own safety regulations. In a recent letter to the FDA, California congressman, Ted W. Lieu, threw a spotlight on current testing and reporting practices. He mentioned corn that tested far above safety limits but was never reported anywhere because it was deemed an “unofficial” sample. How many other “unofficial” samples have been similarly buried? What else haven’t we been told about the presence of this chemical in our food? The answers don’t appear to be forthcoming.

Your body deserves to be well-nourished and poison-free, so be careful about what you put in it. Consider seeking out pesticide-free alternatives wherever you suspect glyphosate. Until more information comes to light, some of your favorite foods could be dangerous to your health. Why take the risk?

~ Here’s to Your Health and Wellness