Glyphosate in Food: Complete List of Products and Brands Filled with Popular Cancer-Causing Weed-Killer

Just after the first successful trial in taking down Monsanto, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published a haunting report on the levels of glyphosate in food. According to the independent laboratory tests commissioned by the EWG, popular oat cereals, oatmeal, granola and snack bars come with a heavy dose of the cancer-causing weedkiller, Roundup.

Why Should We Care About Glyphosate in Food?

Glyphosate is the main ingredient found in the popular weed-killer Roundup. Back in 2015, a famous study published by the International Agency for Research of Cancer (IARC) came to the conclusion that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans (1).”

The link between glyphosate and Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is particularly strong. One study, published in 2008 by Swedish researchers, found that exposure to glyphosate tripled the risk of a subtype of non-Hodgkin called small lymphocytic lymphoma (2).

Another study published in 2003 showed a suggestive link between glyphosate-based herbicide use and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The more pesticides a subject used, the more non-Hodgkin lymphoma incidences increased. Subjects who used five or more of the nine pesticides were “twice as likely to be NHL cases than controls (3).”

Aside from cancer, glyphosate has been associated with a host of health issues, like kidney disease (3), reproductive problems (4), liver damage (5) and birth defects (6).

Glyphosate also interferes with the ability of a plant to uptake nutrients from the soil. Glyphosate, which is a patented chelating agent, binds with nutrients in the soil, and prevents plants from absorbing them. It also acts as an antibiotic (7), which can kill bacteria both in the soil, and our own guts (both of which are incredibly important for plant and human health).

Regardless of the evidence, Monsanto still states that “Glyphosate has a 40-year history of safe and effective use. In evaluations spanning those four decades, the overwhelming conclusion of experts worldwide, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has been that glyphosate can be used safely.” Despite the lawsuit, it seems Monsanto is still in denial.

Products and Brands Filled with Glyphosate

Aside from the EWG report on glyphosate in food, other companies have also done independent testing for glyphosate residues in everyday food products. In 2016, Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project commissioned tests that found high levels of glyphosate in many American foods – even products that are certified organic or non-GMO.

Below is a complete list of foods that contain glyphosate residues. I’ve combined data from both the report EWG released, as well as the reports released from Food Democracy Now! and the group’s “Detox Project.”

EWG Report (source):

• Granola

– Cheerios Toasted Whole Grain Oat Cereal

– KIND Oats & Honey with Toasted Coconut

– Quaker Steel Cut Oats

– Quaker Old Fashioned Oats

– Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oats

– Nature’s Path Organic Old Fashioned Organic Oats

– Whole Foods Bulk Bin conventional rolled oats

– Bob’s Red Mill Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats (4 samples tested)

EWG Second Report (source):

– Quaker Simply Granola Oats

– Quaker Instant Oatmeal Cinnamon & Spice

– Quaker Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon

– Quaker Real Medleys Super Grains Banana Walnut

– Quaker Overnight Oats Raisin Walnut & Honey Heaven

– Quaker Overnight Oats Unsweetened with Chia Seeds

– Quaker Oatmeal Squares Brown Sugar

– Quaker Oatmeal Squares Honey Nut

– Apple Cinnamon Cheerios

– Very Berry Cheerios

– Chocolate Cheerios

– Frosted Cheerios

– Fruity Cheerios

– Honey Nut Cheerios

– Cheerios Oat Crunch Cinnamon

– Quaker Chewy S’mores

– Quaker Chewy Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip

– Quaker Breakfast Squares Soft Baked Bars Peanut Butter

– Quaker Breakfast Flats Crispy Snack Bars Cranberry Almond

Moms Across America (source):

– Tropicana Orange Juice

– Minute Maid Orange Juice

– Stater Bros Orange Juice

– Signature Farms Orange Juice

– Kirkland Orange Juice

Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project (source):

– Original Cheerios

– Honey Nut Cheerios

– Wheaties

– Trix

– Annie’s Gluten Free Bunny Cookies Cocoa & Vanilla

– Kellog’s Corn Flakes

– Kellog’s Raisin Bran

– Kashi Organic Promise

– Kellog’s Special K

– Kellog’s Frosted Flakes

– Cheez-It Original

– Cheez-It Whole Grain

– Kashi Soft Bake Cookies, Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate

– Ritz Crackers

– Triscuit Crackers

– Oreo Original

– Oreo Double Stuf Chocolate Sandwich Cookies

– Oreo Double Stuf Golden Sandwich Cookies

– Stacy’s Simply Naked Pita Chips (Frito-Lay)

– Lay’s: Kettle Cooked Original

– Doritos: Cool Ranch

– Fritos (Original) (100% Whole Grain)

– Goldfish crackers original (Pepperidge Farm)

– Goldfish crackers colors

– Goldfish crackers Whole Grain

– Little Debbie Oatmeal Cream Pies

– Oatmeal Cookies Gluten Free

– 365 Organic Golden Round Crackers

– Back to Nature Crispy Cheddar Crackers

Other Brands/Products and Miscellaneous:

– Ben & Jerry’s Ice Creams (source)

– Tampons (source)

– Non-organic cotton clothing products (source)

– Rainwater (source)

– Groundwater supplies (source)

How To Steer Clear of Glyphosate in Foods

Glyphosate contamination cannot be removed by washing (it is absorbed into the plant while it’s growing). It also is not broken down by cooking or baking.

In order to avoid glyphosate in food, follow the pointers below:

1. Always Look for Non-GMO Project Verified

If you’re purchasing a processed food item (that is, something boxed, bagged or canned), you can make sure it doesn’t contain GMO ingredients by looking for the Non-GMO Project Verified symbol (see below).

2. Certified Organic is Better Than Non-Organic

By purchasing certified organic foods, you’ll be rest assured that your food doesn’t contain any glyphosate-containing chemicals. Unfortunately, glyphosate use is so rampant, that some organic foods may contain small amounts of glyphosate residues (say, from neighboring crops). The good news is that organic foods contain much lower levels of glyphosate compared to their conventional counterparts.

3. Look for Glyphosate Residue Free Labels

The Detox Project, a research and certification platform that uses an FDA-registered food-testing lab to test for toxic chemicals launched their own “Glyphosate Residue Free” label. This label offers more transparency and assures the purchaser that they’re not getting any glyphosate in the food they’re buying. While these labels aren’t mainstream, the Detox Project is working with food manufacturers and grocery chains to get this label on more products.