Glyphosate is one of the most commonly used herbicides in the United States from crop production to at-home lawn care. The most well-known source of glyphosate is Roundup, a common trade name herbicide formulation by Bayer/Monsanto. Residues of this chemical have been found in consumer foods such as bagels, honey, flour, and infant formula.
10 Tips for Reducing Your Glyphosate Exposure
FOOD:
- Buy organic food whenever possible. Or prioritize purchasing organic for the most heavily sprayed crops such as berries (and many other fruits with peels that we consume), leafy greens, potatoes, and celery.
- When eating conventionally grown fruits and vegetables, wash them thoroughly. Peel skins off conventional fruit and veggies.
- Local is better. Look for food grown in the U.S., as some countries permit the use of pesticides and herbicides even more toxic than glyphosate. Better yet, get to know your local farmer. Your food will be fresher, last longer, and you can get to know who grows your food and how.
- Cook at home as often as you can. This allows you more control over what goes on your plate and into your body. It will save you money too!
TEXTILES + HOME GOODS:
- Look for organic: When purchasing clothing, home goods, or textiles made from cotton, look for organic cotton if possible as it will not be sprayed with toxic pesticides and herbicides.
- Look for the MADE SAFE seal or GOTS certification on clothing and textiles.
HOME LAWN CARE:
- While glyphosate is well-known for its use in conventional farming practices, it is also utilized in many homes as a backyard weed-killer. Consider finding alternative ways to care for your lawn and skip the pesticides and herbicides.
- Skip professional chemical lawn treatments, as they can contain high-risk pesticides and herbicides like glyphosate. If you prefer a professional service, look for a company that does not use high-risk pesticides and herbicides and uses environmentally-friendly practices.
- Choose grasses that are native to your area. Because a grass species has adapted to your geographical area, it might require less maintenance than other varieties of grass. Start by looking for resources, like this one for example, that help you determine grasses that are native and will thrive where you live.
- Touching back on our tip about searching out local produce, you can’t get much more local than your own backyard! Consider turning a portion of that hard-to-manage lawn into a garden where you can grow your own food and control what you spray (or don’t spray) on it.
Why Reduce Your Exposure to Glyphosate?
Potential carcinogen – The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that glyphosate is a probable carcinogen. U.S. EPA also determined that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic” in the mid-1980s. However, this determination was amended in the early 1990s; EPA now claims that there is “no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer.” Investigations into this change in tune allege that the producers of glyphosate manipulated scientific literature, journalists, media, researchers, and data. Glyphosate producer Bayer/Monsanto currently faces over 18,000 lawsuits filed by individuals suing over allegations that Roundup has caused non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Harmful to endangered species – EPA recently released a draft biological evaluation determining that glyphosate is likely harmful to endangered plants and animals. They found that 1,676 endangered species are at risk of injury or death by the widespread use of this chemical.
These are just a few ideas of ways you can help reduce your glyphosate exposure in your day-to-day life. While it may seem overwhelming to commit all of this information to practice, bringing down your body’s total load of harmful chemicals may play an important role in maintaining health. Try picking out one or two tips to incorporate into your life and go from there.