A trend that I have been thinking about for several years is now finally starting to gain some traction: glyphosate-free certification.
For those unfamiliar with glyphosate, here are a few, not-so-fun facts:
• Glyphosate is the primary ingredient in Monsanto’s RoundUp, the company’s multi-billion dollar herbicide.
• On an annual basis, approximately 250 million pounds are used in the U.S. and 1.65 billion pounds are used globally.
• The World Health Organization said that glyphosate is a “probable human carcinogen,” which means that it probably causes cancer.
• Tests have shown that 93% of Americans have glyphosate in their bodies at an average level of 3.096 parts per billion (PPB). In contrast, Europeans have 1 PPB.
• In an excellent report by Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project, it was shown the many, many popular foods had very high levels of glyphosate. The report, which gives information on allowable levels for certain foods, also said that new scientific evidence shows that probable harm to human health could begin at ultra-low levels of glyphosate, 0.1 parts per billions.
Given all of this information, it only seems logical that organic food companies would want their customers to know that their products are not tainted with this highly toxic chemical. Heavenly Organics became the first organic honey to be awarded Glyphosate Free Certified by BioChecked, which requires a zero tolerance threshold for glyphosate.
“We hope this partnership with BioChecked brings even more awareness to the use of pesticides and how they are having a negative impact on human health, the environment, and bee colonies worldwide,” said Amit Hooda, Co-Founder and CEO of Heavenly Organics.
The logical question that other organic food companies may be asking themselves is whether they should pursue this certification as well. And here is where it gets complicated.
As per by Food Democracy Now! and The Detox Project’s report, even organic brands are contaminated with glyphosate, despite the fact that this chemical is prohibited in organic regulations.
With glyphosate-free certification only going to grow in popularity, organic food companies should be having internal discussions as to how they want to proceed with this matter.
Two final points:
1) Sometime within the next few weeks, another organization will be announcing its own glyphosate certification program. From what I am hearing, this entity will be launching with very significant support from key players in the organic industry.
More to come on this soon, as I will be speaking with this organization’s CEO tomorrow.
2) The fact that our food supply is so tainted with this toxic chemical should create alarm among our politicians. But it isn’t.
As I shared with you recently here, there are allegations that the EPA is trying to protect glyphosate (Monsanto), all to the detriment of the health of the American people.
With the Trump Administration wanting to cut the EPA budget by 24%, it is unrealistic to think that a crackdown will come from our government any time soon.
Therefore, the fight against glyphosate may need to come from consumers and be market-driven. Stay tuned.
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Have a fantastic day! 
Max Goldberg, Founder |
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