Hazardous chemicals are found in many different snack foods, and have effects that you may not be aware of.

As you know, the specific chemical I’m referring to in this article is glyphosate.

Or more commonly known as Roundup.

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup and is a non-selective herbicide, which means it kills most plants it comes into contact with.

It does so by stopping the production of specific proteins plants need in order to grow.

This well known weed killer was introduced in 1974 by a company called Monsanto, but has since been acquired by Bayer.

You're probably questioning — “the pharmaceutical company..?”

Yes.

The pharmaceutical company acquired Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion dollars.

Ever wondered why food is genetically modified in the first place?

Well, besides making our food grow bigger, faster and taste sweeter, our produce is also altered to withstand this harmful herbicide.

That’s right, Monsanto also introduced patented and genetically modified crops, referred to as Roundup Ready.

These crops are altered to be able to outlive the substantial amount of glyphosate sprayed.

There is also a process called pre-harvest crop desiccation, where glyphosate is sprayed directly onto wheat and oats before they are harvested in an effort to dry them out faster.

Since being released in 1974, more than 3.5 BILLION pounds of glyphosate have been sprayed on crops in the US.

Glyphosate has seeped into our soil and made its way into our water supply.

Take a look at how glyphosate levels in humans have significantly increased.

Roundup is the most heavily used herbicide worldwide and because of this, glyphosate is now found in almost all processed foods, especially in foods containing: wheat, corn, oats, and soy.

And according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Roundup has been deemed as “safe for use”.

The EPA is responsible for protecting human health and the environment.

Despite the EPA’s claim, studies have shown glyphosate to be linked to, autism, reproductive effects, birth defects, neurological diseases and cancer.

Glyphosate has also been found in 99% of pregnant women according to this study and can been passed onto the fetus.

“Monsanto has settled over 100,000 Roundup lawsuits worth over $10 billion. Over 30,000 lawsuits are still pending.”

Glyphosate has been banned in 35 countries but continues to be used in the U.S.

“Additional countries are debating bans or restrictions of glyphosate. Germany implemented glyphosate legislation to end its use completely by 2024.”

So how can you avoid or at least limit your exposure to glyphosate?

The good news is many companies are now aware of the harm this herbicide causes and are working to provide glyphosate-free products.

Look for the glyphosate free symbol on your food.

If you do not see the glyphosate-free label, this database provided by The Detox Project allows you to search for certified glyphosate free products.

Check it out!