On August 15, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) published an article which identified glyphosate levels in organic and non-organic products. The article was developed as a result of the lawsuit against Monsanto by a school groundskeeper dying of cancer due to continuous exposure to their herbicides, which contain the chemical.
The EWG tested 45 conventional samples and 16 organic samples of oat-based products. Of the 45 conventional samples, glyphosate was detected in 43, but only 5 were shown to have the chemical in the organic category. The EWG recommends 0.01 milligrams as a safe threshold, and none of the organics tested went above that threshold. The EPA designated safe threshold is 70 milligrams.
While not a newly-found problem, the unfortunate reality is that this exposure is unavoidable. Although organic producers are not permitted to use such chemicals on their crops, exposure can occur through transfer in the air or water, something producers cannot control.
Even with this information, organic is still the best option for families looking to limit their risk and exposure to this chemical.
So what can you do?
While being careful to avoid these chemicals is important, you can also regularly detoxify your body to aid in the removal of the glyphosate you have been exposed to. Depending on how you choose to detoxify, it can be done daily or on another regular basis, such as monthly or seasonal.