TL;DR: Glyphosate—the world's most widely used herbicide—has infiltrated our food, water, and bodies. Classified as a probable carcinogen by the WHO, it's been linked to hormonal disruption and gut microbiome damage. Choosing certified organic food is the most effective way to avoid glyphosate exposure and support farmers growing food without toxic chemicals.
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The Invisible Threat
You can't see it, smell it, or taste it but glyphosate has made its way into almost everything we eat.
It's in bread. In oats. In legumes. In cooking oils. In snack foods. Even in products marketed as "natural" or "healthy."
And unless you're actively choosing certified organic food, there's a very high chance you're consuming it regularly without knowing.
How We Got Here
Glyphosate was first introduced in the 1970s as a weedkiller under the brand name Roundup. It was marketed as highly effective and relatively low risk, and it quickly became one of the most widely used agricultural chemicals in the world.
Initially, it was sprayed to clear fields before planting and to manage weeds between rows of crops. Farmers used it as a tool, not continuously, but strategically.
But over time, the application changed. Glyphosate started being used directly on food crops as a drying agent just before harvest. This practice, called desiccation, speeds up the harvest process by artificially drying out crops like wheat, oats, barley, and legumes. It's more efficient for farmers working within tight timelines, but it leaves glyphosate residues directly on the food we eat.
Then in the 1990s, something shifted dramatically: genetically modified (GMO) crops were introduced that had been engineered to survive being sprayed with glyphosate. These "Roundup Ready" crops meant entire fields could be blanketed with herbicide during the growing season without harming the crop itself.
That so-called innovation changed everything.
Since the introduction of GMO crops, glyphosate use has risen by more than 600%, making it the most widely used herbicide in human history.
The Scale of Contamination
Today, glyphosate is sprayed on roughly one third of the world's farmland, especially on GMO soy, corn, cotton, and canola. Because of that enormous volume, it has spread far beyond agricultural fields.
It's now been detected in:
- Rainwater
- Rivers and groundwater
- Soil samples from non GMO farms (through drift and contamination)
- Breast milk
- Human urine
- Common food products including breakfast cereals, bread, pasta, and snack bars
This is no longer just a farming issue. It's a public health crisis and an environmental catastrophe unfolding in slow motion.
What the Science Says
Health experts and independent researchers have been raising red flags for years.
In 2015, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, meaning it likely causes cancer in humans.
Since then, independent research has linked glyphosate exposure to:
- Hormonal disruption (particularly affecting reproductive health)
- Changes in gut microbiome composition (which affects digestion, immunity, and mental health)
- Increased risk of non Hodgkin lymphoma
- Potential impacts on fetal development
While regulatory bodies in some countries continue to claim glyphosate is "safe when used as directed," the trend in independent, non industry funded science points clearly toward caution. The evidence is mounting, and it's deeply concerning.
This Isn't About Blame
Here's what's important to understand: this isn't about blaming farmers.
Most farmers are working within a system that has been designed to prioritize efficiency, yield, and profit over long term health and environmental sustainability. Many have been told for decades that glyphosate is safe, and they're using it because it's what's available, affordable, and widely accepted within conventional agriculture.
But the tide is turning. Many farmers are already leading the way, choosing to grow food without relying on harsh chemicals, investing in soil health, adopting regenerative practices, and proving that another way is possible.
These farmers deserve our support. And the best way we can support them is by choosing the food they grow.
What Certified Organic Actually Means
One of the simplest and most effective ways to avoid glyphosate exposure is by choosing certified organic food.
Organic certification strictly prohibits the use of glyphosate and all other synthetic herbicides. Organic farmers cannot legally use these chemicals on their crops, and their farms are regularly audited to ensure compliance.
When you buy certified organic, you're getting:
- Food grown without glyphosate or other synthetic pesticides
- Produce that hasn't been treated with chemical drying agents before harvest
- Crops grown in soil that's managed for health and biodiversity, not just yield
- Support for farmers who are actively choosing a better way
At Organic Fix, everything we stock, from our fresh produce to our pantry staples is certified organic. That means no glyphosate, no hidden residues, no guesswork. Just clean, honest food grown in harmony with the soil and the people who tend it.
Where to Start
Reducing glyphosate exposure doesn't have to be overwhelming. You don't need to overhaul your entire pantry overnight or feel paralyzed by what you don't know.
Just start with the foods you eat most often:
- Your fruit and vegetables
- Your grains (bread, pasta, oats, rice)
- Your cooking oils
- Your snacks and pantry staples
Each organic choice you make reduces your exposure and sends a clear market signal… we want food grown without toxic chemicals. We value health over convenience. We support farmers who are doing things differently.
It Doesn't Have to Be on Your Plate
Glyphosate might be everywhere, in our water, our soil, our air. That's a reality we're collectively facing, and it will take systemic change to address fully.
But it doesn't have to be on your plate.
You have agency here. You can choose differently. You can support a food system that prioritizes health, transparency, and ecological integrity over short-term profit.
Every time you choose organic, you help shape a cleaner food future, one meal at a time.
Visit Organic Fix at 937 Main Road, Eltham and discover certified organic food that's completely free from glyphosate and synthetic chemicals. Your health and the planet will thank you.