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Glyphosate is a popular weed control agent. Its use has long been criticized by farmers, environmentalists and consumer organizations. In their opinion, it is carcinogenic. In turn, American and European food-related organizations consider it safe. It can be found in many food products, especially groats.
- Glyphosate is a potentially carcinogenic agent, according to the World Health Organization and the International Agency for Research on Cancer
- It is safe to use glyphosate-based products as prescribed, food organizations say
- EU countries are assessing the potential harmfulness of this measure. The license to use it will expire next year
- Glyphosate is present in many foods. Its acceptable standards are exceeded in buckwheat and millet groats available in Polish stores
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Glyphosate – what is it?
Glyphosate is an organic compound from the phosphonate group, usually used in the form of an ammonium or sodium salt as the active ingredient in herbicides. Its action blocks the synthesis of amino acids necessary for plant development.
Glyphosate is used as a weed control agent, especially in genetically modified crops that have a gene resistant to it. It is also used to dry crops just before harvesting.
Glyphosate was introduced to the market in 1974 by Monsanto as an ingredient in the Roundup herbicide. Monsanto was taken over by the German Bayer concern in 2016, but the glyphosate patent has expired and is used by many manufacturers.
Farmers and environmentalists are protesting against the use of glyphosate, claiming that it damages crops and is carcinogenic.
Glyphosate causes cancer?
The first suspicions that glyphosate could cause cancer officially appeared in 1985. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) classified the drug as potentially carcinogenic.
Since then, a great deal of research has been done on glyphosate, and it is even described as “the most studied substance in the world”. Seven years ago, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment analyzed over XNUMX studies related to this measure. The conclusions emphasized that there is no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer, impaired fertility or damage to the fetus. A similar position was presented by the European Food Safety Authority.
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However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer in 2015 classified glyphosate as a substance possibly carcinogenic. She found limited evidence of increasing the risk of developing non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
The word “probably” is key here. Makes it difficult to make any unambiguous assessment.
The World Health Organization also describes it as a “possibly carcinogenic” substance. However, last year, the US Environmental Protection Agency gave a positive opinion about this measure, and once again the European Food Safety Authority did it. In their opinion, the product is safe “provided that it is used as directed”.
Glyphosate – what is the position of Poland?
A few weeks ago, a group of Polish deputies addressed an interpellation to the Minister of Health on the use of glyphosate in agriculture.
The answer was given by Deputy Health Minister Waldemar Kraska, referring to the analyzes of the National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene
«The use of plant protection products containing this substance, in accordance with the label-instructions for use, is, in the light of current knowledge, safe for both consumers and operators performing agrochemical treatments and field workers (while maintaining certain personal protective equipment), as well as residents and bystanders.
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The scientific basis for the above decision was the opinions of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), which were accompanied by a multi-stage process of consultation and review by recognized institutions of the Member States. The use of plant protection products inconsistently with the label-instructions for use constituting an appendix to the authorization of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for placing the product on the market should not take place, while the supervision of the correct use of these products is within the competence of the inspections subordinate to the Ministry of Agriculture.
The existence of the smallest (but justified and proven) premises indicating the potential harmful effect of active substances (including glyphosate) disqualifies the possibility of using such a substance as a component of plant protection products. In addition, EFSA, after in-depth analysis of the results of many toxicological studies, concluded that there is no evidence that glyphosate is carcinogenic for humans, ”wrote the minister.
Glyphosate in the European Union
While more and more countries have doubts about the safety of glyphosate, the EU is renewing its licenses in the Member States. The current one expires at the end of next course.
In December 2019, another procedure for analyzing this measure was launched, the report is expected to appear this month. It will be presented by four countries (France, the Netherlands, Sweden and Hungary) forming the Glyphosate Assessment Group. The report will then be discussed by experts from all other EU Member States. The entire supervision is carried out by EFSA.
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The end result will be a European Commission proposal to authorize the continued use of glyphosate in the EU. The vote will be held within the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed.
Regardless of the most recent evaluation of glyphosate, Germany is the first country to ban its use. From 2020, it cannot be used in city parks and home gardens, and from 2024 it is to be banned completely.
Glyphosate in buckwheat and millet
In February, a report by the Consumer Foundation and the Institute of Civic Affairs was published on the content of glyphosate in buckwheat groats available in Polish stores. This is another test of the quality of these products. Buckwheat groats produced by 10 companies were examined: Ekowital, NaturAvena, Auchan, Carrefour, Kupiec, Melvit, Janex, Cenos, Kuchnia Lidl and Sonko.
Glyphosate was found in three of these products. These were “Sonko – roasted buckwheat”, “Lidl’s cuisine – buckwheat” and “Cenos – white buckwheat”, where in the first of these concentrations exceeded the maximum permissible level of this measure.
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– Under no circumstances should the consumer find a product in which the standards permitted by law are exceeded, i.e. a product potentially threatening his health. At the same time, it is pleasing that among the surveyed groats there are “pure” products. We want consumers not to be afraid to eat groats – said Paweł Rokicki, president of the Consumer Foundation.
Millet is also not glyphosate free. A March report by the Consumer Foundation and the Institute of Civil Affairs found that the agent was found in three out of 10 tested products. This time it was about Janex, Sante and Sonko. This is quite a progress compared to last year. In May 2020, a report by FoodRentgen and the Consumer Foundation found that the standards were exceeded in six out of 10 tested products of various companies.
In November last year, information appeared that too much of this agent was found in the packaging of Melvit millet offered in the Selgros chain of stores.
Glyphosate – where else can you find it?
Glyphosate can be found in many foods – bread, cookies, cereals, cereal bars, muesli. Theoretically, this agent can appear in any product containing wheat, corn, soybeans or oats.
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Glyphosate can also be found in the meat of animals that are fed with glyphosate-containing products, as well as in poultry and eggs.
It may also be present in products containing cotton. I am talking about, among others cotton swabs, tampons, sanitary napkins, liners or handkerchiefs.
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