Toxic Levels of Glyphosate, Pesticides, Low Mineral Content, and Even Gluten Found in Gluten-Free Products

Wow. I am so glad you did this article. So disappointing, yet so important for us all to be informed. I just recently have been eating grainfree, and feeling so much better from it. Yet the two product lines I have been eating most are banza and simple mills since they are grain free!! 
And how is toxic glyphosate even still allowed here in USA!  Banned in Europe yet here still legal? Unbelievable.

7 minutes ago, beegal said:

Wow. I am so glad you did this article. So disappointing, yet so important for us all to be informed. I just recently have been eating grainfree, and feeling so much better from it. Yet the two product lines I have been eating most are banza and simple mills since they are grain free!! 
And how is toxic glyphosate even still allowed here in USA!  Banned in Europe yet here still legal? Unbelievable.

 

Glyphosate accounts for 1/3 of herbicide use in Europe. A couple countries have banned it. 

@beegal be careful not to say anything bad about glyphosate here, as @Rose77 is clearly paid to be here to defend it! 😁 I've only run this site for 30 years this summer, so recognize a troll when I see one.

Austria has attempted to implement a ban, and other countries like Germany have announced plans to phase out its use. Some regions and municipalities within countries also have local bans or restrictions.

I suspect that when more widespread testing is done on foods that show that glyphosate has basically spread nearly everywhere in our food supply, that it will eventually be either heavily regulated, or banned--especially as more and more research comes out that shows that it is linked to more diseases--and I've already mentioned:

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): In 2015, the IARC, which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A). This classification was based on limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in animals, primarily linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

5 minutes ago, Scott Adams said:

@beegal be careful not to say anything bad about glyphosate here, as @Rose77 is clearly paid to be here to defend it! 😁 I've only run this site for 30 years this summer, so recognize a troll when I see one.

Austria has attempted to implement a ban, and other countries like Germany have announced plans to phase out its use. Some regions and municipalities within countries also have local bans or restrictions.

I suspect that when more widespread testing is done on foods that show that glyphosate has basically spread nearly everywhere in our food supply, that it will eventually be either heavily regulated, or banned--especially as more and more research comes out that shows that it is linked to more diseases--and I've already mentioned:

• International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): In 2015, the IARC, which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" (Group 2A). This classification was based on limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in animals, primarily linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Yeah, Big Glyphosate is paying me the big bucks to argue with you in the comments section of your website, Scott. I am not a troll, but I am challenging your lack of facts which clearly is hitting a nerve. Others in the celiac community are also talking about you and your spreading of disinformation. This kind of ‘study’ can negatively affect brands that are doing a service to the gluten-free community. 

If any company is concerned about bad publicity surrounding the levels of pesticides or herbicides detected in their products, then they need to consider switching to organic sources, otherwise they need to be prepared to deal with the fallout should any test results on their products be made public. 

Do you believe that Celiac.com should not report the findings from this fully accredited laboratory used by Moms Across America? Should we also ignore their gluten in gluten-free product findings, for example Trader Joe's Everything Bagels that tested at 269.8 ppm gluten, over 10x the FDA level allowed in gluten-free foods? 

I believe that it's Celiac.com's duty to report such findings to the broader celiac disease community and let them decide for themselves what they wish to do with the information, and that it is not Celiac.com's job to cherry pick through Moms Across America's study and only report part of their findings while ignoring others, or to completely ignore the entire study--and it sounds to me like you're advocating that Celiac.com should do the latter--pretend the study doesn't exist.

PS - Please define what "disinformation" you believe that we are sharing in this article.

I am sharing this response from Karl Rickett, who handles press relations on behalf of Banza

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Thanks for sharing that. I wanted to make sure you had the below facts for any future coverage since this is important context for readers to understand:

• The EPA’s limit for glyphosate in chickpea products is 8,000 parts per billion. Additionally, the MAA blog states the EU’s limit is 10 ppb when in fact the EU's limit is actually 10,000 ppb for chickpeas. The Banza product tested by MAA is well below both of those limits and is safe.
• The EPA and FDA have determined dietary exposure to glyphosate at these limits is safe for both adults and children
• There is also no connection between the use of glyphosate and celiac disease, as reported by Beyond Celiac and the Celiac Disease Foundation.
• There have been numerous scientific studies and government agencies that have proven that these trace amounts of glyphosate are completely safe.
  • The EPA, FDA, and larger scientific community have determined dietary exposure to glyphosate at these limits is safe and inconsequential for both adults and children. (EPA)
  • The European Food Safety Authority found no “areas of concern” for human, animal and environmental health from the use of glyphosate
  • The European Commission recently renewed their approval of glyphosate for another 10 years
  • The National Cancer Institute published a study that found no evidence linking glyphosate with cancer.

I just want to respond to Banza's official response above.

Unfortunately government agencies are often wrong in their assessments of such things like long-term risks associated with pesticides and herbicides, and they are often pushed by industry to allow their use without enough long-term scientific evidence that is necessary to gage their safety to humans, animals, insects, water, the environment, etc. Examples of many USA government regulatory failures are below, and each of these pesticides/herbicides were widely supported by scientists, farmers, politicians, etc., as safe, and many were used for decades before their dangers were discovered:

Pesticides and Herbicides Once Deemed Safe and Later Banned in the USA

• DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane)
  • Time Period: 1940s - 1972
  • Reason for Ban: Found to cause cancer and severe environmental harm, particularly to birds, leading to thinning eggshells.
• Chlordane
  • Time Period: 1948 - 1988
  • Reason for Ban: Linked to cancer, liver damage, and environmental persistence leading to long-term soil contamination.
• Heptachlor
  • Time Period: 1950s - 1988
  • Reason for Ban: Associated with cancer, neurological damage, and persistent environmental contamination.
• Aldrin and Dieldrin
  • Time Period: 1950s - 1987
  • Reason for Ban: Found to be highly toxic to humans and wildlife, causing cancer and adverse effects on the nervous system.
• Endrin
  • Time Period: 1950s - 1980
  • Reason for Ban: Extremely toxic to fish and wildlife, causing significant environmental damage and posing risks to human health.
• Toxaphene
  • Time Period: 1940s - 1982
  • Reason for Ban: Linked to cancer, liver damage, and persistent environmental contamination harmful to aquatic life.
• Mirex
  • Time Period: 1950s - 1978
  • Reason for Ban: Persistent environmental contaminant causing cancer and reproductive harm to animals.
• 2,4,5-T (Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid)
  • Time Period: 1940s - 1985
  • Reason for Ban: Contaminated with dioxin, a highly toxic compound causing cancer and other severe health issues.
• Ethylene Dibromide (EDB)
  • Time Period: 1940s - 1983
  • Reason for Ban: Found to be a potent carcinogen and groundwater contaminant.
• Pentachlorophenol (PCP)
  • Time Period: 1930s - 1987 (restricted use)
  • Reason for Ban: Linked to cancer, liver damage, and environmental contamination affecting wildlife.

There is growing evidence suggesting that glyphosate may harm bees, though the extent and mechanisms of this harm are still being studied. Research has indicated that glyphosate can disrupt the gut microbiome of bees. The gut microbiome is crucial for bee health, aiding in digestion and protecting against pathogens. When glyphosate interferes with these beneficial bacteria, it can make bees more susceptible to diseases and reduce their overall health. Some studies have suggested that glyphosate may affect the cognitive functions of bees, impairing their ability to navigate and forage. This could lead to decreased efficiency in finding food and returning to the hive, ultimately affecting the colony's survival. There is also concern that glyphosate may affect the development of bee larvae. Exposure to glyphosate during critical stages of development could potentially lead to developmental abnormalities or higher mortality rates.

Glyphosate could potentially meet the same fate as other banned pesticides and herbicides if future studies conclusively demonstrate significant health or environmental risks. The ongoing debates and lawsuits regarding its safety, coupled with the actions of some countries to ban or restrict its use, indicate that it is under significant scrutiny. Regulatory bodies like the EPA and the European Commission regularly review scientific data to assess the safety of such chemicals. If new evidence emerges linking glyphosate to severe health issues or environmental harm, it could lead to stricter regulations or bans.

Glyphosate can contaminate water supplies. Studies have shown that it can be detected in surface water, groundwater, and even drinking water, though typically at low concentrations. Its presence in water is primarily due to agricultural runoff and improper application practices. While the concentrations found in water supplies are generally below the safety limits set by regulatory agencies, the potential for contamination and the persistence of glyphosate and its degradation product, AMPA, in the environment remain concerns for both public health and ecosystems.

Thanks Scott. I was a little confused about what's going on in the EU. It does seem like they're gonna be revisiting some part of that in the Fall, but then it says they've renewed it 10 years. I think we probably need someone close to the situation to clarify that.

I am sharing Jovial Foods' response to our inquiry about the Moms Across America study:

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We were shocked to read the article on Celiac.com this morning and wanted to reach out personally as we have worked together in the past. We take these assertions very seriously and have done a thorough investigation.

Jovial President, Frank Bergin wanted to share the following information with you.

Jovial has tested packages of product retained from the same production lot in question. In multiple analyses at an independent third-party ISO 17025 certified lab:

• No gluten was detected above the lower limit of quantifiable detection of 5ppm.
• No pesticides were detected above the lower limit of quantifiable detection.
• No glyphosate was detected above the lower limit of quantifiable detection.

These recent additional tests match the testing that was done when the product was produced last year.

Jovial takes pride in producing all of its gluten free pasta in a dedicated gluten-free facility. We test all of our organic brown rice flour – the only ingredient besides water in the product – for the presence of gluten and pesticides, among other compounds, and reject any batches that do not pass those screening tests. And Jovial works with multiple third-party certifying organizations including GFCO, Project Detox, OK Kosher, and QAI to independently verify that our products are meeting or exceeding the stringently high standards of each one of those groups.

We were founded and continue to be owned and guided by a gluten-sensitive family who strive to produce the cleanest, safest products possible. We stand behind our products and the claims we make about them.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

Thank you,

Heidi
Senior Marketing Manager
Jovial Foods, Inc.

GIG posted the following on Facebook this morning, and to me it seems like an independent lab that works with the GFCO should be conducting all follow up testing on these products, rather than leaving each company to police themselves, as they have a vested interest in maintaining that their products are gluten-free according to FDA and GFCO standards:

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We have recently been made aware of concerns raised by Moms Across America (MAA) regarding the gluten content in several products certified gluten-free by our organization. Specifically, their report mentioned that three products contained gluten levels above the FDA allowable limit of 20 parts per million (ppm) and three additional products had levels above our stricter limit of 10 ppm.

Upon seeing this report, we promptly conducted a thorough investigation in partnership with the GFCO manufacturers who were named by Moms Across America, including a thorough evaluation of each clients' compliance records, as well as retesting the specific lots mentioned in the Moms Across America report. We asked the manufacturers to run multiple tests on their retained samples from the lots named in the MAA report, in order to help rule out the possibility of hot spots. All testing was performed at ISO 17025 accredited laboratories that have GFCO-approved test methods on their scope of accreditation.

So far, our testing has confirmed that four of the products, from the same lots, are indeed gluten-free and meet our certification standards.

Here are the results of our tests:

• MadeGood Soft Baked Double Chocolate Cookies Lot 1023 (erroneously labeled as “vanilla” in the MAA report): Six separate results of Less than 5 ppm of gluten
• Jovial Spaghetti Lot 3291: Six separate results of Less than 5 ppm of gluten
• Simple Mills Brownie Mix – Six separate results of Less than 5 ppm of gluten
• Simple Mills Almond Flour Crackers – Six separate results of Less than 5 ppm of gluten

** Reporting on one additional product is still pending.

We take these findings seriously and want to assure our consumers that we adhere to management system controls to reduce possible risks, as well as stringent testing protocols to verify the gluten-free status of certified products. Our testing requirements are robust and designed to ensure that all products meet our high standards for gluten-free certification.

We understand the concerns this report may have caused and appreciate your trust in our certification. We will update the community when the remaining results are available.

On 6/19/2024 at 3:20 PM, Scott Adams said:

I am sharing this response from Karl Rickett, who handles press relations on behalf of Banza

 

Oh look, Banza said the same thing I said. Guess we’re all being paid by Big Glyphosate.