Toxicity

Being an organic grocery of course we are interested in consuming foods that are not contaminated with herbicides and pesticides or GMOs. Glyphosate the main ingredient in “RoundUp” as more readily known is possibly the most commonly used herbicide we are familiar with. A weedkiller also is readily sprayed pre-harvest to act as a desiccant to help the process. It is popular! The use of glyphosate has increased significantly in recent decades and is more so due to genetic modification of crops since 1996. More studies have shown the rising level of glyphosate in our water and bodies. The full effects of which we will never fully know although the associated rises of many neurological conditions among others cannot be ignored. Independent research is always difficult to find.

Currently, glyphosate is approved in the EU until 15th December 2023 with an approval renewal process underway. However, there are strong opposition voices to this renewal with many concerns being expressed about the health risks associated such as non-Hodkin Lymphoma and serious eye damage.  Noted that glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans by the IARC in 2015 with subsequent significant lawsuits brought against Monsanto and Bayer yielding eye-watering sums of payouts in the USA yet reading the EU documentation you might be inclined to think it's relatively harmless!

Weedkiller is big business make no mistake and there is of course a strong lobby to keep it being used. 
Using organic food and care products is an active way to reduce your risk of increasing exposure.

Instead of waiting for research to allay your concerns you can become the case study of one. Make the switch and see how much better you will be! As a community, we need to have a vested interest in ourselves.

Anne Maher
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