Does Banza Use Pesticides? A Deep Dive Into Their Sourcing and Testing

December 6, 2025 •

4 min read

After a viral report in 2024 raised concerns about glyphosate, Banza has taken significant steps to ensure food transparency. The key question for many consumers remains: Does Banza use pesticides? The company is now CleanScan certified, ensuring rigorous testing for over 400 chemicals.

Quick Summary

Banza has addressed pesticide concerns by earning CleanScan certification, with third-party labs testing for over 400 pesticides and glyphosate. The company's farmers are committed to desiccant-free harvesting.

Key Points

CleanScan Certified: Banza products undergo rigorous third-party testing for non-detectable levels of over 400 pesticides, including glyphosate.
Desiccant-Free Farming: Banza's farmers commit to harvesting chickpeas without using chemical drying agents like glyphosate.
Transparent Test Results: Consumers can access detailed, up-to-date lab reports for any Banza product by scanning the CleanScan QR code on its packaging.
Viral Report Refuted: Banza commissioned independent testing to show that a 2024 report claiming high glyphosate levels was based on flawed methodology, confirming residue levels were much lower and reduced by cooking.
Not Organic, But Rigorous: While Banza does not use certified organic chickpeas, its CleanScan and desiccant-free protocols establish a high standard for pesticide avoidance, often stricter than general organic residue limits.
Geographic Sourcing Strategy: Banza sources chickpeas from dry climates like Central Montana to naturally facilitate the drying process, reducing the need for chemical intervention.

In 2024, the popular chickpea pasta brand Banza faced scrutiny following a report from activist group Moms Across America (MAA) that claimed to have found alarmingly high levels of the herbicide glyphosate in its products. The report sparked a viral conversation on social media, leaving many health-conscious consumers confused and concerned. In response, Banza took immediate action, commissioning its own independent tests and significantly bolstering its transparency measures. The company's commitment to avoiding pesticides, particularly glyphosate, is now a cornerstone of its brand identity, backed by a rigorous certification process.

The Journey from Farm to Table: Minimizing Pesticide Exposure

To understand Banza's approach, it's helpful to know how pesticides, especially glyphosate, typically enter the food chain. In conventional farming, chickpeas and other legumes are sometimes treated with glyphosate as a desiccant, a chemical that dries out crops to facilitate an easier and more uniform harvest. This application close to harvest time can lead to higher pesticide residues on the final product. Banza has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to combat this industry standard, focusing on sourcing, farming practices, and independent verification.

The CleanScan Certification

One of the most significant steps Banza has taken is earning the CleanScan certification from The Detox Project. This certification is a major differentiator in the food industry for several reasons:

Comprehensive Testing: CleanScan requires third-party lab testing of the final packaged product, not just the raw ingredients, for over 400 pesticides, including glyphosate.
Stricter Standards: The certification requires non-detectable levels of pesticide residue. For glyphosate, the detection limit is significantly lower than the legal maximum residue limits set by both the US and the EU.
Full Transparency: Banza prints a CleanScan QR code on its packaging. When scanned, this code provides consumers with direct access to the product's comprehensive test results, proving the company's commitment to openness.

Desiccant-Free Sourcing

In addition to its testing protocol, Banza has partnered with farmers who commit to desiccant-free harvesting practices. By sourcing chickpeas from dry climates, such as Central Montana, Banza allows the plants to dry naturally. This eliminates the need for chemical desiccants, which are the primary source of high glyphosate residues in conventional chickpeas. Banza regularly tests its ingredients at multiple stages to ensure this commitment is upheld.

Addressing the 2024 Controversy

The viral report from Moms Across America in 2024 claimed to find extremely high levels of glyphosate, but this finding was quickly contested. Banza's rebuttal included several key points:

Independent Re-testing: Banza commissioned an independent lab (Eurofins) to re-test the exact same lot number. The results showed a glyphosate level 97% lower than the MAA report, though still a detectable trace amount.
Cooking's Effect: Subsequent re-testing of the cooked pasta, a critical detail often overlooked, showed that boiling significantly reduced the pesticide residue.
Regulatory Context: Even the highest reported levels were still well below the acceptable daily intake thresholds set by regulatory bodies, though this is a point of ongoing debate among some groups.

Banza's Approach vs. Organic Standards

While Banza is not certified organic, its CleanScan certification and desiccant-free policy establish a high standard for pesticide avoidance. The table below compares Banza's practices with those of organic products and general industry standards.


Feature	Banza (CleanScan)	Certified Organic	General Conventional Products
Pesticide Use	Prohibits desiccation with glyphosate; minimizes other sprays where possible.	Prohibits synthetic pesticides (like glyphosate).	Allows synthetic pesticides, including glyphosate as a desiccant.
Sourcing	Prioritizes dry climates for natural drying.	Adheres to specific organic farming methods and processes.	Varies widely; often uses desiccation for efficiency.
Testing	Third-party lab tests finished product for 400+ pesticides, aiming for non-detectable levels.	Raw ingredients and final product tested for compliance with organic standards; can still contain low levels of environmental drift contamination.	Often relies on regulatory compliance and manufacturer's internal checks.
Transparency	Provides scannable QR code for instant, comprehensive lab results.	Label provides organic certification seal.	Minimal transparency beyond ingredients list.

Actionable Steps for Consumers

Concerned consumers have several options to verify Banza's claims and make the most informed choice for their diet:

Use the QR Code: When purchasing Banza products, simply scan the CleanScan QR code on the packaging to view the latest lab results for your specific product.
Consider Alternatives: If you prioritize an organic label, there are certified organic chickpea pastas available, such as those from Thrive Market or Whole Foods.
Research Product Claims: Familiarize yourself with the differences between regulatory standards (set by the EPA and FDA) and the stricter benchmarks sometimes advocated by organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Practice Healthy Cooking: Remember that cooking processes like boiling can significantly reduce pesticide residue.

Conclusion

While the 2024 pesticide controversy raised valid questions, Banza's response has demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency and product safety. By implementing desiccant-free farming practices and obtaining the rigorous CleanScan certification, Banza provides a high level of assurance that its final products contain non-detectable levels of glyphosate and hundreds of other pesticides. Although Banza pasta is not certified organic, its proactive measures address the specific concerns of pesticide residues in a clear and measurable way. This empowers consumers with the data to make their own dietary decisions, relying on accessible test results rather than conflicting reports.

For more detailed information about their process, you can visit Banza's official standards page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Banza products are certified non-detect for glyphosate under The Detox Project's CleanScan program, which involves independent, third-party lab testing on the final packaged product.

A 2024 report from Moms Across America made this claim, but Banza refuted it with independent testing that showed much lower levels and confirmed cooking further reduces residue. The group later acknowledged cooking's effect.

No, Banza does not use certified organic chickpeas. Instead, it has implemented its own strict protocols, including CleanScan certification and desiccant-free farming, to ensure low pesticide levels.

Banza uses CleanScan certification, partners with desiccant-free farmers to avoid chemical drying, and conducts regular third-party lab testing on its finished products.

CleanScan is a certification from The Detox Project that verifies a product has been tested by a third-party lab and shown non-detectable levels for over 400 pesticides, including glyphosate, on the final packaged goods.

Banza sources its chickpeas from farms located in dry climates, such as Central Montana, which allows the crops to dry naturally and removes the need for chemical desiccants.

Banza has demonstrated a strong commitment to transparency and minimizing pesticide exposure through its CleanScan certification and desiccant-free sourcing. For most people, it remains a safe and nutritious choice. If you have specific concerns, organic products are an alternative.

Yes, research and re-testing by Banza have confirmed that the cooking process, including boiling, can significantly reduce the amount of pesticide residue found in the final, cooked product.

Banza's CleanScan certification sets a much stricter standard for non-detectable levels of glyphosate in the finished product. The limit is below 0.01 ppm, which is far lower than the EU's 10.0 ppm and the US's 8.0 ppm for chickpeas.