Does Soybean Oil Contain Glyphosate? Separating Fact from Fiction

November 19, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the FDA, approximately 59% of tested corn and soy samples in FY 2016-2017 contained glyphosate residues, though all were within EPA tolerance levels. This fact raises a critical question for many consumers: does soybean oil contain glyphosate, and what does this mean for food safety?

Quick Summary

Genetically modified soybeans are often sprayed with glyphosate, leading to low-level residues in the raw crop. However, the extensive refining process used to produce commercial soybean oil removes these residues, meaning the final product likely contains none.

Key Points

Glyphosate use: The majority of soybeans, particularly in the US, are genetically modified to be resistant to glyphosate, leading to its widespread application on crops.
Residues in soybeans: Raw genetically modified soybeans can contain detectable levels of glyphosate and its breakdown product AMPA, though typically within regulatory tolerance limits.
Refining removes residues: The multi-step refining process for producing soybean oil, which involves solvent extraction and high-heat deodorization, effectively removes water-soluble compounds like glyphosate from the final oil product.
Extensive processing: Because refined soybean oil undergoes significant purification, studies have found that residue levels in the final product are below the limit of detection.
Organic alternative: For those wishing to avoid any possibility of pesticide residue, organic soybean oil is available, as its cultivation prohibits the use of synthetic herbicides like glyphosate.
Contested safety: While regulatory bodies consider residue levels in raw soybeans safe, some independent researchers have raised health concerns, emphasizing the importance of informed consumer choices.

The Widespread Use of Glyphosate on Soybeans

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide and the active ingredient in products like Roundup, used to control weeds in agriculture. The prevalence of genetically modified (GM) soybeans, specifically engineered to be resistant to glyphosate (often called 'Roundup Ready'), has led to its extensive use. Globally, GM soybeans make up a significant portion of the total soy production, with high adoption rates in major producing countries like the US, Brazil, and Argentina. Farmers benefit from this practice as it allows them to spray herbicides over their fields to kill weeds without harming their crops, reducing production costs. However, this practice directly leads to glyphosate residues in the raw soybeans.

Studies have confirmed the presence of these residues in the harvested soybeans. Research published in the journal Foods found that genetically modified (GM) soybeans accumulate herbicides, and commercial farm samples contain substantially higher concentrations of glyphosate compared to the crops used for safety assessments in corporate field trials. These residues, including glyphosate's main breakdown product AMPA, are absorbed systemically by the plant. High residue levels are particularly associated with late-season spraying, often done for desiccation just before harvest.

From Bean to Bottle: The Refining Process and Its Effects

The journey from a raw soybean to a bottle of refined soybean oil is a multi-step industrial process designed to maximize oil yield and purity. This intensive processing is a key factor in understanding why the final oil product is unlikely to contain pesticide residues like glyphosate. The standard manufacturing process involves several stages:

Cleaning and Crushing: The harvested soybeans are cleaned, dehulled, and then crushed into flakes.
Solvent Extraction: The flakes are washed with a solvent, typically hexane, which dissolves the oil. This process is highly efficient, leaving only about 1% oil in the remaining soy meal. The resulting mixture of oil and solvent is called 'miscella'.
Solvent Recovery: The miscella is heated in evaporators and vacuum distillation to separate the oil from the hexane. The recovered hexane is reused.
Refining and Purification: The crude oil undergoes several steps to remove impurities. Degumming removes phospholipids, while refining (typically with an alkali solution) removes free fatty acids.
Bleaching: Adsorptive bleaching removes pigments and residual oxidation products.
Deodorization: This final, high-heat process removes volatile compounds that affect the oil's flavor and odor.

How Processing Removes Residues

The most critical steps for removing pesticide residues are the solvent extraction and the subsequent high-heat refining processes. Glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA are water-soluble molecules, not oil-soluble like the fatty acids that make up the oil. During solvent extraction, the oil dissolves in the hexane, while the water-soluble pesticide residues and other impurities remain largely in the solid soy meal fraction. Any remaining trace amounts would be further broken down or removed during the high-heat deodorization step. An assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) noted that oil processing leads to a "clear reduction of the residues (<LOD)" in refined oil, meaning the levels are below the limit of detection.

Weighing the Health Concerns

The question of glyphosate residue safety is contentious. Regulatory bodies like the US EPA and European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) set maximum residue levels (MRLs) for food and have stated that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a risk to consumer health when used according to label directions. The FDA's preliminary testing found residues in raw soybeans to be within these tolerance levels. However, these safety conclusions are contested by some independent researchers and organizations.

Furthermore, the concern about residues in raw soy and its potential entry into the food chain is valid for other soy products like soy meal or unrefined products, where the concentration effect is different. It is important to distinguish between residues in the raw commodity and the final, extensively processed oil product.

Comparison of Soybean Oil Types


Feature	Conventional Refined Soybean Oil	Organic Refined Soybean Oil	Organic Cold-Pressed Soybean Oil
Source Soybeans	Primarily Genetically Modified (GM).	Not genetically modified.	Not genetically modified.
Glyphosate Exposure	Soybeans are sprayed with glyphosate.	No glyphosate is used in farming.	No glyphosate is used in farming.
Glyphosate in Final Oil	Levels are below the limit of detection due to extensive refining.	Not expected to contain glyphosate.	Not expected to contain glyphosate.
Processing Method	Chemical solvent extraction and high-heat refining.	Typically chemical solvent extraction and refining.	Mechanical pressure extraction with no added chemicals or heat.
Residue Risk	Minimal to non-existent due to processing.	None from glyphosate, but other potential contaminants may exist.	None from glyphosate, though processing is less intensive.
Flavor and Nutrients	Neutral flavor, many nutrients removed.	Neutral flavor, many nutrients removed.	Stronger, more distinct flavor; more nutrients may be retained.

Conclusion: The Bottom Line on Glyphosate in Soybean Oil

While the vast majority of soybeans grown today are genetically modified and sprayed with glyphosate, the key lies in the intensive processing required to produce refined soybean oil. Because glyphosate and its primary metabolite AMPA are water-soluble rather than oil-soluble, the solvent extraction and high-heat refining steps effectively remove any residues that might have been present in the raw soybeans. Therefore, refined conventional soybean oil is highly unlikely to contain detectable levels of glyphosate. For consumers who remain concerned or wish to avoid products sourced from crops treated with any pesticides, organic soybean oil is a reliable alternative, as its production prohibits the use of glyphosate entirely. The extensive research into the processing of oilseeds offers a clear picture that while the starting material may contain residues, the end product is free from these specific contaminants due to manufacturing processes. For more information, please consult the FDA's Q&A on Glyphosate.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, it is highly unlikely. Due to the multi-stage refining process, especially the solvent extraction and high-heat deodorization, any potential glyphosate residues are removed. Studies have shown that levels in refined oil are below the limit of detection.

No, organic soybean oil should not contain glyphosate. Its production is certified by standards that prohibit the use of synthetic herbicides like glyphosate on the crops.

Glyphosate is used on genetically modified (GM) 'Roundup Ready' soybeans, which are engineered to tolerate the herbicide. This allows farmers to spray fields to kill weeds without harming the soy crop, increasing efficiency.

Regulatory agencies like the EPA set maximum residue limits (MRLs) for food, and the levels found in raw soybeans typically fall within these tolerances. While these levels are considered safe by regulators, some independent research has raised concerns about long-term exposure.

Glyphosate is water-soluble, not oil-soluble. During the solvent extraction process, the oil separates from the other parts of the bean where the water-soluble glyphosate is concentrated. Further high-heat processing also helps eliminate potential trace residues.

Since refined soybean oil does not contain detectable glyphosate, there is no taste difference related to its presence. Any flavor variations are more likely related to processing methods, such as cold-pressed versus refined, or the oil's freshness.

The main difference is the source crop's exposure. Conventional oil comes from crops exposed to glyphosate, which is later removed by refining. Organic oil comes from crops that are not treated with glyphosate at all.