Understanding the Glyphosate Issue
Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide, most commonly known as the active ingredient in Roundup. The controversy surrounding its potential health effects, coupled with its pervasive presence in the food supply, has led consumers to scrutinize food brands more closely. The key distinction lies between products grown with and without the intentional use of this chemical.
The Role of Farming Practices
- Organic Farming: The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) prohibits the use of glyphosate and other synthetic herbicides on crops. This provides a strong level of assurance for organic products, though it is not a complete guarantee against contamination.
- Conventional Farming: In contrast, conventional farming practices allow the use of glyphosate, including its application as a pre-harvest desiccant to dry crops and prepare them for earlier harvest.
Bob's Red Mill's Position and Quality Controls
Bob's Red Mill has publicly addressed the glyphosate issue on its website and through customer service communications. The company's official stance is multifaceted:
- Organic Products: For its USDA Certified Organic items, the use of glyphosate is strictly prohibited. Farmers who supply these grains must adhere to the rigorous standards of the NOP. However, the company acknowledges that environmental factors, such as herbicide drift from neighboring conventional farms, can result in trace amounts of glyphosate even in organic crops.
- Conventional Products: For non-organic oats, Bob's Red Mill has implemented a policy of not accepting oats treated with glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant. This does not, however, preclude its use at other stages of the growing cycle or for other conventional products, such as non-organic flour.
- Supplier Agreements: The company works with its suppliers to ensure compliance with its quality standards and has communicated these non-use stipulations to farmers.
The Impact of Environmental Drift
Achieving a truly 100% glyphosate-free product, even organically, is a significant challenge. A spokesperson noted that wind can carry the herbicide from non-organic farms, potentially contaminating organic crops. This illustrates why relying solely on the organic label, while a strong step, is not always a fail-safe strategy for avoiding all trace residues.
Test Results from Independent Organizations
Several independent tests have been conducted over the years to evaluate glyphosate levels in various food products, including those from Bob's Red Mill.
- EWG (2018): The Environmental Working Group detected glyphosate in various oat-based products. Bob's Red Mill's Organic Old Fashioned Rolled Oats had detectable levels, though lower than most conventional brands tested. A sample of their Steel Cut Oats tested at 300 ppb, higher than most organic counterparts and comparable to conventional options.
- Food Babe (2023): Reports have surfaced summarizing EWG's findings, highlighting that while organic options showed lower levels or non-detectable levels in some cases, consistency can be an issue across batches.
- Mamavation (2024): Testing on gluten-free flours showed that Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour contained glyphosate and AMPA, a related chemical. This indicates the issue extends beyond just oat products.
Making an Informed Choice: Organic vs. Conventional
To clarify consumer options, here is a comparison of Bob's Red Mill's organic and conventional products in the context of glyphosate.
| Feature | Bob's Red Mill Organic Products | Bob's Red Mill Conventional Products |
|---|---|---|
| Glyphosate Use | Prohibited by USDA NOP standards; no intentional use by suppliers. | Allowed under conventional farming; Bob's Red Mill suppliers of oats agree to no pre-harvest use. |
| Trace Residue Risk | Low risk, but possible due to environmental drift from neighboring farms. | Higher risk; presence is more likely and generally at higher levels than organic. |
| Certification | USDA Organic, some may be Non-GMO Project Verified. | Many are Non-GMO Project Verified, but this does not certify against glyphosate use. |
| Cost | Typically higher due to farming and certification costs. | Generally lower and more accessible. |
| Consumer Assurance | Strong, but not absolute, assurance against intentional glyphosate use. | No assurance against glyphosate use, though Bob's Red Mill has some internal policies for certain products. |
Beyond Organic: Additional Certifications
Some consumers seek higher levels of assurance than the USDA Organic seal alone provides. Specific third-party certifications like the "Glyphosate Residue Free" standard exist, which involves independent testing of final products. While not all Bob's Red Mill products carry this specific label, seeking it out on other brands is a way to ensure the lowest possible residues.
How to Minimize Exposure Further
For consumers concerned about glyphosate, proactive measures can help:
- Choose Organic: Prioritize USDA Organic certified products from Bob's Red Mill to significantly reduce exposure risk.
- Look for Third-Party Certifications: When available, choose products with specific certifications like "Glyphosate Residue Free" for added assurance.
- Wash Produce Thoroughly: While washing doesn't eliminate all residues, it can help remove some surface pesticides from fruits and vegetables.
- Vary Your Diet: Diversifying your diet by consuming different foods can help minimize the overall intake of any single pesticide.
Conclusion: Navigating Your Choices
While Bob's Red Mill has taken steps to address glyphosate concerns, especially for their organic products and supplier policies for conventional oats, the issue remains complex due to the ubiquity of the chemical. A definitive "yes" or "no" answer to whether every product is glyphosate-free is impossible. The risk of contamination, however, is significantly lower with Bob's Red Mill's USDA Organic certified products than with their conventional line. Ultimately, consumers must weigh the company's efforts against the realities of environmental drift and independent test findings. To achieve the highest level of assurance, focusing on organic options or products with specific "Glyphosate Residue Free" certifications is the most prudent strategy.
For more information on avoiding glyphosate in food, see the Environmental Working Group's guide: [https://static.ewg.org/pdf/EWG_GlyphosateinFood-Guide_C02.pdf].
