What Foods Are Heavily Sprayed with Glyphosate? A Nutrition Diet Guide

November 2, 2025 •

5 min read

According to a 2018 report by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), glyphosate was found in more than 95% of popular oat-based food samples. This widespread contamination raises the important question for consumers: what foods are heavily sprayed with glyphosate and how can you navigate these risks within your nutrition diet?

Quick Summary

This guide examines foods with significant glyphosate contamination, explaining why certain crops are at higher risk. It outlines the reasons behind heavy spraying and provides practical advice on reducing exposure to this common weedkiller in your daily meals.

Key Points

High-Risk Foods: Oats, wheat, corn, and soy are among the most heavily sprayed crops with glyphosate, largely due to pre-harvest desiccation or genetic modification.
Legumes and Processed Products: Hummus, chickpeas, lentils, and products containing conventional corn and soy are frequently contaminated with glyphosate residue.
Washing Is Not Enough: Glyphosate is absorbed into the plant's tissue, meaning that washing, scrubbing, or cooking will not effectively remove the chemical from contaminated foods.
Choose Organic or Certified Residue-Free: The most effective way to minimize glyphosate intake is by opting for products certified organic, which prohibits the use of the herbicide, or 'Glyphosate Residue Free'.
Debate Continues: There is ongoing scientific and regulatory debate over glyphosate's health risks, with organizations like IARC classifying it as a 'probable carcinogen' while others, like the EPA, deem it safe when used as directed.
Consider the 'Dirty Dozen': The Environmental Working Group's annual 'Dirty Dozen' list often highlights produce with the highest pesticide levels, including some that may have glyphosate residue, such as spinach and certain fruits.

Understanding Glyphosate and Its Agricultural Use

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in the world's most widely used herbicide, Roundup. While its primary function is weed control, it is often applied to crops in two main ways that lead to residues in our food. The first is on genetically modified (GMO) crops like corn and soybeans, which are engineered to resist the chemical, allowing farmers to spray liberally to kill weeds without harming the crop itself. The second and more concerning method for many consumers is pre-harvest desiccation. This practice involves spraying non-GMO crops, such as oats, wheat, and legumes, just before harvest to dry them out. This speeds up the harvesting process, but it also results in the chemical being absorbed directly into the crop, where it cannot be simply washed off.

Grains: A Major Source of Glyphosate Contamination

Reports from multiple sources, including the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and The Detox Project, have repeatedly found high levels of glyphosate residue in common grain products.

Oats and Oat-Based Products

Oats are one of the most consistently contaminated grains due to the common practice of pre-harvest desiccation. This process forces a uniform and rapid drying, which facilitates earlier harvesting. The EWG has published multiple reports detailing alarming levels of glyphosate in popular oat-based cereals, granola bars, and instant oatmeal, often marketed to children.

Breakfast cereals: Tests have shown detectable levels in various brands, including Quaker Oats and General Mills' Cheerios, with some samples significantly exceeding the EWG's health benchmark.
Granola and snack bars: Products using conventionally grown oats also frequently show glyphosate residue, with levels varying widely by brand.

Wheat and Wheat-Based Products

Similar to oats, wheat is often sprayed pre-harvest, leading to residues in a wide range of everyday products. A 2019 EWG report detected glyphosate in all 12 wheat-based products they tested, including dried pasta and cereal.

Bread and crackers: Many conventional wheat breads and crackers contain detectable levels of glyphosate.
Pasta: Both dry and fresh pasta have been found to contain residues, particularly pasta made from durum wheat, which is often desiccated with glyphosate.

Legumes: Hummus, Lentils, and Chickpeas

Legumes, including chickpeas, lentils, and beans, are also frequently treated with glyphosate as a desiccant, making them a common source of contamination. EWG tests in 2020 found glyphosate in over 80% of conventional hummus and chickpea products tested.

Chickpeas and Hummus: Products made from conventional chickpeas, such as hummus, have shown some of the highest residue levels.
Lentils and Beans: Dry and canned legumes are not exempt, with tests confirming glyphosate presence in conventional lentil and bean samples.

Fruits, Vegetables, and Other Crops

While grains and legumes often contain the highest levels due to desiccation, other crops are also treated with glyphosate or can be contaminated through spray drift.

Fruits: Apples, cherries, peaches, pears, and grapes are commonly treated with pesticides, and studies have detected glyphosate residues in them.
Vegetables: Spinach and sweet peppers are included in EWG's 'Dirty Dozen' list of produce with the most pesticide residues.
Canola and Soy: Genetically engineered 'Roundup Ready' canola and soy are heavily sprayed with glyphosate, leading to residues in oils and processed foods containing these ingredients.
Honey: Contamination can occur when bees forage on treated crops and fields. One study found unexpectedly high levels of glyphosate in honey samples.

Conventional vs. Organic: A Comparison on Glyphosate

One of the most effective ways to reduce dietary exposure to glyphosate is by choosing organic options. Organic farming standards strictly prohibit the use of synthetic herbicides like glyphosate, though some minor cross-contamination can still occur from spray drift or shared processing equipment.


Food Type	Conventional Farming Concerns	Organic Farming Benefits
Oats	High risk due to pre-harvest desiccation, potentially leading to high residue levels in cereals, oatmeal, and granola.	Glyphosate use is prohibited, significantly reducing residue levels. Cross-contamination risk is low.
Wheat	High risk due to pre-harvest desiccation. Residues are found in bread, pasta, and crackers.	Eliminates intentional glyphosate application, offering a cleaner option for pasta, flour, and bread.
Chickpeas	Frequent pre-harvest desiccation, leading to high residue levels in dried chickpeas and hummus.	Glyphosate is forbidden. Organic hummus and chickpeas have dramatically lower, or non-detectable, levels.
Corn & Soy	High risk due to extensive use on GMO 'Roundup Ready' crops for weed control throughout the growing season.	Avoids GMO varieties and the associated heavy herbicide spraying. A safer choice for soy milk, tofu, and corn-based products.
Apples	Risk of contamination from direct spraying. Included on EWG's Dirty Dozen list of produce with high pesticide residues.	Grown without synthetic pesticides. Significantly lower likelihood of residues.

Strategies for Reducing Glyphosate Exposure in Your Diet

While it may be impossible to eliminate all traces of glyphosate from your diet, several strategies can help minimize your intake.

Prioritize Organic for High-Risk Foods: If your budget is limited, focus on buying organic versions of the foods most heavily sprayed, such as oats, wheat, corn, soy, and legumes. This is a highly effective step for reducing exposure.
Look for 'Glyphosate Residue Free' Certification: For an extra layer of assurance, seek out products certified as 'Glyphosate Residue Free' by a third-party organization like The Detox Project. This label indicates products have been tested for non-detectable levels of the chemical.
Wash Produce Thoroughly, but Understand Limitations: While washing fresh fruits and vegetables is always a good practice, it is largely ineffective for removing systemic chemicals like glyphosate that have been absorbed into the plant tissue. However, a baking soda wash may help remove surface-level pesticides.
Grow Your Own: For maximum control over your food, consider starting a home garden. This allows you to choose your own seeds and control the entire growing process.

The Broader Controversy and Safety Debates

The presence of glyphosate in the food supply has sparked considerable debate and controversy. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a World Health Organization agency, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans". This assessment contrasts with conclusions from other regulatory bodies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which have stated it is "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans" when used according to its label. These differing conclusions contribute to ongoing public concern and highlight the need for consumers to make informed choices based on available evidence and their personal health priorities. Studies continue to explore the long-term health effects of chronic, low-level exposure, including potential impacts on the gut microbiome and neurological health.

Conclusion: Making Informed Dietary Choices

Knowing what foods are heavily sprayed with glyphosate is the first step toward making more conscious and informed dietary decisions. The evidence shows that certain crops, particularly conventional oats, wheat, corn, soy, and legumes, are at higher risk of contamination due to specific agricultural practices. By prioritizing organic or certified residue-free options for these products, consumers can significantly reduce their potential exposure. While regulations and scientific opinions continue to evolve, taking proactive steps in your nutrition diet is a practical way to address food safety concerns. Awareness and action empower consumers to navigate these complexities and foster a healthier relationship with their food. For more information, the Environmental Working Group's website offers comprehensive guides and reports on pesticide residues in produce.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, selecting 'non-GMO' foods does not guarantee they are free of glyphosate. Many non-GMO crops, such as oats and wheat, are sprayed with glyphosate as a desiccant just before harvest, a practice that results in high residue levels.

No, washing and cooking are generally ineffective for removing glyphosate residues. The chemical is absorbed into the plant's tissue, not just on the surface, making it impossible to remove through typical cleaning methods.

The most effective way to avoid glyphosate is to purchase foods that are certified organic, as synthetic herbicides like glyphosate are strictly prohibited in organic farming. Looking for the 'Glyphosate Residue Free' certification is another reliable option for tested products.

Some conventional baby cereals have shown glyphosate contamination, particularly those made with oats. However, recent EWG tests have indicated that some baby cereals, especially organic options, are largely free of the chemical.

Glyphosate is used on non-GMO crops, like oats and wheat, as a pre-harvest desiccant. This practice artificially dries out the crop, allowing for earlier and more uniform harvesting, which can be advantageous for farmers but leads to high residue levels in the final product.

Yes, there are significant differences. Organic foods are produced without glyphosate, leading to substantially lower, and often non-detectable, levels of the chemical. Conventional versions of high-risk foods like oats and hummus consistently show much higher levels.

The significance of trace amounts is a subject of debate among scientists and regulators. While some believe low levels pose no risk, others point to studies linking chronic low-level exposure to potential health issues and advocate for minimal to zero exposure.