25
Feb
Data on Weed Killer Glyphosate in Food Released, Then President Declares Its Use Is in the National Defense
(Beyond Pesticides, February 25, 2026) Residues of the weed killer glyphosate, which has been classified as “probably carcinogenic to humans†by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, have been routinely found in food products, and a recent state survey in Florida confirmed previous findings. The findings are well within the legal standards for allowable residues. So, why is the Trump administration, in invoking the Defense Production Act of 1950 by Executive Order and its immunity-from-lawsuits provision for glyphosate manufacturers, concerned about glyphosate residues in food and other nondietary exposure? Could it have something to do with the over $10 billion in jury verdicts and settlements on glyphosate exposure against the manufacturer Bayer/Monsanto, with tens of thousands of cases pending, and the robust independent, peer-reviewed scientific findings that link glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma and a host of other adverse health effects?
Nothing in the President’s executive order appears to meet the intent of the statute and its stated purpose to protect “the ability of the domestic industrial base to supply materials and services for the national defense and to prepare for and respond to military conflicts, natural or man-caused disasters, or acts of terrorism within the United States . . .†Without any supporting documentation or findings, the executive order states: “There is no direct one-for-one chemical alternative to glyphosate-based herbicides. Lack of access to glyphosate-based herbicides would critically jeopardize agricultural productivity, adding pressure to the domestic food system, and may result in a transition of cropland to other uses due to low productivity.  Given the profit margins growers currently face, any major restrictions in access to glyphosate-based herbicides would result in economic losses for growers and make it untenable for them to meet growing food and feed demands.†Organic farmers and the companies in the $70 billion organic sector do not agree with this broad, unsupported statement in the executive order.
The Florida Department of Health, through its Healthy Florida First Initiative, released data on glyphosate residues in commonly purchased bread products found in grocery stores in the Sunshine State, but limits its discussion of hazards to heavy metals. All the residues detected are within tolerance levels (legally acceptable residues) set by the U.S. government. Allowable pesticide residues have been criticized by health and safety advocates for being set with incomplete data on exposure to chemical mixtures, synergistic effects, and serious adverse health effects, including endocrine disruption.Â
Additionally, the Florida report has been criticized for the lack of disclosure of the underlying data and methods. A certified industrial hygienist told Food Safety Magazine saying that the state’s “reports do not contain any information about their methodology.†The study findings were released on the state’s website, Healthy Florida First website, and its Exposing Bread Toxins webpage.
Review of Healthy Florida First Initiative
In a press conference on February 6, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Lapado “tested eight bread products across five national brands commonly available in Florida grocery stores.†They continue: “Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide commonly applied in agricultural production to control weeds, was detected in six of the eight bread products tested.†The brands and accompanying glyphosate residue levels for the six products include:
- Nature’s Own Butter Bread (190.23 ppb or  0.19023 ppm)
- Nature’s Own Perfectly Crafted White (132.34 ppb or 0.13234 ppm)
- Dave’s Killer Bread White Done Right (11.85 ppb or 0.01185 ppm)
- Dave’s Killer Bread 21 Whole Grain (10.38 ppb or 0.01038 ppm)
- Wonder Bread Classic White (173.19 ppb or 0.17219 ppm)
- Sara Lee Honey Wheat (191.04 ppb or 0.19104 ppm)
According to EPA regulations pursuant to 40 CFR 180.364, tolerances for glyphosate residues range depending on the food product. EPA Crop Group 15: Cereal Grains Group, which includes wheat, has a 30 parts per million (ppm) pesticide residue tolerance threshold for wheat, which is a significantly higher threshold than the 0.1-0.2 ppm for other products, such as peanuts, rice, or avocados, to name a few.
Criticism
There is concern from some that the Florida government’s approach to residue testing for pesticides, including from the bread industry and Florida-based toxicological and certified industrial hygienist Alex LeBeau, Ph.D, M.P.H., C.I.H. in an interview with Food Safety Magazine in the aftermath of the released results.
“Important data for interpreting and contextualizing the results, which the Florida Department of Health (FDOH) or the Governor’s office have not disclosed, include the sampling and testing parameters, the analytical methods used, the laboratory’s limits of detection (LODs), or the health thresholds and outcomes being referenced when declaring that the levels of a contaminant in products are ‘unsafe,’†reports Bailee Henderson, an author at the outlet, after speaking with toxicologists including LeBeau.
The North American Millers’ Association, in coordination with National Association of Wheat Growers and American Bakers Association, released a joint statement pushing back on the results:
“Our nation’s farmers, millers and bakers proudly serve families and communities as they champion safe, consistent, accessible and affordable bread. Food safety is the top priority for the grain we grow, the flour we mill and the bread we bake for all Americans. We appreciate Healthy Florida First’s stated purpose of improving the lives of Floridians. Unfortunately, their recent announcement needlessly scares consumers about trace levels of glyphosate that don’t present genuine risks. Glyphosate is regulated and continuously reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure levels are safe for all consumers, from adults to children.â€
Previous Coverage
Despite the alleged controversy around the specifics of methodological approaches involved with the Healthy Florida First Initiative, there is a significant body of peer-reviewed, scientific literature that finds pesticide residues found in various common food products in the U.S. and abroad.
Friends of the Earth (FOE) released a report in 2019 showing pesticide residues in the food supply. The report, Toxic Secret, found store and name-brand foods produced and sold by the top four U.S. food retailers — Kroger (NYSE:KR), Walmart (NYSE: WMT), Costco (NYSE:COST) and Albertsons — contain residues of toxic pesticides linked to a range of serious health and environmental problems. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, has been detected in popular foods, including “100% pure†honey, Doritos, Oreos, Goldfish, Ritz Crackers, German beers, California wines, and UK bread. (See Daily News here.) A separate report conducted by Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) in 2019 tested 20 common beers and wines sold in the United States and found glyphosate residues in all but one. (See Daily News here.)
The science on pesticide safety has been deeply politicized, given the controversy on glyphosate registration and litigation surrounding the active ingredient’s linkages to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. What was once considered a landmark study concluding that the weed killer glyphosate did not cause cancer was retracted last week after it was revealed in lawsuit documents that the authors did not disclose their relationship with Monsanto/Bayer. The editor-in-chief, Martin van den Berg, PhD of Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, who published the article 25 years ago, wrote in the journal, “Concerns were raised regarding the authorship of this paper, validity of the research findings in the context of misrepresentation of the contributions by the authors and the study sponsor and potential conflicts of interest of the authors.†(See Daily News here.)
The data in the latest annual U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) pesticide residue report, released in January 2026, continues to show a pattern of pesticide residues in the majority of food tested by USDA. Health advocates say low-level pesticide residues in the food supply within legal limits raise serious hazard concerns, while USDA, in its Pesticide Data Program–Annual Summary, Calendar Year 2024, points to controversial residue standards as a measure of safety. (See Daily News here.) According to a 2024 analysis by Consumer Reports, USDA has systematically failed to accurately portray the safety of some of the most commonly sold fruits and vegetables in the United States. A review of seven years of PDP data shows that 20% of the foods tested pose a “high risk†to the public, and 12 specific commodities are so dangerous that children or pregnant people should not eat more than one serving per day, according to Consumer Reports analysis. (See Daily News here.) Meanwhile, over half of all food samples tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) contain the residues of at least one pesticide, and one in ten samples have levels that violate legal limits established by EPA. (See Daily News here.)
A review article in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2025) highlights how the pesticides used in global crop production pose risks to ecosystems and human health through multiple pathways. As the authors note, “Once applied to crops, pesticides are transported through surface and groundwater flows, atmospheric dispersion, and wildlife migration.†Residues in food products, such as fruits and vegetables, as well as bioaccumulation within animals that are consumed as food, also threaten consumers around the world, particularly those relying on international trade. (See Daily News here.)
Call to Action
As a mounting number of scientific studies link pesticides to adverse health and environmental effects not evaluated under the EPA’s pesticide registration program, members of Congress are planning to introduce legislation that elevates the organic solution. To this end, Beyond Pesticides and allies are calling on U.S. Representatives and Senators to become a cosponsor of the Opportunities in Organic Act, which is expected to be reintroduced in early 2026 by U.S. Senator Peter Welch and U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta.
Meanwhile, the GOP 2026 Farm Bill text, released on February 13, challenges three core safeguards that are seen as critical to the health of farmers, consumers and the environment—judicial review of chemical manufacturers’ failure to warn about pesticide hazards, the democratic right of local governments in coordination with states to protect residents from pesticide use, and local site-specific action to ensure the safety of air, water, and land from pesticides. A nationwide campaign has been launched to: Tell members of the U.S. House of Representatives to stop provisions in the Farm Bill that shield chemical companies from liability for the harm caused by their products, intrude on local communities’ democratic right to restrict pesticides, and eliminate pesticide restrictions governing clean water, environmental impacts, and endangered species. Ask them to support the transition to organic agricultural practices.
Through the Eating with a Conscience database, you can select from over 90 different common produce and veggies you regularly consume and learn about the organic difference from their conventional, chemical-intensive counterparts.
Additionally, you can sign up for Action of the Week and Weekly News Update to stay notified on ways you can take action to expand public investments and programs that expand organic land management, in agricultural contexts and on public green spaces, parks, and playing fields, to move beyond a reliance on synthetic materials.
All unattributed positions and opinions in this piece are those of Beyond Pesticides.
