What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a widely used pesticide and poison found in many common weed killers. Most famously present in Roundup, it has been used since the 1970s on crops, gardens, parks, and roadsides to control unwanted plants. It is especially common in large-scale agriculture.
Increasingly, it is making its way into consumer products, including table honey, skincare and many of the products that you use today.
Residue
When crops are treated with glyphosate, small amounts can remain in the soil, water, and on the plants. This residue can make its way into food during harvesting, processing, and packaging, so grains, fruits, and other plant-based foods may carry traces of the chemical.
Similarly, bees that forage on treated crops can bring glyphosate into honey, and plant-based ingredients in skincare (like oils, extracts, and powders) can also contain it if the crops were exposed. This means that both the food we eat and the products we apply to our skin can contain glyphosate, often without us knowing.
Why it Matters
This chemical is harmful, and its widespread use has raised serious concerns about the potential effects on human health; from contamination of food and water to possible links with cancer and other chronic illnesses. Scientists and health organizations have also highlighted its impact on the environment, including soil health, biodiversity, and the wellbeing of pollinators like bees.
In response to safety concerns, several countries have moved to restrict or ban glyphosate. Vietnam imposed a nationwide ban in 2019, Slovenia is phasing in strict limitations, and some Gulf states suspended use as early as 2016. These actions reflect growing global caution over glyphosate’s potential risks to health and the environment.
Reducing Exposure
To minimize glyphosate exposure, look for products with the Glyphosate Residue Free certification from The Detox Project. This certification ensures that products have been rigorously tested using third-party accredited laboratories and contain no detectable glyphosate residues, often below 0.01 ppm. The Detox Project also maintains a certified products directory featuring food, supplements, and personal care items that meet these strict glyphosate-free standards.
ACTIVIST is Proudly Glyphosate Residue-Free Certified
This means our Mānuka Honey is independently tested and meets the specifications set by The Detox Project. We are excited to support their work as they bring awareness to this important issue.
We care deeply about our beautiful Raw Mānuka Honey and the products we put into the world. We work closely with our beekeepers to ensure that no chemical sprays are used on their land and the hives are positioned in extremely remote locations, far from any possible contamination of agricultural and urban toxins.
