Glyphosate in Processed Food and Your Gut Microbiota

Glyphosate, the primary ingredient in RoundUp weed killer, continues to be widely used on food crops and as a result, the residue is present in many processed foods–especially those that contain corn, canola and soybean products.  What does it mean for the human body to ingest glyphosate residue on a daily basis?  Scientists now have the initial part of the answer.  Based on new analyses using new bioinformatics tool, it was revealed that 54% of the human core gut bacterial species are potentially sensitive to glyphosate.  As several recent studies have shown that perturbations in the human gut microbiome are connected to many diseases, the widespread use of glyphosate may have a strong effect on gut microbiomes–and therefore, overall human health.

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“This groundbreaking study provides tools for further studies to determine the actual impact of glyphosate on human and animal gut microbiota and thus to their health.”                             -Dr. Docent Marjo Helander