NZ Food Safety Considers Pushing Up Max Glyphosate Residue Levels!
breaking news
New Zealand Food Safety is proposing to increase the maximum glyphosate residue level of 0.1 mg/kg to 10 mg/kg in wheat, barley and oats; and 6 mg/kg in dry field peas!
The new levels are being proposed following a survey of glyphosate residues in some foods sold in New Zealand, many of which are exceeding 0.1mg/kg but are “many times lower than what could be considered a food safety risk”, according to New Zealand Food Safety deputy director-general Vincent Arbuckle.
So in a nut shell, they’re raising the maximum allowed level of glyphosate because too much of the wheat grain is not meeting these limits!
i’m sorry WHAT?!
Are we just ignoring the growing body of research on glyphosate's potential long-term health impacts?
The argument will be that the new levels are safe....I don’t know about you, but I personally don’t want ANY residue in my kids food!
glyphosate basics
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, one of the most widely used weed killers in the world. It's sprayed on crops to kill weeds — but residue ends up in the food we eat.
In New Zealand, glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide used by agriculture, local councils, and in home gardening.
There are about 90 glyphosate-containing products approved for use in NZ, and the estimated economic value of glyphosate to New Zealand's agriculture sector ranges between $2.7 billion and $8.6 billion, highlighting that this is hugely money orientated decision.
Why glyphosate residue in food is a big deal
destroys gut health
Glyphosate acts like an antibiotic — it kills off the good bacteria in your gut microbiome. This leads to leaky gut, poor digestion, food sensitivities, and inflammation (PMC23224412, PMC25805724).
Remember gut health = hormone balance, mood, immunity, everything!
it’s an endocrine disruptor
It can mess with your hormones by mimicking or blocking natural hormone signals. Especially harmful for developing kids, teens, and women with hormone imbalance. (PMC19539684, PMC23756170)
triggers chronic inflammation
Chronic, low-level inflammation caused by glyphosate is linked to: autoimmune diseases (Hashimoto’s, RA), IBS, skin conditions, anxiety + brain fog, long-term risk of heart disease (PMC32581036).
linked to neurological issues
Research has connected glyphosate exposure to conditions like ADHD, autism, and neurodegeneration in both animals and humans (PMC35562999, PMC35676826).
classified as a probable carcinogen
The WHO classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (2015). Some studies link long-term exposure to non-Hodgkin lymphoma (PMC31342895, PMC34052177).
environmental and soil health
Residue in food reflects wider overuse in agriculture, which is linked to declining soil microbiome health, resistant weeds, and pollution in water systems—impacting both human and planetary health.
What YOU can do
How we can support
favourite brands to support
Ceres Organics
Chantal Organics
The Organic Farm Butchery
Serious Food Co
Little Bird Organics
Kooee Snacks
The Jivita Way (nourished15 for 15% off)
advocacy groups to follow
Organics Aotearoa
Organic NZ
Farmers Footprint NZ
Farmers Footprint Australia
Biogro NZ
Australian Organic
Organic Week NZ
