What Is Glyphosate - and Why Are So Many People Choosing Organic Food Because of It?

What is glyphosate - and why are so many people choosing organic food because of it?

Last updated: May 2026

If you've spent any time in the world of organic food, you've probably heard the word glyphosate. But what actually is it, what does the research say about its effects on health, and why does it matter when you're choosing what to put in your trolley?

Here's a straightforward look at what we know.

What is glyphosate?

Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide - a chemical used to kill weeds. It was first commercialised in 1974 under the brand name Roundup by Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, and has since become the most widely used herbicide in the world.

Its popularity accelerated significantly in the 1990s with the development of genetically modified "Roundup Ready" crops - plants engineered to be resistant to glyphosate, allowing farmers to spray fields heavily without killing their crops.

Today, glyphosate is used on a vast scale in conventional agriculture across Australia and globally. Its global usage is projected to reach approximately 920,000 tonnes annually by 2025. In Australia, there are around 500 glyphosate products registered by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA).

It is also commonly used as a pre-harvest desiccant - sprayed on crops like wheat and oats shortly before harvest to dry them out and speed up the process, meaning residues can end up directly in food.

What does the science say about glyphosate and human health?

This is where things get genuinely complicated - and contested.

The official position of Australian regulators is that glyphosate is safe when used as directed. The APVMA has conducted detailed scientific assessments and determined that a reconsideration of glyphosate was not required.

However, not all scientific bodies agree. In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" based on findings in studies on humans and animals. This classification triggered significant public debate and a wave of legal action against Bayer in the United States that continues today.

More recently, several studies have demonstrated that glyphosate can provoke cellular alterations associated with blood cancers, kidney damage, and neurological diseases. A comprehensive review published in the Archives of Toxicology in 2025 examined published studies from 2010 to 2025 and found ongoing toxicological concerns - particularly regarding glyphosate-based formulations, which may be more harmful than glyphosate alone.

The scientific debate is real, ongoing, and unlikely to be resolved quickly. What is clear is that the question of glyphosate's safety at real-world human exposure levels remains genuinely open.

The gut microbiome connection

One of the most significant emerging areas of glyphosate research involves the gut microbiome - the vast community of bacteria that live in our digestive systems and play a central role in immunity, mental health, digestion, and overall wellbeing.

Here's why this matters: glyphosate works by inhibiting an enzyme called EPSPS in the shikimate pathway - a biochemical process that plants use to produce essential amino acids. Humans don't have this pathway, which is one reason regulators have historically considered glyphosate low-risk for people.

But gut bacteria do have this pathway. Research has found that more than half of bacterial species in the core human gut microbiome are potentially sensitive to glyphosate.

A review published in the journal Gut Microbiome found that glyphosate's potential to inhibit the growth of beneficial microbes in the gut or alter their functionality is an important topic that warrants further consideration - particularly given that glyphosate was actually patented as an antibiotic in 2010, decades after its introduction as a herbicide.

A 2025 study also found that glyphosate exposure may contribute to anxiety-related disorders and alters gut microbial composition - adding to a growing body of research linking gut disruption to mental health outcomes.

This research is still developing, and it's important to note that most studies have been conducted in animal models. Controlled human trials are difficult to conduct ethically. But the picture emerging from the science is one that warrants attention.

Glyphosate in the Australian environment

Glyphosate isn't just in food. A 2025 study examining 22 Australian wastewater treatment plants found glyphosate was detected in all 22 influent samples, and estimated that approximately 5,000 kg of glyphosate reaches the Australian aquatic environment each year.

The study also identified increasing glyphosate use over the past decade - meaning environmental exposure is growing, not diminishing.

Does certified organic food reduce glyphosate exposure?

Yes - and this is the most direct practical takeaway.

Certified organic farming prohibits the use of synthetic herbicides including glyphosate. Organic certification in Australia is governed by bodies including Australian Certified Organic (ACO) and the National Association for Sustainable Agriculture Australia (NASAA), which require strict adherence to chemical-free farming practices.

Choosing certified organic food - particularly for staples like wheat, oats, grains and legumes that are commonly treated with glyphosate as a desiccant - is one of the most effective ways to reduce dietary exposure.

What this means for how you shop

We're not here to alarm anyone. The science on glyphosate is genuinely contested, and we think it's important to represent that honestly rather than exaggerate the risk.

What we do believe is that the precautionary principle matters when it comes to what you eat every day - especially when questions about gut health are at stake. The gut microbiome research in particular is something we're watching closely.

Choosing organic where you can is a reasonable, practical response to that uncertainty. At Santos, every product we stock meets our Care Check process - and where certification matters, we look for it.

If you're looking to reduce your exposure to synthetic herbicides and pesticides, some of the most impactful places to start are the staples you eat most often: bread, oats, pasta, legumes and grains. Choosing certified organic versions of these makes a meaningful difference.

Some other articles related to Glyphosate and organic food:

Lawsuits against Chemical Agriculture Product Producers Begin
Organic Flour in Australia: A Complete Guide to Every Variety
Buying Bulk Organic Food in Australia: The Complete Guide

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. If you have specific health concerns, please consult a qualified health practitioner.