Home / Health / UK urged to ban 'cancer' weedkiller in food
UK urged to ban 'cancer' weedkiller in food
6 May
Summary
- Campaigners demand ban on glyphosate pesticide used in UK crops.
- Residues found in nearly half of UK wheat, barley, and oat samples.
- UK lags behind EU's 2023 ban on glyphosate as a pre-harvest agent.
A growing movement of environmental and health groups is calling on the UK government to ban the spraying of glyphosate on crops before harvest. This active ingredient, commonly found in Roundup, is used to dry out crops and control weeds. Studies have revealed that nearly half of tested UK samples of wheat, barley, and oats contain glyphosate residues, raising concerns about its presence in staple foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, and beer.
The World Health Organization classified glyphosate as a probable carcinogen in 2015, and recent scientific statements reinforce the link between glyphosate-based herbicides and harm to human health, including cancer. Campaigners point out that the UK is behind the EU, which banned the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent in 2023. The UK's authorization for glyphosate use is set to expire on December 15, with regulators currently reviewing new data.
Organizations like the Soil Association are advocating for this ban, estimating it could prevent the annual spraying of glyphosate on up to 780,000 hectares of land. They are also calling for government support for farmers to transition to alternative practices and research into safer methods, emphasizing that public health and environmental protection are paramount.
