Are You Drinking Glyphosate?
Yes, it’s time to talk about the “G-word” – glyphosate. Ever heard of it? We wouldn’t be surprised if you hadn’t. Glyphosate isn’t talked about much by big food because of the negative effects surrounding it. Here at Uncle Matt’s Organic, we aren’t afraid to talk about glyphosate because plain and simple – we don’t use it. We’re proud to be USDA Certified Organic and certified Glyphosate Residue Free by the Detox Project. We do think it’s important, however, to talk about glyphosate in order to understand its negative health effects and why in organic farming, we think it’s important to farm without it.
What is glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a commonly used herbicide widely sprayed across crops, and this herbicide is widely used in the United States. Ever heard of the weedkiller Roundup? Yeah, it’s the active ingredient in that product. Studies from the Environmental Working Group (EWG.org) have shown the impacts of glyphosate exposure including links to birth defects, cancer and soil contamination. In fact, the World Health Organization labeled glyphosate a “probable carcinogen” back in 2015. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not yet taken this stance which is why glyphosate finds its way into many non-organic foods today. At Uncle Matt’s we’ve taken the steps necessary to ensure glyphosate is not present in any of our beverages.
How do I make sure I’m not consuming glyphosate?
Look for the USDA Organic Seal on anything you pick up at the grocery store or online. Being certified organic means that the company follows organic best practices through every step of the production process and avoids the use of pesticides, including glyphosate. There is a thorough review and annual inspection involved to be certified organic. If you see this symbol, you can rest assured that the proper steps have been taken to not only avoid glyphosate, but a host of other potentially toxic pesticides and harmful practices.
What’s the difference between being Certified Organic and Glyphosate Residue Free?
We’re proud to have both certifications, but there is a distinction. Organic certification means that you’re presently following organic best practices established by the USDA and have not used any prohibitive substances or practices in at least the past three years. But what if glyphosate was used on crops in the same area before the three-year timeframe? There could still be trace amounts of glyphosate detectable in the soil after the switch to fully organic farming. The Glyphosate Residue Free designation means that there is no glyphosate detected, and as a company that’s been certified organic for over 20 years, we’re confident in that!
While others may fear the G-word, we aren’t afraid to talk about the measures we’ve taken to avoid it. We hold our lineup of organic juices to a high standard, and we want you to feel empowered and informed when making healthy selections for you and your family.