Roundup Residues in Food: Health Questions, Testing Data, and What It Could Mean for Your Legal Rights

Headlines about popular foods containing residues of the weedkiller Roundup have left many consumers with pressing questions. You may be wondering what these findings mean for your family’s health and what your legal rights are. While government agencies have approved the use of Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, emerging health concerns and widespread testing data have created significant public debate.

If you are worried about the potential health effects of glyphosate exposure through your diet, it is important to understand the science, the law, and your options. At Walch Law, our consultations are always free and confidential. Call now to learn more.

What Is Glyphosate and Why Is It in Our Food?

Glyphosate is the world’s most widely used herbicide and the active ingredient in products like Roundup. In agriculture, it is used to control weeds for crops like corn, soy, and oats. One common practice is to spray glyphosate on crops shortly before harvest to dry them out, which can leave residues in the final food products that make their way to grocery store shelves.

Regulatory agencies have established “tolerances,” or legally permissible levels of these residues in food. However, there is a significant disagreement among global health organizations about the safety of glyphosate.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has stated that glyphosate has low toxicity and is “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans” when used according to directions.¹
In contrast, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015.²

This stark difference in opinion is at the heart of the public’s concern and the ongoing legal battles.

Public Testing Data: What Do the Findings Mean?

Several independent studies have fueled the conversation about glyphosate in food. While these findings are concerning, it’s important to understand what they do and do not prove.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has published multiple reports showing glyphosate residues in popular oat-based products like cereals and snack bars, many of which are marketed to children.³
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as part of its National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), found glyphosate in over 80% of urine samples collected from U.S. residents, suggesting widespread exposure across the population.⁴

These studies show that many people are being exposed to glyphosate through their diet. However, they do not, by themselves, prove that this exposure caused a specific health condition in any single person. They highlight the need for more independent, long-term research into the effects of chronic, low-dose glyphosate exposure.

Potential Health Risks Under Discussion

The most prominent legal battles involving Roundup have focused on the link between high levels of exposure and a specific type of cancer.

Plaintiffs in these lawsuits, often agricultural workers or groundskeepers, have successfully argued that their occupational exposure to Roundup caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Beyond this established litigation, some scientific literature has explored potential links between glyphosate and other health issues, such as kidney, liver, and gut health problems. This research is still developing, and the scientific community remains divided. This article is not medical advice, and any health concerns should be discussed with a qualified physician.

The Legal Landscape for Dietary Exposure Claims

To date, the multi-million dollar verdicts in Roundup lawsuits have been for plaintiffs with extensive, direct exposure from using the product themselves. The legal path for someone whose exposure comes only from food is less clear and presents significant challenges.

Potential legal theories that could be explored include:

Failure to Warn: Arguing that manufacturers knew about potential health risks but failed to adequately warn the public.
False Advertising or Consumer Fraud: Claiming that products were marketed as safe or natural while containing glyphosate residues.

The primary hurdle in a dietary exposure case is proving causation—that is, drawing a clear, scientifically supported line from the amount of glyphosate consumed in food to a specific medical diagnosis. This requires a deep and individualized review of a person’s exposure history and medical records.

Evidence to Collect If You Have Concerns

If you have a medical condition that you believe may be linked to glyphosate exposure, collecting detailed information is the first step in evaluating a potential claim.

A complete medical history, including all relevant diagnoses and physician notes.
Records of food purchases, such as grocery receipts or loyalty card data, that show the brands and products you frequently consumed.
Packaging or labels from food products, if available.
Information on other potential sources of glyphosate exposure, such as personal use of Roundup for lawn and garden care.
A history of any employment that involved working with or near herbicides. For instance, a farmworker.
A personal journal detailing your symptoms and their timeline.

Practical Steps You Can Take Now

Consult Your Doctor: Your health is the priority. Discuss any medical symptoms or concerns with your physician.
Consider Your Dietary Choices: Consumers concerned about glyphosate can find resources from organizations like the Environmental Working Group on foods with lower residue levels or choose certified organic products, which are grown without the use of synthetic herbicides like Roundup.
Preserve Records: Keep all relevant medical, financial, and product records in a safe place.
Find the best California Roundup Law Firm for you: Strict time limits, known as statutes of limitation, apply to all personal injury claims. Speaking with an experienced attorney early can help you understand your rights and the viability of a potential claim. You California Roundup lawsuit can be worth a lot of money with Walch Law and no money upfront from you.

Our Family is Here to Help Yours– Winning California Roundup Law Firm

The debate over Roundup and our food supply is complex and evolving. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with a serious illness and you suspect a link to glyphosate exposure, you need clear answers. The team at Walch Law has over 45 years of experience helping Californians navigate complex product liability claims. We can review your situation, explain your legal options, and help you decide on the best path forward.

¹ https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/glyphosate
² https://www.iarc.who.int/featured-news/media-centre-iarc-news-glyphosate/
³ https://www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2018/10/roundup-breakfast-part-2-new-tests-weed-killer-found-all-kids
⁴ https://www.cdc.gov/exposurereport/index.html