Glyphosate and Arsenic Found in 19 of 20 Beers and Wines Tested

Glyphosate… This isn’t the first time we’re talking about Monsanto’s cancerous, disease-promoting weed killer and it won’t be the last. If you aren’t familiar with it, the chemical glyphosate is arguably the most concerning toxin in Monsanto’s popular herbicide, RoundUp. In fact, evidence against the toxic chemical is mounting – just look at the findings below.

How Is Glyphosate Harmful to Humans?

In addition to the articles above, intensifying exposure around the world has proven to be detrimental not only to the environment but to the human race. It’s daunting but necessary to be aware of, so we’ve listed the most common glyphosate dangers.

20 Scary Glyphosate Side Effects

From labs to animals to humans, numerous studies highlight the real (and potential) dangers of glyphosate exposure – and it’s not pretty.

ADHD [1,2]

Birth defects (e.g., Anencephaly, imperforate anus, growth hormone deficiency) [3,4]
Autism [5]
Inflammatory bowel disease [5]

Neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s) [6,7]
Cancer (i.e., of the brain, breast) [8-10]
Diabetes [5]

Celiac disease and gluten intolerance [11]
Respiratory illnesses [12]
Chronic kidney disease [13]

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma [14]
Colitis [15]
Liver disease [16]

Depression [5]
Heart disease [5]
Reproductive and pregnancy problems (e.g., infertility, miscarriages, stillbirths) [17-19]

Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS) [5]
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) [5]
Hypothyroidism [12]

Obesity [5]

And now we are finding Glyphosate in more and more products.

The Dangers of Glyphosate Herbicide in Wine and Beer Can’t Be Ignored

Now, not only must we worry about the effects of glyphosate but of the toxic formulations it can contain, too. The reason we believe this reality cannot be ignored any longer is that glyphosate exposure is most likely part of your everyday life. Don’t believe it?

In March 2016, Moms Across America received the results from a lab test analyzing toxicity levels in 10 (some of them organic) wines. They were appalled to find “all ten of the wines tested positive for the chemical glyphosate, the declared ‘active’ ingredient in RoundUp weed killer and 700 other glyphosate-based herbicides.”

Although it’s not clear whether this independent report has been peer-reviewed, the commissioned analysis via Microbe Inotech Lab in St. Louis, Missouri should make anyone question the extent to which their food is contaminated. [27]

That same year, in February, the purity of German beer came under fire after a German environmental group claimed to have found traces of glyphosate in 14 of its most popular beers.

Despite having a reputation for “pure” brewing, the Munich Environmental Institute’s (MEI) report was right. As reported by Reuters, MEI “said it had tested Germany’s 14 top-selling beer brands and said all showed traces above the 0.1 microgram limit allowed in drinking water.”

The German Brewer’s Association isn’t in any rush to change legislation either, claiming that “the herbicide is now found virtually everywhere after decades of use in agriculture.” Unfortunately, that’s precisely the kind of mindset that will prevent our food and drinks from being as clean and safe as possible.

Sometimes, problems overseas can seem too far away to impact you. Clearly, however, glyphosate toxicity is something that is literally affecting people around the globe, including the United States. So much so that, even if an American beer company wasn’t intentionally using glyphosate, the toxic chemical could still end up in your beverage by virtue of how much is in circulation. Unless your beer comes from a tiny, local brewery with untouched crops…unfortunately, you can probably bet that it will come into contact with glyphosate at some point during the brewing process.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t appear to be getting better with time. According to their February 2019 report, consumer advocacy group CALPIRG tested 20 beers and wines for the presence of glyphosate. Only one, Peak Beer, did not contain detectable levels of glyphosate. They found even organic beer and wine contained glyphosate despite the fact that glyphosate is not allowed or used in organic farming. These products had lower levels of glyphosate than large, conventional brands such as Coors and Miller Lite who showed glyphosate levels above 25 ppb, but for a product that should contain 0 ppb, this is still concerning. (28)

It’s true – you are your own best advocate. So, sitting back is not an option if you don’t want to be eating and drinking toxic, life-threatening chemicals. If you’re looking to avoid glyphosate in your alcoholic beverages, stick to Peak Beer and avoid these known offenders listed with their corresponding glyphosate concentration (28):

Wine

Sutter Home Merlot (4-pack, 187 mL bottles, 2018) – 51.4 ppb

Beringer Founders Estates Moscato (750 mL bottles, 2018) – 42.6 ppb
Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon (4-pack, 187 mL bottles, 2018) – 36.3 ppb
Inkarri Malbec: Certified Organic (750 mL bottles 2016) – 5.3 ppb

Frey Organic Natural Wine (USDA Certified Organic, 750 mL bottles 2017) – 4.8 ppb

Beer

Coors Light (6-pack, 500 mL cans, 2018) – 31.1 ppb
Tsingtao Beer (4-pack, 640 mL bottles, 2017) – 49.7 ppb

Miller Lite (6-pack, 375 mL bottles, 2018) – 29.8 ppb
Budweiser (6-pack, 440 mL bottles, 2018) – 27.0 ppb
Corona Extra (6-pack, 355 mL bottles, 2017) – 25.1 ppb

Heineken (6-pack, 355 mL bottles, 2018) – 20.9 ppb
Guinness Draught (4-pack, 440 mL bottles, 2018) – 20.3 ppb
Stella Artois (6-pack, 355 mL bottles, 2017) – 18.7 ppb

Stella Artois Cidre (6-pack, 355 mL bottles, 2018) – 9.1 ppb
Ace Perry Hard Cider (6-pack, 650 mL bottles, 2018) – 14.5 ppb
New Belgium Fat Tire Amber Ale (6-pack, 350 mL bottles, 2018) – 11.2 ppb

Sam Adams New England IPA (4-pack, 475 mL cans, 2018) – 11.0 ppb
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (6-pack, 350 mL cans, 2018) – 11.8 ppb
Samuel Smith’s Organic Lager (550 mL bottle, 2017) – 5.7 ppb

While these amounts are under the federal limits for what the FDA considers ‘safe’ for human consumption, it is daunting to think your Certified Organic product may be contaminated with glyphosate without anyone’s knowledge or intent.

A class-action lawsuit filed in California which claims that many inexpensive brands of wine contain illegal and dangerously high levels of poisonous inorganic arsenic. The inorganic arsenic is more than 500 times more toxic than organic arsenic. It is often used to improve flavor, smell and color.

Here is a new order of the list of wines containing high levels of arsenic:

Almaden (Heritage White Zinfandel, Heritage Moscato, Heritage Chardonnay, Mountain Burgundy, Mountain Rhine, Mountain Chablis)
Arrow Creek (Coastal Series Cabernet Sauvignon)
Bandit (Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon)

Bay Bridge (Chardonnay)
Beringer (White Merlot, White Zinfandel, Red Moscato, Refreshingly Sweet Moscato)
Charles Shaw (White Zinfandel)

Colores Del Sol (Malbec)
Concannon (Selected Vineyards Pinot Noir)
Cook’s (Spumante)

Corbett Canyon (Pinot Grigio, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Cupcake (Malbec)
Fetzer (Moscato, Pinot Grigio)

Fisheye (Pinot Grigio)
Flipflop (Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Cabernet Sauvignon)
Foxhorn (White Zinfandel)

Franzia (Vintner Select White Grenache, Vintner Select White Zinfandel, Vintner Select White Merlot, Vintner Select Burgundy)
Glen Ellen by Concannon (Glen Ellen Reserve Pinot Grigio, Glen Ellen Reserve Merlot)
Hawkstone (Cabernet Sauvignon)

HRM Rex Goliath (Moscato)
Korbel (Sweet Rose Sparkling Wine, Extra Dry Sparkling Wine)
Menage A Trois (Pinot Grigio, Moscato, White Blend, Chardonnay, Rose, Cabernet Sauvignon, California Red Wine)

Mogen David (Concord, Blackberry Wine)
Oak Leaf (White Zinfandel)
Pomelo (Sauvignon Blanc)

R Collection By Raymond (Chardonnay)
Richards Wild Irish Rose (Red Wine)
Seaglass (Sauvignon Blanc)

Simply Naked (Moscato)
Smoking Loon (Viognier)
Sutter Home (Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Pink Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Moscato, Chenin Blanc, Sweet Red, Riesling, White Merlot, Merlot, White Zinfandel)

Before you head out to the liquor store, keep in mind these wines specifically cited in the lawsuit

Here’s A Brief List of Surprising Alternatives to RoundUp

According to Moms Across America and Transition to Organics, here are the best (and affordable) non-toxic alternatives to Monsanto’s RoundUp…

Avenger Weed Killer

Horticultural Vinegar
“Rid a Weed”
BurnOut II

20% Vinegar Herbicide
Acetic Acid
Homemade Salt and Vinegar Mixtures

Unfortunately, glyphosate and other toxic chemicals are a reality that isn’t leaving anytime soon. Thankfully, that doesn’t mean you have to suffer through it all. We hope this article has helped grow your awareness and knowledge of how you can lead healthier, toxin-free lives.