NAWG, NAMA and ABA reassure consumers that bread remains safe following Florida’s glyphosate testing results
Florida’s Healthy Florida First initiative continued this week with the release of new food-safety test results, this time focusing on bread commonly sold across the state. According to Florida officials, glyphosate residues were detected in six of eight bread products tested.
The state’s Department of Health described the testing as part of a broader effort to increase transparency around contaminants in everyday foods. Officials stated that the results are intended to help families make informed choices and highlighted what they described as “troubling levels” of glyphosate in several products.
In response to the heightened attention surrounding the announcement, the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG), the North American Millers’ Association (NAMA) and the American Bakers Association (ABA) issued a joint statement to reassure consumers and reaffirm the safety of bread products nationwide.
The joint statement from NAWG, NAMA and ABA said, “Our nation’s farmers, millers and bakers proudly serve families and communities as they champion safe, consistent, accessible and affordable bread. Food safety is the top priority for the grain we grow, the flour we mill and the bread we bake for all Americans.
"We appreciate Healthy Florida First’s stated purpose of improving the lives of Floridians. Unfortunately, their recent announcement needlessly scares consumers about trace levels of glyphosate that don’t present genuine risks. Glyphosate is regulated and continuously reviewed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure levels are safe for all consumers, from adults to children."
It went on to say bread products remain safe.
The statement concluded by saying, "We support transparent, nationally consistent standards that protect consumers without undermining confidence in safe, consistent, accessible, and affordable foods.”
Glyphosate remains one of the most reviewed herbicides in the world. Regulatory agencies in the United States, Canada, the European Union, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea have all conducted extensive evaluations and continue to affirm that dietary exposure to glyphosate at approved levels does not pose a human health risk.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regularly reassesses the herbicide through its 15-year registration review cycle to ensure safety and confirm that existing tolerances remain appropriate.
Photo Credit: Pexels - Laura James