New Testing Application Advances Glyphosate Detection in Food Products
In the minds of many, the symbiosis between food and pesticides is unbreakable. Globally, pesticides—herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides—are used to protect food and humans from various diseases and feed a burgeoning world populace estimated to reach 8 billion by 2023. At the same time, serious environmental and human health concerns (e.g., cancer, kidney damage, and nervous system disorders) associated with these substances have caused legions of health-minded consumers to approach food shopping with tremors of trepidation.
Due to their persistence in the environment, pesticide residues are commonly found in a wide range of foods and beverages—ranging from water and wine to fruits and vegetables—at levels that are considered safe by a host of national and international bodies. In studies, residues have also been detected in human breast milk samples, prompting concerns about prenatal exposure and health effects in children.[1]