Article by Michaela Bardossas and Zen Honeycutt
On 5月 25, 2025, a Moms Across America supporter, Jennifer Berman Diaz, reached out to Bob’s Red Mill with a pressing concern: high levels of glyphosate residues were detected in their gluten-free flour.
Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide in the world. However, due to hundreds of independent studies linking it to cancer, neurological, nervous system, liver, kidney, and reproductive damage, its use has been restricted or banned in over 60 countries.
What unfolded after Jennifer contacted them was an exchange that underscores the critical role of independent testing, transparent sourcing, and the urgent need for companies to step up for the well-being of their customers:
“A concerning level, (143 ppb) of glyphosate was found in Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free Flour in testing performed by Moms Across America. Even smaller amounts are connected with conditions, including liver disease.
When are you going to address this?”
This was their response:
| “Hello, Jen. Thank you for reaching out to us. We appreciate your concern about glyphosate in food products and, specifically in Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free flour. Glyphosate is an herbicide that is approved by the USDA for use in non-organic farming. Pesticide and herbicide use is regulated and there are allowable maximum residue tolerances which are set by the USDA. The EPA has also indicated that glyphosate has a low toxicity for people and is not likely to be carcinogenic in humans. Our Gluten-free flour complies with FDA and food safety standards. Bob’s Red Mill is aware of the recent article posted on momsacrossamerica.com. At this time, we have no information about the test methodology, quality standards, or soundness of scientific practices followed when the test was conducted. We are also without information about the qualifications of the individuals performing the tests, the equipment used, the processes followed or anything other than what was posted to the internet. Accordingly, until we are able to evaluate the test results and obtain more information, we cannot comment except to say that we have significant doubts about how the website has interpreted the test results. We stand behind our products and food safety practices. Thank you, Kayla Customer Service Representative Bob's Red Mill Natural Foods” |
Zen Honeycutt, founder and director of Moms Across America then wrote to Bob’s Red Mill:
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“Dear Bob's Red Mill, I am cc'ing the owner of the laboratory we used to conduct the testing we used to test for glyphosate/AMPA. John Fagan will be happy to share the methodology with you. We have worked with him for over 7 years, and his laboratory has conducted glyphosate testing using the same methodology that Monsanto, the original manufacturer of glyphosate, uses. The information is readily available and does not need interpreting. We invite you to conduct your own testing to ensure your understanding of the residue levels in your flour. We also invite you to consider that you have enormous buying power, and the trust of your customers could be strengthened if you used that buying power to tell your suppliers you will no longer be accepting grains with glyphosate residues within the following year, giving them advance notice so they can change their farming practices. We would like to remind you that the practice of spraying a desiccant is fairly recent, only within the past 20 years, and is not necessary; thousands of organic and biodynamic farmers use other methods. Also, the standards set by the EPA are not based on independent science that includes human health and safety. The EPA's standards are based on industry use, as can be seen in the EPA limits for glyphosate residues - they are different on different crops - 30 ppm on wheat, 200 ppm on mint etc. If their standards were based on health and safety, the MRL would be the same on all crops to limit exposure to humans. The independent science on glyphosate (Huber, Seralini et al) shows .1 ppb is the amount to be avoided. You can find many studies showing levels from 1 ppt, .1 ppb, 4 ppb contributing to breast cancer, liver and kidney disease, sex hormone changes, and other harms. There is no longer any excuse not to know this information. It is readily available. Customers trust and are loyal to brands that are responsible for the safety of their products.We understand that what we are asking for is challenging, but we have faith in the farmers who toil tirelessly to provide for our country, that they can farm as their ancestors have farmed for thousands of years, without toxic chemicals. We have farmer advisors who have done this, like Mark Doudlah of Doudlah Farms, because when his father got his chemo box, it said Bayer on it - the same company that sold him the agrochemicals they used to use on his farm that gave him cancer. Farmers can farm successfully without those chemicals, they just need a market to ensure they can sell their products. You can be a part of creating that market. We hope you will do so and share the actions you are taking to improve the safety of your products. We will celebrate the companies that do! Thank you for your consideration.” |
The exchange with Bob’s Red Mill reveals a familiar dynamic: corporate assurances versus the mounting evidence of harm from glyphosate and other chemical exposures. We believe that change begins when consumers speak up and brands listen. We invite Bob’s Red Mill—and all food producers—to test, to act, and to prioritize health over convenience or regulatory loopholes. Glyphosate-based herbicides have been banned in other countries, especially as a drying agent.
There are plenty of nontoxic alternatives, and if it can be done in Europe, we can do it here too. Please sign our petition to ban the use of glyphosate as well as 84 other chemicals that have been banned in Europe and other countries.
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