“No-One Wants a Chemical Linked to Cancer in Their Breakfast” – Groups Call for Action on Toxic Pesticide Residues

Banning the herbicide glyphosate at harvest could stop this chemical being sprayed on food crops covering a combined footprint five times the size of London, the Soil Association has said.

Glyphosate is used by some farmers to tackle weeds, but it is also often sprayed on crops to dry them out at harvest time. This leaves residues in foods like bread, breakfast cereal, and beer, with nearly half of crop samples tested in the UK across wheat, barley and oats containing the chemical.

Use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent was banned in the EU in 2023, and the UK government now has the chance to do the same as it negotiates a deal with the EU.

But reports suggest the Glyphosate Renewal Group – made up of manufacturers of glyphosate-based weedkillers – is arguing for the UK to diverge from the EU and continue to allow the practice.

These trade talks come at the same time as the chemical’s UK license expires, with the government due to decide in December what uses, if any, will be permitted for the next 15 years.

In an open letter, the Soil Association, Nature Friendly Farming Network, Greenpeace, Riverford, The Wildlife Trusts and other environment and health groups have called for the government to use this opportunity to end pre-harvest desiccation in the UK.