Wine Ingredients Follow Up : If you like California varieties you should pay close attention
If you purchase organic foods or beverages, you should theoretically be safe from glyphosate exposure, as this chemical is not allowed in organic farming. But a new analysis revealed glyphosate has now infiltrated not only wine but also organic wine. An anonymous supporter of advocacy group Moms Across America sent 10 wine samples to be tested for glyphosate. All of the samples tested positive for glyphosate — even organic wines, although their levels were significantly lower. The highest level detected was 18.74 parts per billion (ppb), which was found in a 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon from a conventional vineyard. This was more than 28 times higher than the other samples tested. The lowest level, 0.659 ppb, was found in a 2013 Syrah, which was produced by a biodynamic and organic vineyard. An organic wine made from 2012 mixed red wine grapes also tested positive for glyphosate at a level of 0.913 ppb. Glyphosate residues are allowed on 160 of food and feed crops by the EPA at levels 0.2 to 400 ppm.
Most people are unaware of the fact that glyphosate is patented as an antibiotic. It’s designed to kill bacteria, which is one of the primary ways it harms both soils and human health. German scientists have shown that 0.1 ppb of glyphosate, which is patented as an antibiotic, has been shown to destroy the beneficial gut bacteria and promote the proliferation of pathogenic gut bacteria. Recent research has even concluded that Roundup (and other pesticides) promotes antibiotic resistance.
As noted in the MAA article, "It is important to note that the detection of glyphosate is an indicator of the presence of many other coformulants in glyphosatebased herbicides which have recently been shown by French scientist Seralini’s team to be endocrine hormone disruptors and to be 1000x more toxic than glyphosate alone. Therefore, the type or amount of the coformulant chemicals in the wines are untested and the consequences on our health are unknown.
The glyphosate tests on the 10 wines were not a scientific study. However, these tests provide compelling evidence that the wine producers which use glyphosate based herbicides or other toxic chemicals in any product and regulators who approve products for safety will need to conduct or require independent testing for glyphosate and co formulants and responsibly insure the safety and purity of their wines. The results which show glyphosate present in organic and biodynamic wine point to serious implications for the organic and biodynamic wine industry. If herbicide drift is not contained, the value of the wine, name brand and livelihood of these farmers are at risk due to no fault of their own."
I personally have concluded that these wines were affecting my own health. I was regularly enjoying wines from that region and had also been suffering from gastric issues that I couldn't otherwise pinpoint the cause of. After reading this I stopped drinking any wine for a while and my gastric issues were solved. Then I reintroduced only wine from sources I completely trusted and was fine. This I do not believe to be a coincidence, especially because one glass of CA wine puts me right back there.
The takeaway is that the best way to buy wine is from wineries that don't use pesticides and are not adjacent to any farms that use them. This will require you to do a little research, but perhaps that will involve a wine tour or two...not such a horrible way to learn!