“Gluten-Free” Foods Tested for Glyphosate, Other Pesticides, & Gluten

Which “gluten-free” foods have the least amount of toxic herbicide glyphosate, other pesticides, and gluten? A recent consumer study tested close to 50 “gluten-free” processed food products for several types of pesticides and gluten at the laboratory and Mamavation is about to summarize this study and showcase the brands that did the best and worst by comparison. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you consumer studies like safest olive oils and coconut oils tested for toxic phthalates, safest cinnamon tested for glyphosate and heavy metals, & safest coffee tested for 500+ pesticides and mycotoxins, now join us for the results of the “gluten-free” foods tested for several pesticides, such as glyphosate, and gluten.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post contains affiliate links, with most to Amazon, which means Mamavation will receive a portion of those sales and we will use that to pay for testing and other business needs of the site. You can also give a tax-deductible donation to our consumer studies here through Environmental Health Sciences. Love Mamavation but hate the ads? Check out our ad-free membership here. Thank you!  Copyright © 2024 Mamavation — All Rights Reserved

Consumer Study Finds Glyphosate, Other Pesticides, & Gluten in “Gluten-Free” Foods

Moms Across America tested 46 samples of gluten-free foods at an EPA-certified laboratory looking for glyphosate/AMPA, 236 additional pesticides, gluten, and minerals. The samples included bread, pasta, crackers, snacks, flour, dessert mixes, bars, and chips.  After studying all the raw data, here are the main results from this most recent consumer study on gluten-free processed foods.

• Although 44 out of 46 samples tested for detectable glyphosate, only 14 products tested over 10 parts per billion (ppb) of glyphosate, which is the standardized detection level. Therefore, only 30% of the products sampled had detections over the standardized detection level of 10 ppb of glyphosate & AMPA. Why is that important? The standardized detection level is where labs can easily detect glyphosate without the risk of having false positives. This is also the European Union’s threshold for acceptable glyphosate results. We’ve based our categories on these thresholds.
• The range of glyphosate detected by their lab was between “Non-detect” to 2876.41 ppb, whereas Banza Pasta had the highest amount of glyphosate present.
• 100% of products, including organic products, had other detectable pesticides present. Out of 236 pesticides tested, 35 additional pesticides were detected in gluten-free foods with 2,4-D being the most popular.
• The range of the sum of additional pesticides was from “trace” to 147.9 ppb, whereas King Arthur Gluten-Free flour had the highest sum of additional pesticides: 1.47 of 2,4-D, 2.71 of Chlorantraniliprole, & 143.06 of Piperonyl butoxide.
• About 20% of “gluten-free” products had detectable gluten. That’s 9 products out of 46.
• The ranges of detectable gluten ranged from 6.5 ppm to 269.8 parts per million (ppm), whereas Trader Joe’s Gluten Free Everything Bagel had the most gluten detected.

Health Impacts of Glyphosate

Glyphosate

Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine] is the active ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) and is the most popular herbicide in the world. Environmental exposure to this broad-based herbicide has increased dramatically since the introduction of “Round-up Ready” genetically modified (GMO) crops in 1996 for soybean, maize, and cotton varieties. “Round-up Ready” genetically modified crops made it possible to utilize glyphosate as a broadcast herbicide while not killing the crops they were sprayed on. Glyphosate is also extensively used for deforestation efforts, such as killing brush in fire zones, and is also relied on heavily by landscapers to kill weeds on green belts and golf courses. Ultimately, glyphosate is used for eliminating weeds and shrubs, such as annual and perennial grasses, broadleaf weeds, and woody species.

Glyphosate is applied in a variety of forms: isopropylamine salt, ammonium salt, diammonium salt, dimethylammonium salt, and potassium salt. Thus it’s important to understand that when glyphosate is applied to crops or weeds, it includes additional adjuncts inside the formulation that make it more toxic and thus easier for the plants to uptake. These glyphosate formulations have also proven to be toxic to humans as well. However, companies don’t have to publicly disclose other proprietary chemicals in these herbicide formulations, and therefore, regulators and researchers can’t fully study these chemicals to determine their health effects.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) within the World Health Organization deemed glyphosate a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015. Since then, many additional studies have been done focusing on the health impacts of glyphosate. Here are some of those outcomes in terms of health effects:

• induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction,
• behavioral and motor disorders.
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease

Glyphosate is likely present in more crops & products on the shelves than can be detected through labs because of the limitations of testing and accuracy. The standardized level for testing glyphosate is 10 parts per billion (ppb). When you test below that amount, you run the real risk of getting false positives. But it’s also important to understand that glyphosate is so prevalent, that it’s also coming down in the rain and exposure is ubiquitous. Therefore, just because the lab cannot detect glyphosate does not mean it’s not present in trace amounts that can’t be detected.

Other Pesticide Testing

The study also included 246 additional pesticides in their testing. They did not list all the pesticides they tested for, but they did list the pesticides that were found present in the products. Pesticides in general are ubiquitous, persistent, hormone-disrupting, and toxic, although those impacts range from chemical to chemical. The most popular pesticide (other than glyphosate) found in “gluten-free” foods was 2,4-D, which is known for its health impacts during the Vietnam War as “Agent Orange.” This chemical has contributed to serious birth defects, cancers, and death over the years of use in war.

Today, many farmers are transitioning from glyphosate back to 2,4-D. Trace or quantifiable levels of 2,4-D were found in 25 (or 54%) of gluten-free food samples. Here’s a complete list of the pesticides found in the most recent study of “gluten-free” processed foods:

• 2,4 D
• Acetamiprid
• Azoxystrobin
• Boscalid
• Carbendazim
• Chlorantraniliprole
• Chlorantraniliprole
• Chlorothalonil
• Clothianidin
• Dichlorvos
• Difenoconazole Isomer
• Dimethomorph Isomer
• Dinotefuran
• Fenpropimorph
• Fluopyram
• Flutolanil
• Flutolanil
• Flutriafol
• Hexaconazole
• Imidacloprid
• Metalaxyl
• Metconazole
• Methoxyfenozide
• Metolachlor
• Metribuzin
• Piperonyl butoxide
• Pirimiphos methyl
• Propiconazole Isomer
• Pyraclostrobin
• Pyrimethanil
• Pyriproxyfen
• Spinosad (Spinosyn A)
• Spinosad (Spinosyn D)
• Tebuconazole
• Thiabendazole
• Thiamethoxam

Do “Gluten-Free” Processed Foods Contain Gluten? Maybe

Moms Across America also tested each “gluten-free” product for gluten and the results were a bit surprising because about 20% of the products contained detectable gluten.

Millions of Americans suffer from gluten sensitivities and they depend on “gluten-free” foods to control the amount of gluten in their diets. For people with autoimmune conditions like Celiac or allergies, it gets even more serious to control gluten. But what if some brands that were labeled “gluten-free” had detectable levels of gluten within them? This is a very real situation that may become problematic according to this recent study.

So what levels of gluten are dangerous to which populations? And what exactly does “gluten-free” mean?

• The National Celiac Association recommends no more than 20 ppm of gluten per day.
• The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) certifies “gluten-free” products below 10 ppm gluten
• The Food & Drug Administration (FDA) requires less than 20 ppm gluten to be labeled as “gluten-free”

Products in this consumer study found to have more than the FDA’s limit of 20 ppm are especially problematic to vulnerable populations with autoimmune conditions such people with as Celiac.

Mamavation’s Investigation on Gluten-Free Foods

Mamavation studied the raw data from the Moms Across America consumer study on “gluten-free” processed foods. To create categories of “not our favorite,” better, & best we created standards for each category of glyphosate, other pesticides, and gluten testing. Here’s how we divided the data for your quick and easy shopping needs.

• Not Our Favorite Gluten-Free Foods: This category represents products with over 30 ppb of glyphosate & AMPA, and/or over 30 ppb sum of other pesticides, and/or has more than 20 ppm gluten detected, which is what the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) considers “gluten-free.”
• Better Gluten-Free Foods: This category represents products with between 10 – 30 ppb of glyphosate & AMPA, and/or between 10 – 30 ppb sum of other pesticides, and/or has more than 10 ppm gluten detected, which is the level by which the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) would label “gluten-free.”
• Best Gluten-Free Foods: This category represents products with less than 10 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, and/or less than 10 ppb of other sum pesticides, and no traces of gluten.

Not Our Favorite Gluten-Free Foods

This category represents products with over 30 ppb of glyphosate & AMPA, and/or over 30 ppb sum of other pesticides, and/or has more than 20 ppm gluten detected, which is what the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) considers “gluten-free.”

Bars

• Kind Kids Chewy Chocolate Chip-Gluten Free Bars — 41.97 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 11.78 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration
• Go Macro Berry granola-Gluten Free – Organic Bar — 8.74 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 32.72 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration. This product contains 15.90 ppm gluten, which is above what the Gluten-Free Certification Organization would label “gluten-free” but below what the FDA would consider “gluten-free.”

Bread & Bagels

• Trader Joe’s Almost Everything bagel-Gluten Free — 2.69 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 13.78 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration. This product contains more gluten than what the FDA allows to be labeled as “gluten-free” — 269.8 ppm gluten.

Cookies, Muffins & Desserts

• Pamela’s Figgies and Jammies Mission Fig-Gluten Free Cookies — 55.75 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 6.62 ppb total other pesticide concentration
• Flax4life Chocolate Brownies-Gluten Free Muffins — 120.12 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 2.06 ppb total other pesticide concentration
• MadeGood Soft Baked Mini Cookies-Gluten Free — 2.90 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 4.85 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration. This product contains more gluten than what the FDA allows to be labeled as “gluten-free” — 56.1 ppm of gluten.
• Simple Mills Brownie Mix-Gluten Free — 10.18 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 39.43 ppb sum total other pestide concentration. Also contains more gluten than what the FDA allows to be able to label “gluten-free”– 31.7 ppm of gluten.

Crackers & Snacks

• Simple mills Almond flour crackers-Gluten Free — 49.28 ppb glyphosate & AMPA. This product contains more gluten than what the FDA allows to be labeled as “gluten-free” — 59.4 ppm gluten.
• Milton’s Crispy Sea Salt crackers-Gluten Free — 11.34 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 74.26 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration
• Quinn Peanut Butter Pretzel-Gluten Free — 13.72 ppb glyphosate & AMPA,  & 31.21 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration

Flour

• Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour — 151.37 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 5.08 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration
• King Arthur Measure for Measure Gluten Free Flour — 6.72 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 147.19 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration
• Pamela’s Artisan Blend Flour Gluten Free — 4.67 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 37.12 ppm sum total other pesticide concentration

Pasta

• Banza Cavatappi CHICKPEA pasta-Gluten Free Pasta— 2876.41 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 3.41 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration

Better Gluten-Free Foods

This category represents products with between 10 – 30 ppb of glyphosate & AMPA, and/or between 10 – 30 ppb sum of other pesticides, and/or has more than 10 ppm gluten detected, which is the level by which the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) would label “gluten-free.”

Bars

• Enjoy Life Chocolate Candy Bar-Rice milk-Gluten Free Bars — 6.41 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 16.43 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration

Bread & Bagels

• Canyon House Bakery 7-Grain dairy, soy & nut free-Gluten Free Bread — 10.11 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 1.51 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration
• O’Doughs sprouted whole grain flax-Gluten Free Bagels — 19.57 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 1.81 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration

Cookies, Muffins & Dessert

• Simple Mills Almond Flour Chocolate Chip-Gluten Free Cookies — 17.42 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 25.53 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration

Pasta

• Jovial Organic Spaghetti-Gluten Free — 2.65 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 2.98 ppb sum other pesticide concentration. This product contains 10.60 ppm of gluten, which is slightly above what the Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO) labels as “gluten-free.”

Snacks & Crackers

• Glutino Pretzel twists-Gluten Free  — 13.87 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• Mary’s Gone Crackers Super seed organic-Gluten Free— 32.12 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 5.08 ppb sum total other pesticide concentration

Best Gluten-Free Foods

This category represents products with less than 10 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, and/or less than 10 ppb of other sum pesticides, and no traces of gluten.

Bars

• Made Good Strawberry crispy squares-Gluten Free Bars — 1.15 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 2.64 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration. This product contains 6.50 ppm gluten which is in accordance with what the Gluten-Free Certification Organization would label as “gluten-free.”

Bread & Bagels

• Canyon House Bakery Plain Gluten Free Bagels — 7.30 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 6.80 ppb sum other pesticide concentration
• Udi’s Soft White sandwich Bread-gluten free — 1.29 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 1.90 ppb sum other pesticide concentration
• Pacha Organic Buckwheat Buns-Gluten Free — 4.56 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• Schar Artisan Baker White Bread-Gluten free — 1.46 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• Schar Plain new york style pre-sliced-Gluten Free Bagels — 1.34 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, 1.69 ppb sum other pesticide concentration
• Simple Kneads Quinoa Bread-Gluten Free- Organic — 6.05 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• Trader Joes White Sandwich Bread-Gluten Free — 3.72 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, 9.94 ppb sum other pesticide concentration

Cookies, Muffins & Dessert

• Glutino Chocolate Vanilla Creme-Gluten Free Cookies — 2.27 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 1.42 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• Katz Fudge brownie muffin snacks-Gluten Free  — 3.87 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• King Arthur Ultimate Fudge Brownie mix-Gluten Free — 4.72 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 7.48 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• *Live Gfree Cornbread Mix— Trace amounts of glyphosate, & 1.26 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• Pamela’s Chocolate Cake mix-Gluten Free Dessert — 1.60 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 5.89 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• Simple Mills Almond Flour Vanilla Cupcake Mix-Gluten Free Cookies — 8.42 glyphosate & AMPA, & 5.70 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• Trader Joe’s Double Chocolate -Gluten Free Muffins — 3.05 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 3.13 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration

Crackers & Snacks

• *Edward and Sons Rice Crackers— non-detect glyphosate, & 3.36 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• *Lesser Evil Popcorn— non-detect glyphosate, & 1.74 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• Siete Cassava Chips, Tortilla Chips-Gluten Free — 4.54 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, 1.28 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration
• Siete Cassava flour tortillas-Gluten Free — 5.23 ppb glyphosate & AMPA (possible repeat test), 1.12 ppb sum other total pesticide concentration

Flour

• 365 Whole Foods Market Sandwich Bread-Gluten Free — 1.36 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• Arrowhead Mills Organic All Purpose Gluten-Free Flour — 6.36 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 3.65 ppb sum other pesticide concentration

Pasta

• Barilla Penne Gluten-Free Pasta — 1.32 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 8.55 ppb sum other pesticide concentration
• Mountain High Organic Macaroni Gluten Free — 6.63 ppb glyphosate & AMPA
• Tinkyada Organic Brown Rice Pasta-Gluten Free — 1.27 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 1.48 ppb sum other pesticide concentration
• Trader Joe’s Brown rice Penne pasta-Gluten Free – Organic — 6.63 ppb glyphosate & AMPA, & 1.38 ppb sum other pesticide concentration. This product contains 8.20 ppm gluten, which is in accordance with what the Gluten-Free Certification Organization would label as “gluten-free.”