5 ms·

A lot of people don't know that RoundUp is sprayed on many (perhaps most) grains shortly before harvest. It desiccates the grain crop, keeping the combine from

A lot of people don't know that RoundUp is sprayed on many (perhaps most) grains shortly before harvest. It desiccates the grain crop, keeping the combine from getting gummed up and increasing yields. When I learned this, I decided enough was enough and switched to strictly organic grains. I think it actually helps my health quite a bit. I wonder how many of the health problems we blame on wheat are actually due to the poison that is routinely sprayed on it.

soperj 8y ago
They spray organic food as well. Just with different stuff, like nicotine.
- insensible 8y ago
  I've been a veggie farmer. I'm familiar with what's allowed in the NOP (national organic program), and given the chance to be exposed to the worst of it I'd choose it over RoundUp every day of the week.
cfontes 8y ago
The problem is to track a real organic food. You can be paying 30% more for your food and still be eating pesticides. There is no fool proof way to do this validation in most countries.
- insensible 8y ago
  I absolutely know that organic food also contains glyphosate and that I'm not eliminating my exposure. My family has chosen to reduce our exposure this way, since to whatever extent the organic certification works, this practice is prohibited.
khawkins 8y ago
Snopes has debunked this claim. "We reject the notion, however, that this “common” practice of U.S. farmers “saturating” wheat crops with Roundup herbicide as a desiccant before each harvest has been causing an increase in wheat-related ailments, as these claims are unsupported even by the research cited in articles making such a claim." https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/grain-of-truth/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/grain-of-truth/
- r00fus 8y ago
  How definitive is Snopes.com? I don't see a specific reference as to why they made their rejection. Anecdotally, I spent a year in France in the 00's and had minimal issues with bread I consumed there (before I realized I was sensitive to wheat in general). Also I know someone who moved from France to the US and she's had lots more digestive and allergy issues with fruits/etc in the decade+ she's been here.
- insensible 8y ago
  I've reviewed grain-industry literature discussing this issue as a matter-of-fact consideration (in materials that were primarily on other topics). I've read accounts from grain farmers themselves. It's not made up.
sampo 8y ago
> poison that is routinely sprayed on it In rat studies, glyphosate has about the same LD50 value as table salt.
- insensible 8y ago
  I said "poison" to refer to something that is sold for the purpose of being devastating to many forms of biological life. I and many very smart and well-educated people I know prefer to avoid exposing ourselves to industrial poisons if we can avoid it, even if they target different species. Speaking of LD50 values: I know some people who ingest borax as a mineral supplement, and its LD50 is higher than table salt, roughly double if I recall correctly. I bet I can't get you to try it as a dietary supplement! The point is that there is more to consider than that one specific measurement.
  - sampo 8y ago
    > The point is that there is more to consider than that one specific measurement. So what are the other measurements to consider?

soperj 8y ago

They spray organic food as well. Just with different stuff, like nicotine.

insensible 8y ago
I've been a veggie farmer. I'm familiar with what's allowed in the NOP (national organic program), and given the chance to be exposed to the worst of it I'd choose it over RoundUp every day of the week.

cfontes 8y ago

The problem is to track a real organic food. You can be paying 30% more for your food and still be eating pesticides. There is no fool proof way to do this validation in most countries.

insensible 8y ago
I absolutely know that organic food also contains glyphosate and that I'm not eliminating my exposure. My family has chosen to reduce our exposure this way, since to whatever extent the organic certification works, this practice is prohibited.

khawkins 8y ago

Snopes has debunked this claim. "We reject the notion, however, that this “common” practice of U.S. farmers “saturating” wheat crops with Roundup herbicide as a desiccant before each harvest has been causing an increase in wheat-related ailments, as these claims are unsupported even by the research cited in articles making such a claim." https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/grain-of-truth/ https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/grain-of-truth/

r00fus 8y ago
How definitive is Snopes.com? I don't see a specific reference as to why they made their rejection. Anecdotally, I spent a year in France in the 00's and had minimal issues with bread I consumed there (before I realized I was sensitive to wheat in general). Also I know someone who moved from France to the US and she's had lots more digestive and allergy issues with fruits/etc in the decade+ she's been here.
insensible 8y ago
I've reviewed grain-industry literature discussing this issue as a matter-of-fact consideration (in materials that were primarily on other topics). I've read accounts from grain farmers themselves. It's not made up.

sampo 8y ago

> poison that is routinely sprayed on it In rat studies, glyphosate has about the same LD50 value as table salt.

insensible 8y ago
I said "poison" to refer to something that is sold for the purpose of being devastating to many forms of biological life. I and many very smart and well-educated people I know prefer to avoid exposing ourselves to industrial poisons if we can avoid it, even if they target different species. Speaking of LD50 values: I know some people who ingest borax as a mineral supplement, and its LD50 is higher than table salt, roughly double if I recall correctly. I bet I can't get you to try it as a dietary supplement! The point is that there is more to consider than that one specific measurement.
- sampo 8y ago
  > The point is that there is more to consider than that one specific measurement. So what are the other measurements to consider?