Ben & Jerry’s has pledged to remove all glyphosate-tainted ingredients from its production chain, after recent tests by U.S. food researchers found traces of the chemical in the company’s products. Glyphosate is a substance found in many common herbicides that
The study, which was conducted by Health Research Institute (HRI) laboratories in Iowa, identified glyphosate — one of the most widely used weed killers in U.S. and European agriculture — in 13 out of 14 Ben & Jerry’s ice cream tubs sampled. First introduced to the United States in 1974 by Monsanto, today the chemical is commonly sold under the brand name RoundUp.
In 2015, the World Health Organization’s cancer wing deemed glyphosate “probably carcinogenic to humans” in a long-term health study. What’s more, another peer-reviewed study published
In response to the findings, Ben & Jerry’s (which is known for its environmentally friendly brand image) says it will stop sourcing ingredients from glyphosate-treated crops by 2020. The Vermont-based ice cream company also said it will be launching a new 100 percent certified organic dairy line as soon as next year to cater to health-conscious consumers.
In the meantime, Ben & Jerry’s said its products were still safe to eat, pointing out that “the trace levels of glyphosate detected in both the U.S. and European study are below allowable U.S. and European standards.”
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