Campaigners are calling on the Government to ban a controversial and potentially cancer-causing weedkiller that is sprayed on crops just days before they are harvested.
The chemical – known as glyphosate – is already banned in the EU but remains one of the most widely used herbicides in the UK, being sprayed on wheat, oats and other cereals.
The pesticide kills almost every plant it touches, and is used to dry out the crop and make it easier to cut down and collect.
Globally, the potential harms of glyphosate have been widely recognised.
The World Health Organization classified glyphosate as ‘probably carcinogenic’ – meaning cancer-causing – in 2015.
The EU banned its use in 2023 and it has been subject to 17,000 lawsuits in the US alleging it causes cancer and other health problems.
Despite this the weedkiller remains in widespread use, with 41 per cent of UK cereal crops tested between 2016 and 2023 containing residues of the chemical.
In 2024, 28 per cent of samples of UK bread tested contained glyphosate.
A survey by Riverford, a veg delivery service, as part of their Grievous Biological Harm campaign, found that 86 per cent of Britons were concerned about the long term harm of pesticides
Its use has skyrocketed since the 90s with the Pesticide Action Network claiming it is used 1,000 per cent more than it was three decades ago.
Soil Association Campaigns Co-ordinator, Cathy Cliff, said: ‘No-one wants a chemical linked to cancer in their sandwiches or breakfast cereal.
‘The UK is already lagging behind Europe which takes a much tougher stance on pesticides that pose a risk to human health. The government must act to protect public health by stopping this toxic chemical from being sprayed on our food at harvest.’
A survey by fresh vegetable delivery service Riverford, as part of their Grievous Biological Harm campaign, found that 86 per cent of Britons were concerned about the long term harm of pesticides.
A substantial amount of respondents – 66 per cent – were ‘outraged’ that glyphosate was used in the UK food system.
Experts believe that there is rightful cause for concern.
In March a global group of experts at the Seattle Glyphosate Symposium, in Seattle Washington said: ‘Regulatory agencies in countries around the world should treat glyphosate as hazardous, as some countries have started to do.
‘Agencies should act without further delay to limit their use, or eliminate them if legally required, to protect public health.’
The weedkiller is widely used on crops for beer and bread
Changes appear to be imminent in the UK as farmers have been told to prepare to adopt new products and rules.
British farmers and businesses have been told to expect changes to ‘pesticides and their respective maximum residue levels’ and ‘changes to pesticide and biocide active substance approvals.’
This comes as part of ongoing EU trade negotiations.
Officials from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are negotiating with their EU counterparts over the terms of a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement intended to make trade with the bloc ‘easier, cheaper and more predictable’.
Environmental groups say the government should use the opportunity to end the pre-harvest use of glyphosate.
‘Phasing out glyphosate as a pre-harvest desiccant, in line with restrictions across the EU, would alleviate concerns over public health and nature, while facilitating closer trade with our European neighbours,’ said the Soil Association, the Nature Friendly Farming Network, Greenpeace, the Wildlife Trusts and others in an open letter to Defra on Wednesday.
However this does not mean that British farmers will have to cut the use of pesticides to be in line with EU regulation.
According to a report by the European Food Safety Authority on Tuesday, 41.6 per cent of fruit and vegetables sold in the EU contained pesticide residues.
A Defra spokesperson said: ‘Like all pesticides, glyphosate is subject to strict regulation.’
