Glyphosate detected in South African baby cereal sparks call for ban amid health concerns
The African Centre for Biodiversity (ACB) has raised alarms after detecting glyphosate residues in baby cereal and wheat products in South Africa at levels exceeding default maximum residue limits. This discovery, reported in February 2026, has spurred calls from the watchdog group for a total ban on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) in the country.
Health risks to vulnerable populations
Zakiyya Ismail, ACB’s research coordinator, expressed deep concern regarding glyphosate’s presence in baby cereals. “Babies are the most vulnerable. It shouldn’t be there. We know that glyphosate is an endocrine disruptor, so if young babies are being fed this every day, that is highly problematic. It can affect their physical health and development,” she said in a phone interview with Mongabay.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Bayer’s Roundup and other popular herbicides, is the most widely used herbicide in South Africa. It is commonly applied on genetically modified crops such as Roundup Ready maize. Yet, intriguingly, glyphosate is not authorised for use on wheat crops in South Africa. The presence of glyphosate residues in wheat flour and derived products like baby cereals remains unexplained and is under investigation by the ACB.
Calls for regulatory action and unanswered questions
The ACB has formally petitioned South Africa’s Department of Agriculture to deregister and ban glyphosate-based products. However, as of March 2026, no decisive action has been taken by the government. Efforts to obtain comments from Bayer and the government department were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Understanding glyphosate’s impacts
Glyphosate functions by blocking the synthesis of specific amino acids essential for plant growth, effectively killing weeds. However, this chemical can enter human systems through food consumption, contact with contaminated surfaces, or inhalation. Scientific studies have linked glyphosate and GBHs to numerous health issues including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Significantly, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) affiliated with the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen in 2015. This classification has prompted class-action lawsuits in North America against Bayer, with a landmark US settlement of $7.25 billion for approximately 65,000 claims alleging glyphosate exposure caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Global and local regulatory contexts
In a contrasting move, former US President Donald Trump issued an executive order in February 2026 aimed at boosting glyphosate production, a step that ACB hopes South Africa will avoid to protect public health.
Studies show that glyphosate use contributes to a decline in plant micronutrient content, including vital nutrients such as manganese, zinc, and magnesium—elements critical to human nutrition. This is particularly detrimental in countries like South Africa, where food security is fragile and an estimated 15 to 16 million people face food insecurity despite constitutional guarantees of the right to adequate food and water.
Zimbabwe context: the need for vigilance and safer practices
While this alarming situation unfolds in South Africa, Zimbabwean agricultural stakeholders can learn valuable lessons. Glyphosate is also used in Zimbabwe, especially in commercial farming and in the cultivation of genetically modified crops. However, the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development has emphasised sustainable farming and climate-smart practices under national strategies like AFSRTS 2.
A case in point is the proactive approach by Zimbabwe’s smallholder farmers in Mashonaland East province who have been increasingly adopting integrated pest management and organic farming techniques that minimise herbicide usage. Such practices not only safeguard human health but also improve soil fertility and biodiversity, aligning with Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) goals for sustainable, climate-resilient agriculture.
Path forward: protecting public health and food systems
The discovery of glyphosate residues in baby cereal in South Africa serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for stringent regulations, transparent monitoring, and public awareness regarding chemical residues in food. It highlights the importance of protecting vulnerable populations, especially infants and children, from potentially harmful exposures.
Stakeholders across southern Africa must work collaboratively to promote safer alternatives, strengthen food safety protocols, and support smallholder farmers in transitioning towards sustainable agriculture. As Zakiyya Ismail powerfully stated, “We should keep glyphosate off our plates to be safe.” This call reverberates across the region.
FFA Explainer:
Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that kills weeds by inhibiting a plant enzyme involved in amino acid synthesis. However, it has been associated with health concerns such as endocrine disruption and cancer risks. Maximum residue limits (MRLs) specify the highest level of pesticide residues legally permitted in food.
About The Author
