For years, glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup) has been under fire for its toxic effects on human health, our soil, and the environment. After mounting public pressure and countless lawsuits, Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) has finally begun removing glyphosate from some of their formulations.

But what they’ve replaced it with is even more concerning.

What’s the New Chemical?

The primary replacement being introduced in glyphosate-free herbicide products is glufosinate ammonium, a broad-spectrum herbicide that functions similarly to glyphosate—but with its own disturbing health risks. Marketed as a safer alternative, glufosinate is anything but harmless.

While Bayer’s rebranded herbicides are now labeled “glyphosate-free,” they often contain this substitute without any transparency or warning to consumers.

Understanding Glufosinate Ammonium

Glufosinate ammonium is a broad-spectrum herbicide used to control a wide range of weeds. It functions by inhibiting glutamine synthetase, an enzyme crucial for plant growth, leading to plant death. This chemical is commonly applied to genetically modified, glufosinate-tolerant crops, including varieties of corn, soybeans, and canola.

Why Glufosinate is Worse Than Glyphosate

Here’s what you need to know:

Neurotoxic Effects: Studies have linked glufosinate exposure to neurodevelopmental disorders, including ADHD and autism-like symptoms. It inhibits glutamine synthetase, a critical enzyme in the brain.
Reproductive Harm: Animal studies have shown that glufosinate can cause birth defects, delayed fetal development, and decreased fertility.
Gut Microbiome Disruption: Like glyphosate, glufosinate also wreaks havoc on the microbiome, killing beneficial bacteria and creating the perfect environment for chronic illness to take root.
Soil and Ecosystem Damage: Glufosinate negatively affects soil biology, kills pollinators, and compromises the regenerative cycle of healthy farmland.

In short, we’re trading one endocrine-disrupting, gut-damaging toxin for another—and this time, there’s even less public awareness.

How This Affects You: Silent Exposure

Even if you're not directly applying these chemicals, you’re likely consuming them:

Non-organic produce is often sprayed with herbicides containing glufosinate.
Grains and legumes (especially wheat, oats, soy, and corn) are among the most heavily treated.
Residues show up in processed foods, tap water, and animal products from conventionally raised livestock.

Health Implications of Glufosinate Ammonium

Research indicates several health concerns associated with glufosinate ammonium exposure:

Neurotoxicity: Exposure has been linked to neurological symptoms such as unconsciousness, convulsions, and memory deficits.
Reproductive Health: Studies suggest potential reproductive toxicity, including developmental issues in offspring.
Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Research indicates that glufosinate ammonium may impair mitochondrial respiration efficiency in human sperm, potentially affecting male fertility.

Foods Likely Contaminated with Glufosinate Residues

Glufosinate ammonium is primarily used on certain genetically modified crops and may be present in the following foods:

Corn and Soy Products: These crops are often genetically modified to tolerate glufosinate, leading to potential residue presence in products like cornmeal, corn syrup, tofu, and soy milk.
Canola Oil: Derived from canola plants that may be treated with glufosinate.
Wheat and Barley: Used as a pre-harvest desiccant, glufosinate can be found in grains and products like bread, cereals, and beer.
Honey and Hive Products: Bees may collect nectar and pollen from glufosinate-treated plants, leading to residues in honey, beeswax, and pollen.

Why Washing Isn’t Enough: Surface vs. Systemic Pesticides

While it’s essential to wash fruits and vegetables, the harsh truth is that pesticides absorbed into the plant cannot be washed away.

Most pesticide residues are either:

Systemic: Absorbed through the roots and carried into the fruit or vegetable tissue
Wax-bound: Designed to stick to the skin and resist water

How to Wash Produce Effectively (to Reduce Surface Pesticides):

Ozonated Water: Most effective for oxidizing surface pesticide molecules and neutralizing bacteria. Use an ozone generator for 10–15 minutes.
- Especially good for:
  - Leafy greens, berries, grapes, apples
  - Also kills bacteria, fungi, and viruses

Use a home ozone generator with an ozone bubble stone in water for 10–15 mins.

2. Acid-Alkaline Soak: Pesticides degrade faster under extreme pH. Alternate between a vinegar or lemon juice soak (acidic) and a baking soda soak (alkaline). This helps dissolve different types of pesticide residues.

Alternating soaks is ideal:
Step 1: Soak in acidic solution:
- 1 cup vinegar + 3 cups water (or add lemon juice)
- Soak 10–15 minutes
Step 2: Follow with alkaline rinse:
- 1 tsp baking soda per 2 cups water
- Soak another 10 minutes, then rinse.

Baking soda especially effective against chlorpyrifos, DDT, imidacloprid

3. Salt Water or Apple Cider Vinegar Soaks:

Soaking in 3% salt water or 10% ACV solution (i.e., 1 part ACV to 9 parts water) for 15 minutes removes many surface pesticides.
Less effective on waxed or systemically absorbed chemicals.

Note: No method removes 100% of residues, and none remove internal pesticides.

Recommended Tools:

Ozone Generator
Produce Washes: Brands like Rebel Green and Young Living’s Thieves offer natural quick alternatives.

Pesticide Test Kits:

Soeks Ecovisor or Greentest Devices test for nitrates and general contamination
Test strips for organophosphates and carbamates (limited but helpful)

How to Protect Yourself and Detox

While total avoidance is challenging, there are steps you can take to dramatically reduce your exposure and support your body’s natural detox pathways.

1. Shop Organic—But Smartly

Certified organic foods avoid glufosinate, but some local farms use better-than-organic regenerative practices without certification. Ask questions.

2. Talk to Your Local Farmers

Visit your farmer’s market and ask these direct questions:

"Do you use any weed killers or herbicides like glyphosate or glufosinate?"
"Are your practices regenerative or organic?"

3. Use the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen

Prioritize organic for:

Strawberries, spinach, apples, bell peppers, kale, and grapes

Lower-risk produce:

Avocados, onions, bananas, cabbage, and sweet peas

4. Detox Pathways Matter

Liver: Milk thistle, dandelion root, castor oil packs
Glutathione: Boost with NAC, ALA, cruciferous vegetables
Binders: Activated charcoal, bentonite clay
Sauna + Sweat: Infrared saunas and exercise help push toxins out
Fiber + Hydration: 30g fiber daily + spring or mineral-rich water

5. Avoid Processed Foods

Almost all processed foods contain conventionally treated ingredients. Cooking from scratch using clean, whole ingredients matters

The Bigger Picture: Regenerative Farming is the Way Forward

Glyphosate and glufosinate destroy both soil and human microbiomes. Regenerative practices, on the other hand, “heal the land to heal the people."

Regenerative farming:

Builds soil carbon and fertility
Increases nutrient density in food
Creates resilient, chemical-free crops

Documentaries to Watch:

Kiss the Ground also found on Netflix
Secret Ingredients (directed by Jeffrey Smith)
The World According to Monsanto also found here.

Final Thoughts from Bloom2Wellness

The chemical swap from glyphosate to glufosinate is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. At Bloom2Wellness, we believe true health begins with awareness, followed by empowered action.

Educate yourself. Ask questions. Shop mindfully. Detox regularly.

Your body is capable of healing—but only when we remove what’s harming it and nourish it with what it truly needs.

Let’s choose wellness over convenience. Let’s support local, regenerative farmers. Let’s live empowered and informed.

Monsanto’s Glyphosate Replacement: The Hidden Danger in Our Food Supply