On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis spotlighted recent analyses performed by the Florida Department of Health (DOH), revealing that commonly available bread products contain residues of the herbicide glyphosate. This revelation is part of an ongoing state program called "Healthy Florida First," which aims to provide consumers with information regarding potential environmental toxins in everyday food items.
In posts on the social media platform X, Governor DeSantis announced that the DOH had tested bread products for herbicides, making the results publicly accessible through an official state website. He emphasized the transparency and scientific foundation behind the screening methods employed. Complementing this, local media coverage from Channel 4 reported that the Governor, alongside First Lady Casey DeSantis, addressed an audience at Palm Beach State College to discuss these findings and the methodologies used.
The Department of Health conducted analyses using independent, science-based standards targeting contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and herbicides within popular bread brands. The detailed results and data sets have been published online at the state-operated platform ExposingFoodToxins.com for public review.
Of the eight bread samples tested, glyphosate was detected in six, with quantified concentrations ranging from a low of 10.38 parts per billion (ppb) to a high measurement of 191.04 ppb. Specific brands identified among those with elevated glyphosate levels include Flowers Foods Inc.-owned Nature's Own varieties such as 'Butterbread' and 'Perfectly Crafted White,' the classic 'Wonder Bread Classic White,' as well as Sara Lee's ‘Honey Wheat’ product. Conversely, Sara Lee Artesano White bread and Pepperidge Farm Farmhouse White, owned by The Campbell’s Company, displayed non-detectable levels of the herbicide.
First Lady Casey DeSantis highlighted the presence of "triple-digit glyphosate levels" in several of the products tested, underscoring concerns about glyphosate traces in foods commonly consumed by the public. The Governor’s office pointed to a gap between existing glyphosate warning labels and its widespread occurrence in everyday foodstuffs.
Glyphosate serves as the active ingredient in Roundup, a globally prevalent weed control substance used extensively in agriculture, particularly in grain cropping systems. Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, emphasized that glyphosate represents the most notable contaminant identified, expressing worry over scientific studies that have linked exposures to potential alterations in gut microbiome health and perturbations to the blood-brain barrier.
The Governor described the bread analysis as part of a broader effort to equip consumers with comprehensive data on product ingredients and potential hazards. This initiative continues from prior releases within the Healthy Florida First campaign, which earlier revealed concerning levels of heavy metals and arsenic in infant formula and candy relative to health-based benchmarks.
Despite these findings, there remains a divergence of opinion among regulatory bodies and scientific experts regarding glyphosate's safety profile. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans," while the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers it "not likely" to be carcinogenic when applied according to instructions.
Industry groups have responded critically to Florida’s prior reports concerning contaminated candy and infant formula, arguing that the products comply with established federal safety standards and that the state’s testing approach does not align with national regulatory benchmarks. Conversely, Florida officials maintain that their focus centers on transparency and consumer awareness rather than the imposition of new regulations.
The recent bread product findings align with a broader pattern of Florida’s proactive public health and consumer protection policies, which have drawn nationwide attention. Other initiatives include a federally authorized program to import lower-cost prescription medications from Canada and controversial modifications to Medicaid eligibility criteria within the state.