A recent study in the US discovered that glyphosate was present in 19 out of 20 wines and beers tested. Glyphosate was even found in organic wine. The concentrations of this weedkiller found the beers and wines were very low. The highest concentration was found in a wine at 51.4 parts per billion and the lowest in an organic wine at 4.8 parts per billion. One organic beer was found to have 0 parts per billion.
Glyphosate is so widely used as a weedkiller that it is found in many agricultural products such as oats albeit at very low concentrations. The judgement is out whether low concentrations of glyphosate in the food change are dangerous to our health. It is suspected that farmers and regular domestic users of glyphosate could be damaging there health if they do not take precautions to protect there skin and lungs when using this weedkiller.
https://www.ecowatch.com/glyphosate-beer-wine-2630077686.html
It is my opinion that such a low concentrations of glyphosate in wine is not dangerous to our health and that the alcohol in wine is probably a greater danger. Keeping alcohol consumption at levels which do not harm our health will probably protect individuals from exposure to other potentially damaging chemicals.
We do not need to use chemical weedkillers in our vineyards and there are other mechanical and natural methods of reducing the growth of weeds. So why not take a precautionary response and only use weeding methods which we know to be absolutely safe.
France is claiming to lead the way to reduce glyphosate usage in the vineyard and wants to eliminate its usage by the end of 2021. Doing this will be highly controversial and some sections of the wine industry are resisting this. The producers will want subsidies.
https://www.france24.com/en/20190226-france-paris-agriculture-fair-beyond-glyphosate-french-vineyards-wine-weedkiller-pesticides
With an ever increasing awareness of the ecological factors affecting the health of both ourselves and the planet, it might be a wise move to placate young people, who are now beginning to protest about climate change and unsustainable farming. In some senses they are correct; a "weed" has as much right to live as a vine. Eliminating all weeds could damage the environment; after all they provide food for birds and insects and they rot down to help provide a healthy soil substrate. Weed and vines also have the right to grow in an environment unmarred by human induced climate change.
The sooner we produce sustainable farming methods globally the better. The challenge will be how to feed the growing population without the use of potentially dangerous herbicides and insecticides.
Until that time comes, I shall enjoy a glass of good wine even though it might be "contaminated" with a very low level of herbicide. And, I shall drink to the health of everyone on the planet.
