For over a decade, gluten has worn the crown as the dietary villain of modern times. Supermarket shelves groan under the weight of gluten-free options. Entire industries have risen around it. But what if we’ve been blaming the wrong culprit? What if the real problem isn’t the gluten in our bread, but the glyphosate sprayed on the wheat before it’s harvested?
In other words: maybe it’s not the bread. Maybe it’s what’s been sprayed on the bread.
Glyphosate Usage On Wheat Matches Very Well With The Rise In Celiac Disease Over Time
Before diving deeper, this short video offers valuable visual context. In it, Dr. Stephanie Seneff presents striking data showing how glyphosate use on wheat correlates with the increase in celiac disease over time. She walks through possible mechanisms by which glyphosate might impair gut function, interfere with nutrient absorption, and trigger autoimmune responses.
Now that you’ve seen the video, let’s unpack the science further. Is glyphosate quietly fueling the gluten-free movement—or are we overlooking an even bigger issue?
A Modern Epidemic of Gut Issues
The rise in gluten intolerance and celiac diagnoses is well documented. While celiac disease once affected about 1 in 10,000 people in the mid-20th century, recent estimates put that number closer to 1 in 100. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity—often self-diagnosed—affects even more.
This explosion in digestive issues has led to a backlash against wheat itself. But wheat, as a crop, hasn’t dramatically changed over the past few decades. So what has?
Glyphosate: The Silent Ingredient
Glyphosate, the active ingredient in Monsanto’s (now Bayer’s) Roundup, is the world’s most widely used herbicide. Originally introduced to kill weeds between rows of genetically modified crops, glyphosate is now also sprayed directly onto wheat as a desiccant—a drying agent used just before harvest to speed up the process and increase yields.
That means trace amounts of the chemical can end up in your bread, pasta, and cereals—yes, even the so-called “healthy” ones.
We’ve already explored how Bayer is trying to silence Roundup victims and how the EU controversially renewed glyphosate’s approval. But a quieter, possibly more insidious connection is being made in the medical and scientific communities: glyphosate’s potential role in gut disorders.
Gut Health Under Attack
Glyphosate doesn’t just kill weeds—it also affects gut bacteria. According to some studies, it inhibits the growth of beneficial bacteria while allowing harmful pathogens to thrive. In particular, glyphosate disrupts the shikimate pathway, which exists in plants and many microorganisms (but not in human cells). This pathway is essential for producing certain amino acids and supporting a healthy gut microbiome.
When your gut bacteria are out of balance—a condition known as dysbiosis—it can lead to a cascade of health problems: immune dysfunction, inflammation, food sensitivities, and yes, gastrointestinal distress.
But the gut isn’t just home to microbes—it’s the frontline of our immune system. When that barrier breaks down, more serious autoimmune conditions like celiac disease can emerge.
Celiac Disease and Autoimmunity
Some researchers, such as Dr. Stephanie Seneff at MIT, have proposed a controversial link between glyphosate exposure and celiac disease. While her 2013 paper (co-authored with Anthony Samsel) has drawn both interest and criticism, it introduced provocative hypotheses suggesting that glyphosate may:
- Increase intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”)
- Interfere with digestive enzymes
- Disrupt the gut-brain connection
- Chelate (bind) essential minerals like zinc and magnesium
These are all factors that play a role in autoimmune disorders, including celiac disease. Though correlation does not equal causation, this line of inquiry has opened a door to new ways of thinking about the gluten-gut relationship.
Maybe It’s Not the Gluten After All
Imagine removing gluten from your diet, feeling better—and assuming the gluten was the issue. But what if what you were really avoiding was glyphosate contamination on conventionally grown wheat?
Organic wheat, which is grown without synthetic herbicides like glyphosate, rarely sparks the same digestive issues in sensitive individuals. Anecdotally, some people who can’t tolerate U.S.-grown wheat find they can enjoy pasta in Italy with no trouble—perhaps due to different farming practices and chemical regulations.
This raises important questions about what we’re truly reacting to.
The Need for Unbiased Research
To be clear, we’re not claiming glyphosate is definitively causing celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. But the pattern of rising gut disorders alongside increasing glyphosate use should trigger more independent research, not less.
Unfortunately, the current scientific and regulatory landscape is heavily influenced by industry funding. Many studies on glyphosate’s safety are conducted by those with a vested interest in its continued use. When money talks, science often listens selectively.
What Can You Do?
- Buy organic wheat products whenever possible.
- Support labeling initiatives that require disclosure of glyphosate use.
- Read ingredient lists carefully—and know which crops are commonly desiccated.
- Support independent research on gut health and chemical exposure.
- Ask better questions about what we’re really putting into our bodies—and what we’re not being told.
Final Thoughts
The gluten-free craze may have started as a health trend, but what if it’s inadvertently pointing to something deeper—something that the agricultural industry would rather keep buried in the soil?
Glyphosate isn’t just a weedkiller. It’s a potential disruptor of gut health, immune function, and long-term wellness. If we want to make real progress in human health, we need to look beyond the food label—and start questioning the systems behind what’s on our plate.
The real threat may not be gluten at all—it might be what’s sprayed on our food before it ever reaches our plate.
Critical thinking starts with asking better questions.
Further Reading
Editor’s Note: This article follows our recent piece, Reassurance or Repetition? Why the Glyphosate Debate Isn’t Over, which examines the broader narrative around glyphosate safety. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s a deep dive into the science, the spin, and the questions we should be asking more often.
📰 Articles & Reports
Glyphosate, pathways to modern diseases II: Celiac sprue and gluten intolerance
Interdisciplinary Toxicology
This 2013 paper by Dr. Stephanie Seneff and Anthony Samsel explores the possible mechanisms by which glyphosate may contribute to celiac disease and gluten sensitivity. While controversial, it provides a foundational perspective for the hypothesis.
Why Can I Eat Bread in Europe, But Not at Home? Alliance for Natural Health USA
This article explores why some individuals with gluten sensitivities can consume bread in Europe without issues but experience symptoms in the U.S. The article suggests that differences in wheat varieties, food additives, and pesticide use, particularly glyphosate, may contribute to this phenomenon. It references a study indicating that fish exposed to glyphosate developed digestive problems reminiscent of celiac disease, suggesting a potential link between glyphosate exposure and digestive issues.
Glyphosate: Cancer and other health concerns US Right to Know
A non-profit overview of glyphosate’s legal, regulatory, and health history. Offers a digestible but well-sourced breakdown of concerns surrounding glyphosate’s safety.
📚 Books
The following books are linked to Amazon.com for your convenience. If you decide to purchase through these links, we may earn a small commission — at no extra cost to you.
Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science [amazon.com]
By Carey Gillam
A meticulously researched exposé on Monsanto’s glyphosate empire and its impact on both the environment and public health. Essential reading for anyone looking to understand the bigger picture.
Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body’s Most Underrated Organ [amazon.com]
By Giulia Enders
While not focused on glyphosate, this engaging and accessible book lays the groundwork for understanding the importance of gut health and how external factors can tip the balance.
🎥 Short Videos
Glyphosate Usage On Wheat Matches Very Well With The Rise In Celiac Disease Over Time – YouTube (11 min)
In this video, Dr. Seneff presents data illustrating the correlation between glyphosate application on wheat and the increasing incidence of celiac disease, discussing potential mechanisms behind this association.
Image Acknowledgement
We’re grateful to the talented photographers and designers on Unsplash for providing beautiful, free-to-use images. The image on this page is by Irena Carpaccio. Check out their work here: https://unsplash.com/@murpaz.
