A webinar discussed laboratory findings of glyphosate in maize meal, wheat flour, bread and baby cereal. South Africa uses 195 highly hazardous pesticides, many banned in the European Union. Experts from civil society and agriculture presented views on health risks and regulatory challenges.
SANAS-certified laboratory tests this year detected glyphosate contamination in several staple foods. Two products exceeded government maximum residue levels. The African Centre for Biodiversity has requested that former agriculture minister John Steenhuisen issued deregister and ban the substance.
Refiloe Joala of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung reported that independent tests on fresh produce and processed foods found residues above official limits in most samples. Kara Mackay of the Women on Farms Project described the case of farm worker Solomon Piet, who developed cancer after spraying pesticides without protective equipment.
Annelize Crosby of Agbiz noted that maximum residue levels are not safety thresholds and stressed the need for enforcement of existing rules. She added that South Africa’s climate and pest pressures differ from Europe’s.
The South African Human Rights Commission is holding national hearings into the country’s food systems. Speakers called for updated legislation and a transition to safer alternatives.
