Straight answer: yes, trace amounts of glyphosate, the herbicide in Roundup, have been detected in most beer sampled in independent testing, because it’s widely used on barley and other cereal crops before harvest. The amounts found are far below any regulatory safety threshold, but there is currently no U.S. government limit set specifically for glyphosate in beer, which is part of why the topic keeps coming up.
What Testing Has Actually Found
The most-cited U.S. test came from a 2019 report by the advocacy group U.S. PIRG, which sent 15 beers and 5 wines to an independent lab. Nineteen of the 20 products, including organic ones, showed detectable glyphosate. Levels ranged from none detected up to about 51 parts per billion (ppb), with most falling in the 5 to 30 ppb range. Separate testing in Germany (2016) and Latvia (2018) found glyphosate in essentially every beer sample tested at the time as well, which is consistent with how widely the herbicide is used in cereal farming generally, not specific to any one brewer or country.
| Sample (U.S. PIRG, 2019) | Glyphosate detected |
|---|---|
| Tsingtao | 49.7 ppb |
| Coors Light | 31.1 ppb |
| Miller Lite | 29.8 ppb |
| Budweiser | 27 ppb |
| Stella Artois | 8.7 ppb |
| Sam Adams | trace amount |
| Peak Beer Organic IPA | none detected |
Putting Those Numbers in Context
Regulatory toxicologists calculate safety using an acceptable daily intake, the amount a person could consume every day for a lifetime without appreciable risk. A German risk assessment found that even at the highest glyphosate levels media reports had flagged (about 30 micrograms per liter), an adult would need to drink roughly 1,000 liters of beer in a single day to reach a level of health concern. Bayer, which owns Monsanto, made a similar calculation using the PIRG data specifically: a 125-pound adult would need to drink 308 gallons of beer or wine every single day, for life, to hit the EPA’s exposure limit.
That does not mean the topic is settled science with no debate left. U.S. PIRG and other advocacy groups point to separate lab research suggesting even very low glyphosate concentrations (as little as 1 part per trillion in cell studies) could theoretically interact with hormone-sensitive processes, and argue that regulators should be more cautious given how common the chemical is across the food and drink supply overall, not just in beer specifically.
Why There’s No Official Glyphosate Limit for Beer
The EPA sets glyphosate residue tolerances for raw agricultural commodities like barley, corn and soybeans, ranging from 0.2 to 400 parts per million depending on the crop, but it does not currently set a separate tolerance specifically for beer or wine as finished products. The European Union takes a more direct approach: it sets a maximum residue level of 100 micrograms per liter (100 ppb) for glyphosate in beer and wine, a threshold every sample in the U.S. testing fell well under.
How to Reduce Your Exposure if It Concerns You
- Organic labeling is not a guarantee. The 2019 U.S. PIRG testing found glyphosate in organic beer too, likely from environmental drift or contamination during the supply chain rather than direct application.
- Look for brewer-specific sourcing commitments. German brewers significantly reduced glyphosate levels in follow-up testing after the 2016 study prompted changes in barley sourcing and late-season herbicide use.
- Total dietary exposure matters more than any one drink. Glyphosate has also been detected in cereal, granola and other grain-based foods in FDA spot-checks, so beer is one small contributor to overall exposure rather than an outlier source.
FAQ
Is there really glyphosate in beer?
Yes, independent testing in the U.S., Germany and Latvia has found trace glyphosate residue in the large majority of beers sampled, including some organic ones, typically in the low parts-per-billion range.
Is the amount of glyphosate in beer dangerous?
According to regulatory risk calculations, no. The levels detected are far below thresholds of health concern, with estimates suggesting an adult would need to drink hundreds of liters in a single day to approach a risk level.
Does the EPA regulate glyphosate in beer?
The EPA sets tolerances for glyphosate on raw crops like barley but has no specific limit for finished beer. The European Union does set a 100 ppb limit for beer and wine, which all tested U.S. samples fell under.
Can you avoid glyphosate in beer entirely?
Not reliably. Testing has found it in organic beers as well as conventional ones, since glyphosate is widely used across cereal farming generally and can enter the supply chain through drift or shared processing.
More Beer Facts and Guides
- How Beer Is Made: From Grain to Glass, Explained
- Is Beer Healthier Than Soda? Here’s What the Research Says
- What’s the Point of Non-Alcoholic Beer? Who Actually Drinks It and Why
