Special K and Frosties cereal heavyweight Kellogg has issued a statement on the use of the herbicide glyphosate in its supply chain.
Kellogg wants to see the use of glyphosate as a pre-harvest drying agent in its wheat and oat supply phased out by the end of 2025 “in our major markets, including the US”, the company said in a statement.
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The US giant said the use of the herbicide in that way is not “widespread” in its supply of the two ingredients but added: “We know that some consumers have questions about the use of the herbicide glyphosate (also known by its brand name Round Up) as a drying agent a few weeks before harvest, particularly with wheat and oats. This practice is done by some farmers in certain circumstances – like harvesting the crop more quickly if weather is challenging.”
Food companies, particularly in the US, have come under increasing pressure to not use glyphosate as a desiccant pre-harvest. For example, in 2017, Unilever’s Ben & Jerry’s said it would no longer use ingredients based on glyphosate-dried crops after traces of the herbicide were found in its ice cream.
