Monsanto & Gluten Sensitivity

Glyphosate & Gluten Sensitivity:

Pre-Harvest Ripening Aid – Some farmers, especially in North America, use glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup, produced by Monsanto, now Bayer) as a pre-harvest desiccant on wheat. This means it’s sprayed to kill and dry the wheat evenly, making harvesting more efficient.
Glyphosate & Gut Health – Research suggests glyphosate may act as an antibiotic, disrupting gut microbiota, which could contribute to gluten sensitivity and autoimmune reactions like celiac disease. Some scientists believe it could also increase intestinal permeability (“leaky gut”), leading to higher food sensitivities.
European Regulations – The EU has stricter glyphosate regulations. While some countries allow it for weed control, many prohibit pre-harvest spraying on wheat. This aligns with the observation that gluten intolerance seems less prevalent in Europe.
Timeline & Rise in Gluten Sensitivity – Gluten intolerance and celiac disease diagnoses have skyrocketed in the past few decades, coinciding with the widespread use of glyphosate in industrial agriculture.

So, as the meme on this page is suggesting, gluten itself may not be the main culprit but rather the glyphosate residue in wheat products, which could be causing gut inflammation and immune reactions. This aligns with why many people feel fine eating bread in Europe but struggle with it in the U.S.

The Evils of Monsanto:

Monsanto (now owned by Bayer) has been at the center of multiple controversies regarding its agricultural practices, particularly its control over seeds, use of glyphosate, and legal battles with farmers. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Forcing Farmers to Use Their Seeds

Monsanto developed genetically modified (GM) seeds resistant to its herbicide Roundup (glyphosate). This meant farmers had to buy Monsanto’s seeds to work with their chemicals. However:

Farmers were prohibited from saving or replanting seeds from previous harvests, forcing them to buy new seeds each season.
Monsanto contracts required strict compliance, leading to aggressive legal action against farmers who didn’t follow the rules.

2. Dependence on Chemicals for Germination

Monsanto’s GM crops were designed to work in tandem with glyphosate, meaning:

These crops were engineered to survive glyphosate exposure, while everything else died.
Some crops (like wheat and soy) relied on glyphosate to ripen properly before harvest, making the entire farming cycle dependent on Monsanto’s chemical and seed ecosystem.

3. Creation of Monocultures (One Seed, No Diversity)

Monsanto’s dominance led to large-scale monocropping, meaning:

Farmers planted only one type of seed over massive areas, reducing biodiversity.
This made crops more vulnerable to disease and pests, requiring even more chemical treatments.
Monocropping depleted soil nutrients, increasing reliance on synthetic fertilizers.

4. Lawsuits Against Farmers (Seed Drift & Cross-Pollination)

Monsanto was notorious for suing small farmers when its patented seeds were found growing on their land—often due to wind, birds, or accidental cross-pollination.

Even if a farmer never intentionally planted Monsanto seeds, the company claimed patent infringement when their DNA markers were detected.
Monsanto spent tens of millions on lawsuits, intimidating farmers into compliance.
Some farmers went bankrupt fighting lawsuits over crops they didn’t even plant.

5. European Ban & Global Pushback

Many European countries banned glyphosate-heavy farming and restricted Monsanto’s seed monopoly.
Activists and organic farmers worldwide have pushed back against GMO dominance and its connection to corporate-controlled agriculture.
Glyphosate lawsuits (e.g., linking it to cancer) have cost Bayer billions in settlements.

Bottom Line:

Monsanto’s model created corporate-controlled farming, forcing farmers into dependency on patented seeds, glyphosate, and legal threats. This isn’t just about food—it’s about power and control over agriculture at a global scale.