Sierra Nevada Pale Ale — glyphosate contamination data

What does 11 ppb of glyphosate mean?

Glyphosate is the active ingredient in RoundUp, the world's most widely used weed killer. The World Health Organization's cancer research agency (IARC) classifies it as a Group 2A probable human carcinogen — meaning there is sufficient evidence of cancer in animals and limited evidence in humans. It enters food via pre-harvest spraying on crops like oats, wheat, lentils, and chickpeas.

11 parts per billion (ppb) is the concentration detected in Sierra Nevada Pale Ale by US PIRG 2019. For context, the Environmental Working Group's child-safe benchmark is 160 ppb — the level they say children should not regularly exceed. This product is below the EWG child-safe benchmark, but still contains detectable glyphosate residue.

Over 170,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer (Monsanto's parent company), with a $7.25 billion settlement announced in early 2026 to resolve current and future RoundUp cancer claims. Around 70% of American adults carry detectable traces of glyphosate in their bodies. Read the full story →