How to Find the Best Glyphosate-Free Protein Powder​

📌 Overview and Key Takeaways

This is a Dietitian’s guide on how to find the best glyphosate-free protein powder​.

Discover how to safely supplement your protein intake without herbicides.

Last Updated
Feb 15, 2026

Author and Medical Reviewer

Written by Kayla Kamen, MS, RD

Kayla Kamen is a Registered Dietitian with a MS in Nutrition.

Medically reviewed by Jennifer Fossett, PA-C

Jennifer Fossett is a Physician Assistant with a BA in Nutritional Sciences.

Protein Powder Without Glyphosate

Why Should I Use a Glyphosate-Free Protein Powder?

Glyphosate is a herbicide used to kill weeds that compete with crops.

It was first introduced under the brand name Roundup and is now one of the most widely used herbicides in the world.

According to the US Department of Agriculture, over 90 percent of soybeans and corn grown on US farms are genetically engineered to withstand Roundup.

It follows that these crops tend to contain high residues of glyphosate (Food Chem, 2014).

Trace amounts can also be found in other legumes and grains, especially oats and wheat, raising concerns about the cumulative effects on human health.

Glyphosate is associated with several potential health concerns, although the degree of risk is debated.

Animal and in vitro studies have shown that glyphosate exposure might induce neurotoxicity (Environ Res, 2022), as well disruptions to the gut microbiome, which could have downstream effects on metabolic and immune health.

The World Health Organization also classifies glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen.

Which Protein Powders Are Glyphosate-Free?

In light of potential health concerns, more and more consumers are trying to avoid glyphosate.

One way they do so is by choosing USDA Organic (glyphosate is prohibited).

That said, even USDA Organic foods can contain trace amounts of glyphosate due to:

• Environmental Drift: Glyphosate can drift from nearby conventional farms during spraying. Air, rain, and irrigation water can also carry residues onto organic fields.
• Contaminated Soil and Water: Glyphosate persists in soil and water, so previous contamination or runoff can affect current organic crops.
• Cross-contamination During Processing: Shared harvesting, transport, or processing equipment between conventional and organic crops can introduce residues.
• Testing Gaps: The USDA organic certification does not require routine glyphosate testing. It is a process-based certification, not a residue-based one, so trace contamination does not necessarily disqualify a product.

This is why it is often recommended to avoid high risk ingredients.

The protein powder ingredients most likely to contain glyphosate include soy, whey (cows often eat glyphosate-treated feed soy), and peas.

It is also recommended to purchase from a company that tests its protein powders for glyphosate and publishes the results.

What Is the Best Glyphosate-Free Protein Powder​?

Most protein powders, if they are made from plant-based ingredients, contain glyphosate residues.

Although trace amounts of glyphosate are not considered harmful to human health according to current regulatory risk assessments, it is never a bad idea to avoid them if possible.

The best way to do so is to buy from a brand that tests its products.

Drink Wholesome, for example, tests via a third-party lab and publishes the test results.

It also avoids high risk ingredients like soy, whey, and peas.

Order Samples to see for yourself.

Sources

1. Food Chemistry (Food Chem). Compositional differences in soybeans on the market: glyphosate accumulates in Roundup Ready GM soybeans. 2014.
2. Environmental research (Environ Res). Effects of glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides like Roundup™ on the mammalian nervous system: A review. 2022.

Editorial Guidelines

---

This article was written by a Registered Dietitian and reviewed by a Physician Assistant. We rely on peer-reviewed research and trusted medical sources, and regularly update our content to ensure accuracy and clarity.