Thursday, February 7, 2013

Roundup Kills Beneficial Gut Bacteria While Harmful Bacteria are Resistant

This last December a study was published that looked at the effect of Glyphosate (Roundup is a trademark name glyphosate is known by) on the gut bacteria of chickens. Here are the results:
A study was undertaken to determine the real impact of glyphosate (on potential pathogens and beneficial members of poultry bacteria in vitro. The results showed that highly pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella Entritidis, Salmonella Gallinarum, Salmonella Typhimurium, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum are highly resistant to glyphosate. However, most of beneficial bacteria as Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus badius, Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactobacillus spp. were found to be moderate to highly susceptible. A reduction of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract by ingestion of glyphosate could disturb the normal gut bacterial community. Also, the toxicity of glyphosate to the most prevalent Enterococcus spp. could be a significant predisposing factor that is associated with the increase in C. botulinum-mediated diseases by suppressing the antagonistic effect of these bacteria on clostridia.
This is just one more reason that you might want to reconsider if you eat meat that is not raised organically.  That glyphosate they ingest into their body goes into yours.

Additionally the poultry fed GE (genetically engineered corn/soy would have unhealthy changes in gut flora that threatens the health of the chickens, as well as those consuming them. Varieties of bacteria such as Salmonella and Clostridium are dangerous pathogens for humans.

This study suggests that chickens exposed to glyphosate may become breeding grounds for Botulilsm, Salmonella and other pathogenic organisms.
For those of you with farms who feed their animals conventional feed, you might want to rethink it. A lot of conventional feed is GMO and is grown with immense amounts of glyphosate. Who wants to feed that to their animals? Now you know it can possibly kill off their good gut microbes. If your animals are having digestive problems, look to their food.