At Artisan Tropic, snacks that are good for you and good for the planet have always been our promise. That’s why you’ll never find things like seed oils, gluten, soy, or glyphosate in any of our products.
From the fertile farms of Colombia to your pantry, every bag is made with care, culture, and the intention to nourish — not just fill. We’re proud to share a piece of our heritage and the abundance of the land we love, one crunchy bite at a time.
We’ve already shared why about the importance of being Certified Seed Oil Free. Now let’s talk about another label you’ll see on our bags — Certified Glyphosate Free.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate might not be a word you toss around at the dinner table, but it’s everywhere — over 280 million pounds are sprayed each year in the U.S. alone. First brought to market in the 1970s as RoundUp, it quickly became the most popular weed killer in the world. Crops were even modified to resist it, fueling its widespread use.
But glyphosate doesn’t stay put. It seeps into soil, water, air, and eventually, our food. It impacts the microbial balance of soil, harms pollinators and wildlife, and has been detected in human bodies. What once looked like a miracle fix for weeds revealed a cascade of unintended consequences.
Why It Matters for Health
At first, glyphosate was thought to be safe for humans because it targets an enzyme pathway that plants have but mammals do not. The catch? Our gut microbes do use this pathway — and disrupting them disrupts us.
When the microbiome is thrown off balance, the effects ripple through the entire body: inflammation, digestive issues, gut-brain axis disruption, autoimmune risk, hormonal shifts, even higher risks of chronic disease and cancer. Studies continue to show these effects at any exposure level, not just “high doses.”
Beyond its impact to our bodies, glyphosate also alters the microbial life of the soil itself, making it harder for ecosystems to thrive naturally. In short: it disrupts balance wherever it goes.
Countries worldwide have taken note. France, Germany, Italy, Vietnam, and many others have completely banned or restricted glyphosate use. Even in Colombia, its use is limited.
Why We Chose Differently
For us, avoiding glyphosate was a no-brainer. We source our plantains and cassava exclusively from farms that don’t use it. But we didn’t stop there. We went a step further by having our products third-party tested, earning the Certified Glyphosate Residue Free seal.
To achieve this certification, every ingredient is tested by a third-party lab multiple times each year — to levels even stricter than organic or non-GMO standards. That means you can trust our products contain no detectable glyphosate residue, giving you peace of mind every time you snack. (You can read more about the testing process here.)
At the end of the day, we want your snacking moments to feel simple and joyful — not filled with worry about hidden chemicals.
What It Means for You
For us, it’s simple: no glyphosate, no question. We’re not in the business of disrupting microbial balance — not in your gut and not in the ground. Instead, we’re proud to bring you plantain and cassava snacks that are safe for your family and kind to the planet, straight from the heart of Colombia. Certified Glyphosate Free is just one more way we make sure you can munch with peace of mind.
This blog post was written by Ashley Castle
Sources & Additional Reading:
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP6990
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37196884/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8018287/#s6)
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0300483X09003047?via%3Dihub
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7530464/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004896971530989X
