Glyphosate in apiculture: occurrence patterns across honey, pollen, and beebread

Abstract

Glyphosate-based herbicides are the most prevalent plant protection products in agriculture; however, monitoring for glyphosate residues in environmental samples and food is less common than for other pesticides. Due to its high polarity, glyphosate is typically not included in pesticide multi-residue methods. This study investigates the presence of glyphosate in honey (n = 254), pollen (n = 29) and beebread (n = 20) collected from 2019 to 2024 in Latvia. Our study, along with other research focused on glyphosate analysis in honey and bee products, highlights that glyphosate is one of the most prevalent pesticides found in bee products, with some instances even exceeding the maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.05 mg kg⁻¹. Although the health risks to consumers from glyphosate residues in bee products are considered low, the uncertain toxicology data and the frequent detection of glyphosate in these products raise concerns regarding health effects on pollinators.