Consumers' Foundation Tests Soy and Oat Products for Herbicide/Pesticide Residue, 1 Sample Detected
The Consumers' Foundation of Taiwan tested 20 commercial soy and oat products and found that one oat product contained residue of the herbicide 'glyphosate.' The foundation is calling for the need for continued monitoring.
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- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 13:18
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Taipei, May 14 (CNA) - A plant-based high-protein nutritional combination of soy protein powder and oats is popular among vegetarians and fitness enthusiasts. The safety of the herbicide 'glyphosate' used during the cultivation of soy and oats has always been controversial. The Consumers' Foundation tested 20 commercial samples and found a detection in one.
The Consumers' Foundation held a press conference today on the '2026 Soy Protein Powder and Oats Glyphosate Pesticide Residue Test.'
The foundation stated that domestically produced soybeans are insufficient to meet demand, relying on imports from countries like the United States and Brazil. Soybeans on the market are 'genetically modified' and 'non-genetically modified.' The original purpose of GM soybeans was to increase production efficiency and reduce costs, using herbicides like glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup) to facilitate harvesting by removing weeds without harming the soybeans.
The foundation pointed out that the source of oats in the country also relies on imports, and foreign oats are often sprayed with glyphosate before harvest to dry out the stems and leaves for easier mechanical harvesting. This practice of applying glyphosate in the late growth stage means there is little time for it to break down before reaching consumers.
The foundation noted that according to 2023 data released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of 2025, about 20% of U.S.-produced edible soybean samples (not animal feed) had detectable glyphosate residue. According to 2023 U.S. FDA data, 83% of U.S.-produced oats had detectable glyphosate.
As the safety of glyphosate is internationally controversial, the Consumers' Foundation believes it is necessary to continue monitoring pesticide residues in commercial soy and oat products. From early February to early March this year, they purchased 'soy protein powder' and 'oats' from various online platforms, 10 samples of each for a total of 20. The soybean raw materials in the 10 soy protein powder samples came from the US (6), mainland China (3), and the UK (1). Of the 10 oat samples, 2 did not indicate the country of origin, while the rest were from Australia (3), Sweden (2), and one each from Canada, Chile, and Taiwan.
The foundation stated that the glyphosate pesticide residue test was commissioned to Eurofins Food Testing Co., Ltd. According to the inspection standards of the 'Food Safety and Health Management Act,' and referencing the 'Pesticide Residue Allowance Standard' of the Food and Drug Administration, the tolerance for glyphosate is 10 ppm for soybeans and 'not detected' for oats. After testing, 19 samples showed no detection, while one sample had a detection of 0.1 ppm of glyphosate.
The foundation pointed out that if a sample is judged to be in violation by the competent authority, it violates the Food Safety Act and the operator can be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million. For serious offenses, they may be ordered to suspend or close their business for a certain period, or have their company, business, or factory registration partially or fully revoked. Those whose registration is revoked cannot re-apply for one year.
The foundation also reviewed the FDA's 2016 monitoring plan, in which 10 out of 36 oat flake samples were found to be non-compliant. The foundation stated that it is commendable that two samples that were on the non-compliant list in 2016 were found to be compliant this time, showing that importers have effectively implemented self-management to ensure products meet domestic regulations. In addition, recent monitoring results, including 7 oat-containing products tested by the foundation in 2021 and 10 oat products tested by the Taichung City Legal Affairs Bureau in 2024, all passed the inspection. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150514
The Consumers' Foundation held a press conference today on the '2026 Soy Protein Powder and Oats Glyphosate Pesticide Residue Test.'
The foundation stated that domestically produced soybeans are insufficient to meet demand, relying on imports from countries like the United States and Brazil. Soybeans on the market are 'genetically modified' and 'non-genetically modified.' The original purpose of GM soybeans was to increase production efficiency and reduce costs, using herbicides like glyphosate (commonly known as Roundup) to facilitate harvesting by removing weeds without harming the soybeans.
The foundation pointed out that the source of oats in the country also relies on imports, and foreign oats are often sprayed with glyphosate before harvest to dry out the stems and leaves for easier mechanical harvesting. This practice of applying glyphosate in the late growth stage means there is little time for it to break down before reaching consumers.
The foundation noted that according to 2023 data released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the end of 2025, about 20% of U.S.-produced edible soybean samples (not animal feed) had detectable glyphosate residue. According to 2023 U.S. FDA data, 83% of U.S.-produced oats had detectable glyphosate.
As the safety of glyphosate is internationally controversial, the Consumers' Foundation believes it is necessary to continue monitoring pesticide residues in commercial soy and oat products. From early February to early March this year, they purchased 'soy protein powder' and 'oats' from various online platforms, 10 samples of each for a total of 20. The soybean raw materials in the 10 soy protein powder samples came from the US (6), mainland China (3), and the UK (1). Of the 10 oat samples, 2 did not indicate the country of origin, while the rest were from Australia (3), Sweden (2), and one each from Canada, Chile, and Taiwan.
The foundation stated that the glyphosate pesticide residue test was commissioned to Eurofins Food Testing Co., Ltd. According to the inspection standards of the 'Food Safety and Health Management Act,' and referencing the 'Pesticide Residue Allowance Standard' of the Food and Drug Administration, the tolerance for glyphosate is 10 ppm for soybeans and 'not detected' for oats. After testing, 19 samples showed no detection, while one sample had a detection of 0.1 ppm of glyphosate.
The foundation pointed out that if a sample is judged to be in violation by the competent authority, it violates the Food Safety Act and the operator can be fined between NT$60,000 and NT$200 million. For serious offenses, they may be ordered to suspend or close their business for a certain period, or have their company, business, or factory registration partially or fully revoked. Those whose registration is revoked cannot re-apply for one year.
The foundation also reviewed the FDA's 2016 monitoring plan, in which 10 out of 36 oat flake samples were found to be non-compliant. The foundation stated that it is commendable that two samples that were on the non-compliant list in 2016 were found to be compliant this time, showing that importers have effectively implemented self-management to ensure products meet domestic regulations. In addition, recent monitoring results, including 7 oat-containing products tested by the foundation in 2021 and 10 oat products tested by the Taichung City Legal Affairs Bureau in 2024, all passed the inspection. (Editor: Kuan Chung-wei) 1150514