LAKE WORTH BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Florida health officials on Feb. 5 released new test results for bread products sold in the state, saying the Florida Department of Health detected glyphosate in most of the items sampled as part of the “Healthy Florida First” initiative.
The announcement, made in Lake Worth Beach in Palm Beach County, included Gov. Ron DeSantis, First Lady Casey DeSantis, and Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo. The testing, they said, is intended to increase transparency for families and push for accountability in commonly purchased foods.
Florida Department of Health officials said the state tested eight bread products across five national brands that are commonly available in Florida grocery stores. Glyphosate, described by the state as a widely used herbicide applied in agricultural production to control weeds, was detected in six of the eight bread products tested. The state framed the release as another round of independent testing meant to give consumers more information about everyday foods.
“As Governor, I have worked to make Florida the model for health freedom,” DeSantis said in the announcement. He pointed to the bread testing as a continuation of earlier state releases focused on infant formula and candy and said Florida plans to keep pushing information out to the public.
Casey DeSantis said the bread findings raised concerns for consumers who rely on staple foods. “The results from the Florida Department of Health’s analysis of bread testing results show troubling levels of glyphosate,” she said. “Consumers deserve to know what chemical contaminants are in their food so that they can make informed decisions.”
Ladapo, the state’s surgeon general, also emphasized the day-to-day nature of the products being tested and argued the results justified continued scrutiny. “Bread is a staple food for many Florida families, and they should be able to consume it without worrying about toxins,” he said. Ladapo said the testing found “high levels of glyphosate in some popular bread brands” and linked chronic exposure to potential health issues, including gut microbiome changes, liver inflammation, and adverse neurologic effects. He said Florida plans to keep moving forward through “transparency, continued testing, and a clear focus on reducing exposure to protect families.”
| Brand | Product Type | Glyphosate Detected (ppb) |
|---|---|---|
| Nature’s Own | Butter Bread | 190.23 |
| Nature’s Own | Perfectly Crafted White | 132.34 |
| Dave’s Killer Bread | White Done Right | 11.85 |
| Dave’s Killer Bread | 21 Whole Grain | 10.38 |
| Wonder Bread | Classic White | 173.19 |
| Sara Lee | Honey Wheat | 191.04 |
| Sara Lee | Artesano White | Non-Detect* |
| Pepperidge Farm | Farmhouse Hearty White | Non-Detect* |
State officials tied the bread testing to two other recent releases under the same initiative.
Last month, the state released infant formula testing results after the Florida Department of Health analyzed 24 infant formula products sold online and in stores across Florida, looking at samples from seven major brands for heavy metals and pesticides. In that testing, officials said the state identified elevated levels of certain heavy metals compared to health-based screening benchmarks, including mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and lead.
Florida also tested 46 candy products from 10 companies for heavy metals. State officials said arsenic was detected in 28 of the products tested, prompting additional evaluation of potential exposure risks, particularly for children. The state said those results were released to provide families with accessible information and to push accountability for products consumed widely by children.
The “Healthy Florida First” effort, as described by state officials, is focused on clean and transparent food systems, accountability, and restoring trust in public health through what the state called evidence-based action.
For Palm Beach County residents, the immediate practical takeaway is that the state is using Lake Worth Beach as a staging point for a broader consumer-facing campaign tied to statewide grocery shelves. Officials are urging families who want to review the data to use the state’s online portal, where the bread results appear alongside the previously released infant formula and candy testing summaries.
Florida officials did not, in the announcement, outline any enforcement action or regulatory changes tied to the bread testing results. The emphasis was on disclosure, continued testing, and consumer decision-making.
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