A study just released by the Environmental Working Group (EWG) found that levels of glyphosate, the notorious weed killer linked to cancer, was found in extraordinary high levels in many brands of conventional hummus and chickpeas. The group did not find the same unsafe amounts in organic products.

They found glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide in the world, in over 80% of non-organic samples of hummus and chickpeas. The chemical was sold for decades by Monsanto, which was acquired by Bayer AG under the brand name of Roundup, according to the EWG.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen, and it's listed by the state of California as a chemical known to cause cancer.

The EWG says its acceptable limit for glyphosate in foods is 160 parts per billion (ppb) per serving which, in the case of hummus, was about four tablespoons. Experts at EWG say that the Environmental Protection Agency allows a much higher amount, about 5,000 ppb, and that could be too high for our health.

Surprisingly, several samples of Whole Foods Market Original Hummus tested nearly 15 times higher than the EWG benchmark. Others that failed the test were Sabra Classic Hummus, Sabra Roasted Pine Nut Hummus, Whole Foods Market organic label Original Hummus, and Cava Traditional Hummus.

Hummus products given the green light include Sabra Roasted Red Pepper, Trader Joe's Classic conventional, and Simply Nature Organic Garlic.

Overall, organic products have much lower concentrations than conventional hummus and chickpeas, said EWG.

"Beans, peas, and lentil are a nutritious, affordable source of protein and are an important part of the American diet," said Olga V. Naidenko, Ph.D., EWG's vice president for science investigations. "These excellent foods would be much better without glyphosate. Toxic weed killer should never be allowed to contaminate these foods, or any other foods, that millions of Americans eat every day."

By law, organic farmers are not permitted to use Roundup to spray their crops and the EWG says that the small amount they detected in organic products may have drifted from neighboring farms.

"Organic foods, including hummus and chickpeas, remain a better choice for consumers," said Alexis M. Temkin, Ph.D., a toxicologist with EWG. "EWG testing of both conventional and organic bean products for glyphosate helps increase the transparency in the marketplace and protect the integrity of the Department of Agriculture's organic certification."

The full report can be found here.