Is Chinese Garlic Grown in Human Waste? What You Need to Know About Imported Garlic vs. Local Garlic

If you’ve ever wondered where supermarket garlic comes from — or whether Chinese garlic is grown using human feces — you’re not alone. These are some of the most common garlic safety questions people ask.

Here’s what you should know so you can shop confidently and choose the safest garlic for your kitchen and garden.

Where Does Most Grocery Store Garlic Come From?

Most garlic in U.S. supermarkets is imported, and a large percentage of that garlic comes from industrial farms in China, which produces nearly 80% of the world’s garlic.

Retailers choose imported garlic because it is:

• Cheap to produce and ship

• Stored for long periods

• Processed in high volumes

But this low price comes with reduced transparency about growing methods and freshness.

How to identify imported garlic:

• No roots left on the base (trimmed flat for customs)

• Very bright white appearance (sometimes chemically whitened)

• Usually lower flavor intensity

  
  

We're frequently asked,“Is Chinese garlic grown in poop?”

Sometimes — but not always. Historically, some farms in China — and other countries — have used human waste as fertilizer. It’s a traditional practice in some regions, but never used in natural or organic farming.

Not all garlic from China is grown using human waste, but historically some farms in parts of China have used composted human waste — often called “night soil” — as a fertilizer. This practice isn’t universal, and it is not accurate to say that all Chinese garlic is grown that way.

However, oversight and regulations vary widely between regions and farm types in China. While commercial exports entering the U.S. are expected to meet sanitation standards, the long supply chain makes it difficult for consumers to know exactly how their garlic was grown or handled. In addition to concerns about fertilizer sources, imported garlic often goes through chemical treatments such as bleaching to improve appearance, sprout inhibitors to extend shelf life, and fumigation during transport.

So the concern isn’t that every imported bulb is unsafe — it’s that there’s little confidence in the farming practices behind it.

Why Local Garlic Is the Safer, Better Option

Imported garlic:

• Bland or dehydrated inside

• More likely treated with growth inhibitors to prevent sprouting

• Typically bleached to prevent decay, inhibit sprouting, and to lighten appearance

  
  

Local heirloom garlic:

• Robust, complex flavor

• Naturally longer storage

• Grown for taste, not travel

• Never treated with inhibitors or bleach

  
  

How Earthwise Garlic Grows

At Earthwise Garlic, we grow all of our garlic right here in Oregon using:

• Natural, organic growing methods

• No pesticides

• No chemical fertilizers

• Strictly no human-waste fertilizers — ever

Our garlic is natural, bold, and full of flavor. You always know exactly what you’re getting.

From our soil to your kitchen — no secrets, no shortcuts.

Shop American-Grown Garlic You Can Trust

If you’re ready to enjoy garlic that is:

• Better tasting

• Natural

• Fresher

• Locally grown by real farmers

  
  

➡️ Visit our shop to order Oregon-grown seed garlic delivered to your door.(Free shipping available on qualifying orders.)

Great garlic shouldn’t be a mystery.

Have a question? Reach out through our Contact page.