New Allegations that Monsanto Ignored Evidence Linking Its Weed Killer to Cancer
Since 1974, Monsanto’s weed killer product, RoundUp, has been used worldwide to manage weeds because it was sold as being harmless to humans and animals. In the 1990s, the agri-business giant Monsanto began to develop “Round-Up ready” seeds that grew plants that were resistant to RoundUp, making the company one of the most powerful forces in international agriculture. Now, more than 90% of domestic soy, corn and cotton have been genetically engineered to resist glyphosate, the active ingredient in RoundUp.
Monsanto has found itself embroiled in hundreds of lawsuits since the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ruled that glyphosate is probably a human carcinogen. Those filing the lawsuits against Monsanto claim that using glyphosate caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which is a common form of blood cancer. According to a new story in The Nation, “Attorneys and activists have accused Monsanto of manipulating the science around glyphosate’s health impacts—in essence, of following the playbook written by Big Tobacco. Documents revealed in the federal case also suggest a cozy relationship between the company and regulators at the Environmental Protection Agency, which is currently reviewing glyphosate’s safety.”
Some people who have used RoundUp for decades because they understood it to be safe to use, have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In response to the IARC’s ruling that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen, Monsanto has been challenging their findings. To curb the mounting PR nightmare about their darling product being carcinogenic, Monsanto has been trying to influence the news media and scientific research regarding the safety of their product. A story in the New York Times alleges that Monsanto has ghostwritten some of the academic research about the safety of glyphosate. Internal memos released for the many court cases reveal some of the internal documents that contain communications between Monsanto employees about the safety of glyphosate.
Rather than presenting unbiased, scientific findings that can prove unequivocally that glyphosate is not a genotoxin, which is a substance that has the ability to damage cellular DNA causing mutations and cancer, Monsanto’s strategy, according to Food and Water Watch, is to defend its conclusion that glyphosate is safe by funding scientific studies that support their claim.
Monsanto is poised to merge with the German chemical company, Bayer AG, which would be a $66 billion deal. The Nation reports that the deal has yet to be approved by American and German anti-trust regulators while the EPA’s latest safety assessment of glyphosate is expected to be released soon. The Justice Department has launched a special investigation into the reports that suggest a collusion between Monsanto and the EPA and the lawsuits against Monsanto continue through the court system.
The South Carolina defective product attorneys at McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, have the expertise to successfully handle complicated environmental tort and consumer protection cases occurring across the country. We fight for our clients’ right to compensation after encounters with dangerous products that cause harm. If you have been injured or become ill after using RoundUp, call 803-327-7800 or fill out our contact form.
Randy is the former President of the South Carolina Association for Justice. He has been certified by the American Board of Professional Liability as a specialist in Medical Malpractice Law which is recognized by the South Carolina Bar. Randy has also been awarded the distinction of being a “Super Lawyer” 10 times in the last decade. He has over 25 years of experience helping injured people fight back against corporations, hospitals and wrong-doers.
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