Glyphosate, Cancer, and the Supreme COurt
Glyphosate is a herbicide, or weed killer, that became the center of a class-action lawsuit against Bayer’s marquee product, Roundup. Despite being a known carcinogen, glyphosate is commonly used in commercially available products in the US and holds the backing of the industry’s largest, most powerful lobbyists.
How Bayer Won Its Roundup Case
In June, the US Supreme Court handed down a ruling that said Bayer does not have to include a cancer warning label on its notorious product. The basis of the ruling is that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) doesn’t consider the herbicide a cancer risk. The EPA’s position is antiquated and lags behind warnings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which is a branch of the World Health Organization. The IARC found over a decade ago that glyphosate is a likely carcinogen.
Monsanto’s Roundup Becomes Bayer’s Headache
Bayer, one of the world’s largest agricultural science and pharmaceutical companies, acquired St. Louis-based Monsanto in 2018, just as lawsuits focused on Roundup multiplied. Public perception of the Monsanto brand forced Bayer to almost completely phase it out, folding the entity into its Crop Science division.
The landmark Monsanto Co. v. Durnell case began years ago, and the plaintiff, John Durnell, was awarded $1.25 million by a state jury. Durnell developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup. Monsanto appealed, claiming that since a federal agency (the EPA) found no link between glyphosate and cancer, federal label standards override state tort claims.
The 7-2 decision is a massive win for chemical companies across verticals, but a victory for Bayer in particular. The German behemoth still faces thousands of lawsuits, many of which hinge on the failure-to-warn claims originally used by Durnell.
Read More: Why Psyllium Husk Products Have a Cancer Warning
What Is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide used in formulated weed killer products. It is an active ingredient in agricultural, forestry, and residential products. It’s used heavily on genetically modified crops.
What Is Glyphosate Used For?
The chemical is used to kill weeds and grasses. It’s usually paired with genetically modified crops that have been engineered to withstand glyphosate, allowing farmers to spray entire fields without hurting the crops. It is sometimes used to dry out non-GMO crops right before harvest, which speeds up the process.
Bayer no longer uses glyphosate in its residential products, but it is still a key active ingredient in many, if not most, commercial weed killer products, especially those used by large-scale farmers.
Does Glyphosate Cause Cancer?
It depends who you ask.
The EPA and European Food Safety Authority state that glyphosate is unlikely to cause cancer.
The IARC classifies glyphosate as a probable carcinogen to humans during occupational exposure.
Due to its pervasive use in North American agriculture, it’s not uncommon to find trace amounts of glyphosate in foods, especially wheat and oats. Experts say GM grains, legumes, and other conventional produce may appear in foods, especially:
Bread
Cereals
Soybeans
Peas
Lentils
Corn
Vegetable oils
To lower your risk of glyphosate exposure, look for certified organic produce and grains, check labels, and avoid processed foods, especially packaged snacks and cereals like granola bars.
Prevention Is the Path Forward
Less Cancer is dedicated to informing and empowering consumers to make smart choices. Through education and advocacy, it’s our goal to make cancer prevention a national priority, including banning glyphosate in the US, starting with a pre-harvest ban similar to Europe’s. You can keep Less Cancer in the fight by donating to our cause today.