Green light for lawsuits against Monsanto

A landmark ruling today in San Francisco has opened the door to people bringing lawsuits claiming the weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.

In 2012, a French court found Monsanto guilty of chemical poisoning of a farmer who had used the herbicide Lasso, a trade name for alachlor.

In 2015he World Health Organization classified glyphosate, the key ingredient in Roundup as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” But, in September 2017 the EPA concluded glyphosate is likely not carcinogenic to humans.

There are thousands of stories of farmers and farm workers claiming they have developed cancer as a result of working with Roundup. Now they have a chance for their day in court.

Years ago, when I was visiting one of our farmers in Pennsylvania he explained why he had made the change from conventional to organic farming. He said, and repeated, "Monsanto lied to me." He believed his family had suffered a series of health problems from the chemicals they used on the farm.

When we choose to buy organic produce we are supporting farmers and farm workers by reducing their exposure to hazardous chemicals.