U.S. Pesticide Firms Push to Block Cancer Diagnoses Lawsuits

As this news story describes, proposed new laws backed by pesticide companies are causing controversy in several U.S. states; particularly in Iowa, where cancer rates are among the highest in the country. The legislation, dubbed the ‘Cancer Gag Act’ by opponents, would effectively prevent lawsuits from being brought against pesticide manufacturers for failing to warn users of potential health risks.

Led by Bayer, the owner of Monsanto, the push for these legal protections comes as the German firm faces billions of dollars in settlements from lawsuits linking its infamous Roundup herbicide to cancer. Bayer, along with hundreds of other agricultural industry groups, is advocating for both state and federal law changes that would shield pesticide companies from litigation. In addition to Iowa, similar laws are advancing in Missouri and other states, while a federal petition seeks to prevent states from requiring warning labels beyond what the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) mandates.

Despite heavy lobbying and extensive advertising campaigns supporting the legislation, the opposition to it remains strong, especially in Iowa. Critics, including farm advocacy groups and environmental organizations, argue that the public should have the right to hold pesticide companies accountable if their products are linked to serious health issues.

To learn about the health-damaging effects of Bayer’s Roundup herbicide, as well as how a specific combination of micronutrients has been shown to protect cells against it, see this article on our website.