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As the most widely used herbicide in the world, glyphosate can make its way into processed foods after being applied to weeds. Because most crops grown in fields use some form of pesticides, trace amounts can be found in the majority of the food we eat.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, is safe, the World Health Organization declared it a probable carcinogen in 2015. In recent months, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) released its findings of small amounts of herbicide in breakfast cereals and other foods containing oats. However, the EPA says there is no concern because the amount is within its limits.
What were the EWG’s Glyphosate Findings?
In August, the Environmental Working Group released a report stating that it found glyphosate in 31 out of 45 food products made with conventionally grown oats. The report was particularly alarming because the weed-killing chemical was found in breakfast foods marketed toward children. The report said that these products including oats, granola, and snack bars contained glyphosate levels higher than what some scientists consider safe.
But in the second round of tests, the group found glyphosate in 100 percent of the 28 products it tested. Out of those 28 products, 26 of them contained amounts higher than the group’s recommended levels.
The EWG’s concerns arise out of the fact the authorities such as WHO and the state of California have added the chemical to the probable carcinogen list. While the EWG has more stringent standards than the EPA, the chemical was even found in organic products. Products that the EWG found to contain excessive levels of the herbicide include:
- Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
- Cheerios
- Quaker Dinosaur Egg Instant Oats
- Great Value Instant Oats
- Back to Nature Classic Granola
Why is Glyphosate so Prevalent?
One of farming’s biggest concerns is weed control. When weeds grow they can be a big present a major problem on a farm. The weeds can damage crops by competing for water nutrients and sunlight. Left untreated, weeds can decrease the crop yield of a farm and cause poor crop quality. For these reasons, farmers spray fields with Roundup or other glyphosate products to preserve their crops.
Plants absorb glyphosate through their leaves and other green parts. From there, the chemical moves to the plant’s shoots and roots where it interferes with the plant’s production of amino acids necessary for plant growth. As as a result, this kills the entire plant—roots and above ground parts.
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s best selling weed-killer Roundup. The chemical allows farmers to kill weeds without destroying their crops. This allows farmers to spray the herbicide directly on crops.
Glyphosate Dietary Exposure
The residue of glyphosate in plants occurs when plants uptake the chemical from the soil. According to the EPA, “the material which is taken up is readily translocated throughout the plant and into its fruit.” The chemical is said to pass through the human body through urine and feces.
Is Glyphosate a Part of Desiccation Process?
While glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world, in the United States, it is not widely used to dry out crops. In fact, it is estimated that only 5 percent of US wheat crops are dried out with the assistance of glyphosate. The practice occurs primarily on wheat farms in North and South Dakota.
Is Glyphosate Dangerous?
While the generally held view by health agencies in the United States is that glyphosate is not a health concern, glyphosate has been linked to Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. While the EPA ranks the chemicals toxicity level at a three, glyphosate does severe damage to the kidney and liver. When a disruption occurs in the function of these organs, the body’s endocrine system suffers.
The endocrine system is responsible for regulating hormones. Therefore, any disruption to the endocrine system increases the risk of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Potential EPA-Monsanto Glyphosate Coverup
Despite numerous studies, Monsanto still maintains that its product is safe and doesn’t cause cancer. It often cites the EPA’s stance on Roundup as an argument against detractors. However, a report from the Huffington Post detailed communications between the EPA and Monsanto.
The documents showed that early in 2015, the EPA and Monsanto began working together to stall a glyphosate toxicology report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. However, executives in the EPA worked to delay the CDC’s report. To date, the CDC’s Agency of Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has not released a report on glyphosate. However, the EPA released an assessment in December 2017 declaring glyphosate was likely not a carcinogen.
Lawsuits Against Monsanto
Thousands of Roundup users filed lawsuits alleging that they developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, b-cell lymphoma, leukemia and other forms of cancer as a result of using the product. The lawsuits allege that the company was aware of the dangers of glyphosate and failed to warn consumers.
Roundup has seen an increase in popularity since Monsanto introduced Roundup Ready Crops. These crops are genetically modified seeds resistant to glyphosate. The introduction of these seeds allows farmers to spray Roundup everywhere without worry of killing crops. The crops include plants like corn, soybean and cotton and account of for more than 270 million pounds of crops each year.
The Carlson Law Firm Can Help
The Carlson Law Firm is currently investigating Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma cases across the nation. We are accepting cases from all 50 states.
If you or a loved one has an established history of using Roundup and were later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, contact The Carlson Law Firm. Our firm specializes in handling cases like yours. We can also help family members file wrongful death lawsuits against Monsanto. Contact us to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation.
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