Nebraska Farmers Sue Monsanto
Four Nebraskan agricultural workers, Larry Domina and Robert Dickey both of Cedar County, York County farmer Royce Janzen and Dodge County agronomist Frank Pollard, have filed a lawsuit against Monsanto Co. alleging that their product, Roundup, has given them non-Hodgkin lymphoma after many years of exposure. Our hearts are heavy for them. They were sold a lie and may now give their lives to a company that doesn’t care about them, the earth, or our food supply.
The four Nebraskan’s state that Monsanto has ignored the growing body of recognized scientific evidence linking the disease to Roundup exposure. They have also accused Monsanto of knowingly misleading “we the people” about the safety of its product, which contains the main ingredient, glyphosate.
From the Ecowatch article:
“Case-control studies of occupational exposure in the USA, Canada, and Sweden reported increased risks for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that persisted after adjustment for other pesticides,” the IARC said about the herbicide, adding that there is also “convincing evidence” that it can cause cancer in laboratory animals.
Their attorney, David Domina said, “Roundup is used by Nebraskans raising everything from grain to grass and tulips to trees. Nothing on the label alerts users to health risks”, reports Ecowatch. The plaintiffs are seeking punitive damages for defective design, failure to warn, negligence, and breach of warranty.
It will come as no surprise to you all that Monsanto has denied cancer claims and said that Roundup is “safe enough to drink”. Charla Lord, Monsanto spokeswoman, has responded by claiming that the plaintiffs claims are simply not supported by science (Oh, they also have sympathy for the four men battling lymphoma).
More from Ecowatch:
“The U.S. EPA and other pesticide regulators around the world have reviewed numerous long-term carcinogenicity studies and agree that there is no evidence that glyphosate causes cancer, even at very high doses,” she continued. “Since 1991, glyphosate has been classified by the U.S. EPA in its lowest category for evidence of non-carcinogenicity based on extensive animal studies. In fact, glyphosate is one of the most thoroughly studied herbicides in the marketplace.”
However sure they may be of themselves, thankfully, this isn’t the only lawsuit Monsanto is facing.
In February, Christine and Kenneth Sheppard, the former owners of Dragon’s Lair Kona Coffee Farm in Honaunau, Hawaii, accused the poison giant of falsely masking the carcinogenic risks of glyphosate; Christine is currently battling non-Hodgkins lymphoma.
A wrongful death lawsuit was filled against them in March by the widow of a prominent Cambria, California farmer. The suit alleges that Roundup caused her husband of 40-years, Anthony Jackson “Jack” McCall, to develop a rare and aggressive version of non-Hodgkin lymphoma after he used the herbicide on his 20-acre fruit and vegetable farm for nearly 30 years.
The chemical has also been the subject of controversy in Europe as well, after the European Food Safety Authority rejected the IARC’s classification of glyphosate as a possible carcinogen. While the European Commission (the executive body of the European Union) is currently planing to relicense glyphosate for nine years, there is strong opposition from European Parliament, countries like France, Sweden, Italy, the Netherlands, Germany and 1.4 million other Europeans, who are calling for it to be banned.
I don’t know when this madness is going to stop, but I know that the message is now being heard loud and clear, with new people coming to a better understanding of the dangers of Monsanto, every day. Keep up the good work Health Nuts!
Source: Ecowatch
