Roundup

In the 1970s, agrochemical company Monsanto developed one of the most potent chemical herbicides on the market: glyphosate. When the manufacturer began marketing the product as Roundup, it became one of the most popular herbicides in history, available for commercial and residential use.

But in 2015, the cancer research team at the World Health Organization classified glyphosate–Roundup’s active ingredient–as a probable human carcinogen. This means exposure to the chemical carries a risk of cancer. Scientists uncovered a specific link to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which damages the body’s germ-fighting immune system.

Victims Come Forward

Since the WHO’s report on Roundup and glyphosate, thousands of cancer patients have come forward alleging that exposure to the chemical caused their illness. These victims rightfully demanded accountability and compensation from Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018.

Bayer has already paid billions to plaintiffs, including a $10 billion settlement in 2020 that ended thousands of lawsuits. Before that, a jury awarded a California couple $2 billion. These are just a small sample of favorable outcomes for victims. 

Roundup’s Entire Formula Under the Microscope

In 2021, Bayer announced it would remove glyphosate from its residential weed killer, effective January 2023. 

In attempting to avoid accountability for their dangerous product, Bayer points to reports from the FDA and EPA that insist glyphosate is not harmful to humans. However, current and future litigation focuses on the dangers of Roundup’s entire formula–not just glyphosate.