By Allison Waldbeser
Officials from Fresno, California have just proposed a rule that will require Monsanto to label its herbicide Roundup as a possible cancer threat. The main ingredient in this herbicide is glyphosate – but what exactly is glyphosate? According to glyphosate facts, it is “one of the world’s most widely used broad spectrum herbicides and accounts for around 25% of the global herbicide market.” The scariest part about this chemical is its likely contribution to the development of cancer. The World Health Organization’s International Cancer Agency states that “glyphosate is probably carcinogenic to humans”. Due to these findings, California is deciding to take action.
Monsanto Co. uses this herbicide as one of their main ingredients in their popular weed-killer spray “Roundup”. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends that people avoid contact with fields for 12 hours after Roundup has been sprayed, while Monsanto maintains that the chemical poses no risk to consumers.
Despite the heavy use of Roundup in our communities, many are still unaware of the potential danger it poses. We think farmers and consumers have a right to know the risks of it so they can make informed decisions about what they’re eating and what goes into their bodies. #JustLabelIt!
Fortunately, it is alleviating to see the state of California taking precautions. In the meantime, California regulators and Monsanto continue to battle it out as the public awaits a formal court decision.
What do you think – should California (and other states) require Monsanto to label Roundup as a possible cancer threat?
