
(UnitedReader.com) – For years, activists have fought against the sale of certain products known to cause health complications. Now, those same activists are celebrating what they call a “historic victory” in the wake of a stunning announcement by Bayer on Thursday, July 29.
US retailers began preparations to remove RoundUp and other glyphosate-based herbicides from their shelves after Bayer announced sales would stop by 2023. The executive director of the Center for Food Safety (CFS), Andrew Kimbrell, stated that the move was a significant win for both the environment and public health.
Glyphosate, the key ingredient in these herbicides, is a “probable carcinogenic,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The chemical poses a risk not only to human health but to the health of pollinating insects such as bees and butterflies.
"As agricultural, large-scale use of this toxic pesticide continues, our farmworkers remain at risk," said Andrew Kimbrell of @CFSTrueFood. "It's time for EPA to act and ban glyphosate for all uses." https://t.co/kvjoT9fUrD
— Common Dreams (@commondreams) July 30, 2021
The parent company of Monsanto, Bayer, issued a statement saying it will stop the use of glyphosate — not because of health concerns, but to minimize litigation risks. The company claims it will seek out alternative ingredients in place of glyphosate.
Bayer has faced numerous lawsuits over the years for its use of known dangerous chemicals and other posing potential health risks. In 2020, Bayer announced it settled a group of lawsuits with a price tag totaling over $11 billion.
The sales of glyphosate-based products are only set to stop in the US by 2023. Kendra Klein, who serves as a senior scientist for Friends of the Earth, admits this is a major win for the health of Americans. However, she noted that this only affects US sales, and the fight to have the chemical removed globally is nowhere near its end.
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