Last Friday, a San Francisco court jury ordered agrochemical giant Monsanto to pay $290 million in damages for failing to disclose the dangers and risks associated with the use of the herbicide Roundup.
What is Roundup?
For those unfamiliar with Roundup, it is a herbicide that contains glyphosate. This product, created by Monsanto, has been on the market since 1975. It is used as a spray and has been widely used by farmers in recent years.
It is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world under various brands and is also accused of being harmful to the environment, contributing to the disappearance of bees, and being an endocrine disruptor. Several scientific studies have been conducted on its carcinogenic risk.
Who is Dewayne Johnson?
Dewayne Johnson, an American gardener and father of three, had been using Roundup, a product containing glyphosate, since 2012, a product deemed safe by the giant Monsanto. He had no previous health problems, he explained during his testimony, and that he had no idea about the glyphosate controversies until he saw marks on his skin and looked them up online. He was diagnosed with incurable lymphatic system cancer in 2014, and doctors gave him less than two years to live.
The trial
Dewayne sued Monsanto for hiding the risks associated with glyphosate use. Last Friday, the jury ruled in his favor, and Monsanto will have to pay $290 million for the damages caused to Mr. Johnson's health.
The current situation in Canada
A study conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, released in mid-April, showed that approximately 30% of food sold in Canada contains traces of glyphosate.
References
https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2018/08/10/monsanto-reconnu-coupable-dans-le-proces-roundup
https://www.lapresse.ca/international/etats-unis/201808/11/01-5192741-lherbicide-roundup-toujours-defendu-par-son-proprietaire.php
https://www.tvanouvelles.ca/2017/04/28/sante-canada-donne-son-feu-vert-definitif-au-glyphosate-1
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