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The peer-reviewed accepted manuscripts from the pilot phase of the Global Glyphosate Study were revealed last Wednesday in a Press Conference at the European Parliament.
The results of the short-term pilot study showed that glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) were able to alter certain important biological parameters in rats, mainly relating to sexual development, genotoxicity and the alteration of the intestinal microbiome, at the ‘safe’ level of 1.75 mg/kg/day set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
As is normal practice for Monsanto, their Public Relations department was soon in action to try and crush the scientists involved and the study results, which could cause major damage to the product that supports their whole business model – the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup.
However, this time their PR campaign against the Study was only met with contempt and disdain from journalists, politicians, scientists and the public in countries across Europe.
Urban Dictionary – Epic Fail: A mistake of such monumental proportions that it requires its own term in order to sucessfully point out the unfathomable shortcomings of an individual or group.
Monsanto’s epic fail began with their comments in The Guardian newspaper:
Scott Partridge, Monsanto’s VP for global strategy told the Guardian: “The Ramazzini Institute is an activist organisation with an agenda that they have not disclosed as part of their crowdfunding efforts. They wish to support a ban on glyphosate and they have a long history of rendering opinions not supported by regulatory testing agencies.”
There are many things that are ‘interesting’ about Scott Partridge’s comment:
Epic Fail #1: Monsanto attacked the wrong Institute
The excellent Guardian article was mainly discussing a study on the microbiome of the rats, hence the title: “Glyphosate shown to disrupt microbiome ‘at safe levels’, study claims”. This study was actually carried out at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York on samples provided by The Ramazzini Institute.
The truth is that Monsanto has never been faced with an independent study on glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides, in which multiple Institutions and Universities are involved. They are used to attacking one single scientist or a small institution.
The Global Glyphosate Study involves The Ramazzini Institute, the University of Bologna (Faculty of Agriculture, Veterinary Science and Biostatistics) the Genoa Hospital San Martino, the Italian National Institute of Health, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York and the George Washington University.
Monsanto have now shown that they will struggle to attack this group of well-respected Institutions!
Epic Fail #2: Monsanto suggests expert cancer scientists are activists
Monsanto’s Mr. Partridge was obviously having a bad day, as he also suggested that “The Ramazzini Institute is an activist organization”. This could not be further from the truth. In fact they are expert scientists who have been protecting public health for over 40 years.
The activities of the Ramazzini Institute (RI) focus primarily on the experimental identification and quantification of carcinogenic risks and on the evaluation of the efficacy and safety of drug therapies and active ingredients that may be used to prevent the development and/or progression of cancer.
The Ramazzini Institute’s long-term studies on Formaldehyde, Vinyl Chloride and Benzene, amongst others have led to global regulatory change on these chemicals.
The RI study design closely mirrors the human condition, in which persons may be exposed to agents in all phases of life for varying lengths of time. A distinctive characteristic of most RI carcinogenicity studies is that rodents are treated from prenatal life and kept under observation until natural death or at least 130 weeks of age. This lifespan protocol is in contrast with most laboratories where rodents are treated starting from adulthood and sacrificed at 110 weeks of age (representing about 2/3 of the lifespan) and corresponding to 60-65 years in humans. This practice means that the researchers miss a significant proportion of cancers induced by early exposure during pregnancy and that might show up in old age.
Sorry Mr. Partridge and Monsanto, you cannot change the truth!
Epic Fail #3: Monsanto claims no link between glyphosate and cancer…off topic
Monsanto’s Mr. Partridge continued by telling the Guardian; “All the research to date has demonstrated that there is no link between glyphosate and cancer.”
Does this not seem to be a bit off topic Mr. Partridge? There is no suggestion in the short-term studies, which he was being asked about, that glyphosate is linked to cancer.
However, if Monsanto really want to bring up this topic, we would suggest they have a chat to the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), who classified glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen” in 2015.
Oh…..I forgot they are currently also trying to campaign against IARC too, including an attempt to stop the U.S. government from funding the Agency. I wonder why that is…..
It is time that we all stop Monsanto in their tracks and support the Global Glyphosate Study, which is being funded by the public worldwide. You can help them by donating here.
A ban on this absurd chemical is long overdue !!!
I think it’s a perfect herbicide for infrequent home use but not for use in agriculture.
In particular, its use as a dessicant for non-GMO crops (eg, wheat) – in which it is sprayed prior to harvest to kill the crop before it’s cut – should be banned outright.
Keeping weeds out of driveways and garden paths – a once a year application seems, to me, to be fine. But not as an ingredient in food, which is inevitable if it’s sprayed just before harvest.
If I find glyphosate in my body (it’s in all of us) should I be able to sue Monsanto because, after all, I didn’t ask for it to be put inside me.
Monsanto are pathological liars/global mass murderers, and have been since 1901, on saccharin, cyclamatea, aspartame, mustard gas, neotame, agent orange, DDT, pcb’s, bpa, bps, glyphosate, Round Up, Dicamba, napam, Zyklon B, gmo’s, ge’s, crispr’s, lead, mercury, pesticides, insecticides, fugalcides, fumigants, bromide, acrylamide, vaccines, water contamination, soil or air toxins, petro chrmical fertilizers, livestock feed and petfood, packaging, etc. Fond out more at oundup.ews and gmwatch.org
Thank you for providing such a succinct answer. Monsanto is a monster… AND now we need to be Billions against Bayer!
Personally I fear they own our government. The tactics used by their ‘Lobbyists” are very heavy handed according to my NH representatives. THUGS
Corporations such as Monsanto would be much more diligent in the safety of their product if their decision makers faced “the Chair” like other mass murderers. Where is the law?
I worked in a Monsanto facility, doing contact work, replumbing some chemical tanks, that word glysophate stuck in my head,, after some time, me and the other guy working with me, broke out in a pretty good rash,, Monsanto Dr told me probably sure I was exposed to a chemical at that facility. Work comp paid for bills, but no one had contacted me to discuss the suffering and inconvenience for over45 days,does anyone have a suggestion on who to contact for help
Monsanto was recently tried in the Hague for crimes against humanity. Hundreds of farmers who have been adversely affected came to testify about the thousands of farmers that committed suicide due to the fact they were trapped by Monsanto into a failing technology. Yes, more and more glyphosate needed and crop yields failing. We the people of the world are the only real testing of this chemical that has occurred, as Monsanto’s own testing of their product was ended after only a short period of time.
The international tribunal found Monsanto guilty of at least 7 counts. See Ron Cummings writings about this at OrganicConsumer.com for detailed findings.
Cancer and autoimmune deseases explose around the world while Monsanto and his friends fill theirs pockets with dirty and stolen money. A great part of humanity suffers terribly, and so do animals and all the Nature, our whole planet. Prison for those murderers! People need to wake up !
Please people listen what is happening here. This glyphosate is deadly. Causes cancer. Which is an issue but right now we face an even bigger issue in the United States. 1out of every 58 children is being born autistic. This rate is growing rapidly. By 2023 it will be every 1out of2. I have a 5yr old son who was born autistic. I cry every time I think that his fair chance at life was robbed from him cuz of sum sick greedy people… Monsanto. There are scientists that have the proof that glyphosate mixed with u. S. Vaccines is the major cause of this autism outbreak. Please people let’s do this for our future… Our kids. Monsanto aka Bayer has to be dealt with. Not just murderers but premeditated and torture and crimes against humanity. People… Our president. Trump. He’s not a politician. He has a heart. He can stop these people. Probably the only person that really can.