Ethical Concerns Leads Scientific Journal to Retract Glyphosate Safety Study
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Ryon Harms, [email protected], (310) 730-9407
EL CERRITO, CALIFORNIA – January 8, 2026 – A prominent scientific journal recently retracted a landmark study claiming that glyphosate, the active ingredient in the herbicide Roundup, is safe for human health. There remains substantial research and evidence linking glyphosate to cancer exists across a range of studies.
Since Bayer acquired Monsanto (the manufacturer of Roundup) in 2018, over 177,000 lawsuits have been filed related to glyphosate; Monsanto recently paid $2.1 billion in damages in a case that connected the plaintiff’s non-Hodkin’s lymphoma to glyphosate exposure.
The retraction of the widely cited paper on glyphosate safety occurred based on a recommendation by two Harvard scientists urging the Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology journal to re-examine the study. After reviewing the study, the journal’s editor in chief stated that the article was being retracted due to “serious ethical concerns” after discovering that Monsanto’s scientists played a major role in developing and influencing the study.
“For years, shareholders have raised concerns to large food companies about the risks from their reliance on pesticides harmful to human health,” said Cailin Dendas, Senior Environmental Health Coordinator at As You Sow. “Companies that fail to address these issues are exposing shareholders to avoidable and growing risk, while farmworkers and fenceline communities continue getting sick.”
As You Sow evaluates major food companies' efforts to minimize or eliminate their reliance on harmful pesticides through its Pesticides in the Pantry and From the Ground Up reports, finding that reliance on harmful pesticides remains the norm for most large food companies.
Nate Powell-Palm, Montana Grain Farmer said “With this news I’m grateful that so many farmers before me invested in learning how to produce high yielding organic crops. As inputs like glyphosate and synthetic fertilizers rob American farmers of their profits, we have a ready-made solution to meet the demand for good food while ensuring a strong farmer livelihood -- organic farming.”
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As You Sow is the nation’s leading shareholder representative, with a 30+ year track record promoting environmental and social corporate responsibility. As You Sow addresses a range of issues that affect shareholder value including climate change, ocean plastics, toxins in the food system, biodiversity, racial justice, and workplace diversity. See As You Sow's shareholder resolution tracker.