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In 2020, Bayer agreed to pay roughly $10 billion to settle tens of thousands of U.S. lawsuits claiming its weedkiller Roundup caused cancer, particularly non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The scale of the payout made headlines worldwide. Yet Roundup was never banned.
Why?
The answer lies in the gap between courtroom liability and regulatory approval — and possibly politics.
Civil juries found that Monsanto, acquired by Bayer in 2018, failed to adequately warn users about potential risks. In civil law, the standard is “balance of probabilities,” not proof beyond reasonable doubt. Settlements also do not require companies to admit guilt. For Bayer, resolving massive litigation reduced financial uncertainty.
Regulators operate differently. Agencies such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and European authorities have repeatedly stated that glyphosate is unlikely to pose a cancer risk when used as directed. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization’s cancer research arm classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic” in 2015, creating lasting scientific disagreement.
Critics argue that lobbying and corporate influence may also play a role in continued approval. Internal documents released during litigation showed Monsanto actively defending glyphosate’s reputation and engaging with regulators and scientists. While this does not prove corruption, it has fueled public concerns about regulatory capture and political pressure.
The controversy intensified in 2026 when President Donald Trump declared glyphosate critical to national security and food supply resilience, invoking emergency powers to protect domestic production. Supporters framed it as an agricultural security move. Opponents saw it as shielding a controversial product amid ongoing lawsuits.
The result is a paradox: billions paid in settlements, yet global approval maintained. Whether that reflects sound science, legal strategy, economic necessity, or political influence depends largely on whom you ask — and how much trust remains in the system that decides.
