Controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2026
Jury rules for Bayer in Roundup cancer trial
Ruling
In a trial concerning claims that Roundup caused cancer, a Missouri jury unanimously sided with Bayer. Three women had alleged that they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after regularly using the weedkiller. The jury's verdict was in favor of Bayer on those claims.
A Missouri jury unanimously sided with Bayer in a trial over claims that Roundup caused cancer in three women. The women had alleged that they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after regularly using the weedkiller.
Company response
Denial — Bayer
"We are pleased with the jury's favorable verdict for Monsanto validating our belief that there is no evidence to prove design defect, fraud or negligence claims in the Roundup litigation,"
Source excerpt
The three women had said they were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after regularly using the weedkiller.
The German pharmaceutical giant Bayer won a trial on Thursday over claims the Roundup weedkiller, manufactured by subsidiary Monsanto, caused cancer in three women. The Missouri jury sided unanimously with Bayer.
A Missouri circuit court jury reached a unanimous verdict in favor of Monsanto Oct. 29 in the three-plaintiff case of Theresa Aretino, et al. v. Monsanto Company, the first Roundup trial since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Monsanto v. Durnell.
2021
Proposed Roundup false-labeling class-action settlement
Settlement
Plaintiffs in a class-action lawsuit against Monsanto asked the court for preliminary approval of a proposed $45 million settlement concerning allegations that Monsanto failed to warn Roundup users about claims linking the product to cancer. The settlement remained subject to approval; Monsanto denied the allegations and liability.
Company response
Denial — Monsanto
Reportedly, Monsanto denies the allegations in the plaintiffs’ complaint and further denies any liability.
Source excerpt
The plaintiffs lawsuit alleged that Monsanto committed fraud by not alerting consumers on the product that it is linked to cancer.
Reportedly, Monsanto denies the allegations in the plaintiffs’ complaint and further denies any liability.
A group of Roundup users asked the Delaware District Court to give preliminary approval to a $45 million settlement and certify a nationwide class of consumers in a lawsuit against Monsanto Co., the company which produces Roundup.
2020
Bayer agrees to draft settlement terms in Roundup cases
Settlement
A report said Bayer agreed to draft settlement terms with law firms representing tens of thousands of people alleging its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. The source described the terms as a draft, not a completed settlement.
Source excerpt
The Wall Street Journal reported that Bayer has agreed to draft settlement terms with law firms representing tens of thousands of people alleging its popular weedkiller Roundup causes cancer.
agreed to pay more than $10 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits claiming that its Roundup weed killer causes cancer.
Bayer did not admit any wrongdoing or liability as part of the settlement.
2020
Bayer announces settlements of Roundup, dicamba and PCB litigation
Settlement
Bayer announced agreements to settle Roundup cancer litigation, dicamba drift litigation and some PCB water litigation exposure in the United States. The article reports the settlement amounts and notes that some agreements remain subject to court approval.
Source excerpt
Bayer-Monsanto have announced that the company will make a total payment of $10.1 billion to $10.9 billion (€9.1 billion to €9.8 billion) to settle the non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Roundup litigation in the U.S..
Bayer also revealed Wednesday a series of agreements that resolve cases representing some of the company’s exposure to PCB water litigation.
One agreement establishes a class that includes all local governments with EPA permits involving water discharges impaired by PCBs.
2020
Bayer reaches settlements over Roundup, dicamba and PCB claims
Settlement
Bayer reached settlements resolving claims involving Roundup, dicamba-related crop damage and PCB pollution. The Roundup settlement addresses claims alleging the weed killer caused cancer; the source says the agreement includes no admission of liability. Bayer will pay farmers $400 million for dicamba crop-damage claims and roughly $650 million to resolve PCB waterway-pollution cases, with a separate $170 million agreement concerning PCB claims by three government plaintiffs.
Source excerpt
It also struck a separate deal with attorneys general in New Mexico, Washington state, and the District of Columbia to resolve PCB claims for $170 million.
Bayer will pay $400 million to farmers who claimed their crops were damaged from dicamba.
Bayer CEO Werner Baumann called the decision to settle the lawsuits the right one in order to end a long period of uncertainty.
2020
California appeals court upholds Monsanto liability and reduces award
Ruling
The California Court of Appeal in San Francisco upheld the liability verdict against Monsanto in Dewayne Johnson's Roundup case and reduced his award from $78.5 million to $20.5 million. Bayer said it continued to believe the verdict and awards were inconsistent with the trial evidence and law.
Company response
Denial — Bayer
In a statement Tuesday, Bayer said, "The appeal court's decision to reduce the compensatory and punitive damages is a step in the right direction, but we continue to believe that the jury's verdict and damage awards are inconsistent with the evidence at trial and the law.
Source excerpt
But the California Court of Appeal in San Francisco reduced the award to groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson, who suffers from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, from $78.5 million to $20.5 million.
A former Vallejo groundskeeper with terminal cancer won an appeal Monday against Monsanto Co., which was seeking to overturn a trial court decision to award the man more than $75 million in damages.
In a statement Tuesday, Bayer said, "The appeal court's decision to reduce the compensatory and punitive damages is a step in the right direction, but we continue to believe that the jury's verdict and damage awards are inconsistent with the evidence at trial and the law.
2020
California appeals court upholds Roundup verdict and reduces damages
Ruling
A California appeals court rejected Bayer's bid to overturn a verdict for a school groundskeeper who claimed Roundup caused his cancer, while reducing the damages to US$20.5 million. The court said the plaintiff offered abundant evidence that glyphosate together with other ingredients in Roundup products caused his cancer.
A California appeals court rejected Bayer’s bid to overturn a verdict for a school groundskeeper who claimed Roundup caused his cancer, while reducing the damages to US$20.5 million. The court said the plaintiff offered abundant evidence that glyphosate together with other ingredients in Roundup products caused his cancer.
Company response
Clarification — Bayer
Bayer has long said regulators have deemed glyphosate safe. “We continue to stand strongly behind the safety and utility of Roundup,” the company said.
Source excerpt
Bayer has long said regulators have deemed glyphosate safe. “We continue to stand strongly behind the safety and utility of Roundup,” the company said.
The decision by the California Court of Appeal came after a San Francisco jury had in August 2018 awarded $289.2 million to the plaintiff Dewayne Johnson for his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a sum later cut by the trial judge to $78.5 million (all figures US$).
In its 86-page decision, the appeals court said Johnson offered “abundant” evidence that glyphosate, together with other ingredients in Roundup products, caused his cancer.
2020
Bayer asks California Supreme Court to review Roundup verdict
Lawsuit filed
Bayer asked the California Supreme Court to review a decision affirming a $20.5 million award to groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson, who claimed Roundup caused his cancer. Bayer argued the ruling conflicted with federal law and settled legal principles; the request was an appeal, not a new court determination.
Source excerpt
The Court of Appeal later reduced the damages to $20.5 million.
Bayer AG has asked California’s Supreme Court to review a decision awarding $20.5 million to a groundskeeper who claimed the company’s Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer, arguing the ruling was at odds with federal law and settled legal principles.
2019
Australian farmer sues Monsanto over Roundup
Lawsuit filed
In 2019, New South Wales farmer Ross Wild filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, alleging that long-term exposure to Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that the product's warnings were inadequate. Bayer Australia responded that the scientific evidence supported the conclusion that Roundup did not cause the disease. The dispute became part of broader litigation over the herbicide's alleged health effects.
NSW farmer Ross Wild filed a lawsuit against Monsanto, alleging that long-term exposure to Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and that product warnings were inadequate. Bayer Australia said the scientific evidence supported the conclusion that Roundup did not cause the disease.
Company response
Denial — Bayer Australia
In a statement, Bayer Australia said it had great sympathy for any individual with cancer, but the "extensive body of science" on glyphosate-based herbicides supported the conclusion that Roundup did not cause non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Source excerpt
Mr Wild's case was lodged with the Victorian Supreme Court earlier this week.
In a statement, Bayer Australia said it had great sympathy for any individual with cancer, but the "extensive body of science" on glyphosate-based herbicides supported the conclusion that Roundup did not cause non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Mr Carbone said the warnings on Roundup bottles were inadequate and his client's clothes and body had been "drenched" in the herbicide over a 40-year period of use.
2019
Bayer appeals Roundup cancer verdict
Lawsuit filed
Bayer said it had asked a US federal appeals court to reverse the $25 million judgment in Edwin Hardeman's case, which concerned his claim that Roundup caused his cancer.
Stated objective. Reverse the $25 million judgment.
Source excerpt
German chemical giant Bayer said on Monday it had asked a US federal appeals court to reverse a $25 million (€22.4 million) judgment ordering it to pay a California man who blamed the weedkiller Roundup for his cancer.
Bayer AG has asked California’s Supreme Court to review a decision awarding $20.5 million to a groundskeeper who claimed the company’s Roundup weedkiller caused his cancer, arguing the ruling was at odds with federal law and settled legal principles.
2018
Roundup product-liability litigation
After Bayer acquired Monsanto, plaintiffs in the United States pursued numerous claims alleging that Roundup exposure caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma and that Monsanto failed to provide adequate warnings. Jury outcomes have been mixed, and litigation has continued through trials, appeals, and settlement discussions.
2015
Glyphosate carcinogenicity controversy
IARC classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Monsanto and Bayer have disputed the implications of that classification and have maintained that Roundup is safe when used according to its label. Other regulators have reached different conclusions under their own assessment frameworks.
Disputed safety and environmental marketing claims
Consumer and legal critics have challenged historical descriptions of Roundup as environmentally friendly or exceptionally safe, while the companies have defended product safety when used according to directions. The dispute concerns advertising, exposure, formulation, and the difference between hazard and risk assessments.