The scientific Journal of Regularity Toxicology and Pharmacology has trashed a research paper it published 25 years ago. The paper concluded glyphosate is safe if used as directed.
Now the journal said an investigation found undisclosed industry involvement, reliance on unpublished Monsanto data and omissions of conflicting evidence.
“The scientific concerns … regarding (ghost-) authorship(s) and potential conflicts of interest, none of which have been responded to, are sufficient to warrant this action,” the retraction authors said.
Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide became the standard for weed control in corn and soybeans after Monsanto also genetically engineered those crops to survive spraying with Roundup.
Roundup was also widely used to kill off all plants after harvest and before planting.
Its safety was challenged in lawsuits, beginning with a California school employee who was stricken with cancer and blamed Roundup. Bayer, which bought Monsanto, paid millions of dollars after losing that and a few other court challenges.