Petition Against Monsanto

A widely circulated petition is urging President Obama to cut ties between the Food and Drug Administration and agricultural giant Monsanto, citing scientific studies that link Monsanto’s genetically modified foods to cancer and chronic illness. The petition, which has already gathered more than 181,000 signatures, coincides with a recent class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Nitro, WV residents, who claim the company’s Nitro chemical plant exposed the town to carcinogenic toxins—including chemicals found in defoliate Agent Orange—from 1949 until 1971. The plaintiffs are asking Monsanto to monitor the health of each individual named in the suit, a request that will cost the company millions.