{"id":7193,"date":"2026-02-28T06:40:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:40:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=7193"},"modified":"2026-02-28T06:40:53","modified_gmt":"2026-02-28T06:40:53","slug":"health-experts-debate-cancer-linked-pesticide-toxic-by-design-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/?p=7193","title":{"rendered":"Health experts debate cancer-linked pesticide: &#8216;Toxic by design&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"speakable\">There has been a shake-up in the Make America Healthy Again movement regarding glyphosate, a widely used herbicide that has been the subject of significant controversy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"speakable\">The debate follows an executive order signed by President <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/donald-trump\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Donald Trump<\/a> that ensures an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides related to national defense.<\/p>\n<p>MAHA supporters have previously pushed a pesticide-free agenda, warning of potential <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">health harms<\/a> caused by glyphosate.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst, said he believes there is sufficient evidence linking glyphosate to neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, Parkinson&#8217;s and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/nervous-system-health\/multiple-sclerosis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">multiple sclerosis<\/a>, to warrant limiting exposure.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif, https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>President Donald Trump signed an executive order that ensures an adequate supply of elemental phosphorus and glyphosate-based herbicides related to national defense.<\/span> <span>(AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>&#8220;With Parkinson&#8217;s, this association appears to be due to the gut, vagus nerve and brain axis, where the exposure affects the microbiome in the gut, which then ascends slowly up to the brain, causing the neurodegenerative disease years later,&#8221; Siegel told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;There is also a growing association being found between high-dose glyphosate or occupational exposure and metabolic disorders, liver disease and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/cancer\/lymphoma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">some cancers<\/a>, specifically lymphoma.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He added, &#8220;Growing research backs this. I favor limiting it.&#8221;<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"pull-quote\">\n<p class=\"quote-text\">&#8220;When we apply them across millions of acres and allow them into our food system, we put Americans at risk.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p> <!----><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Studies have shown that glyphosate, which is used in products such as Roundup, owned by Monsanto, could raise cancer risk.<\/p>\n<p>In one University of Washington study published in the journal Mutation Research, researchers found that exposure to it increased the risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/cancer\/lymphoma\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">non-Hodgkin lymphoma<\/a> by 41%.<\/p>\n<p>The nonprofit Investigate Midwest, which analyzed data from both the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Cancer Institute, also recently found that pesticides may contribute to cancer rates.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/food-drink\/rfk-jr-backs-beef-declaring-war-protein-over-he-thanks-americas-cattle-ranchers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>RFK JR BACKS BEEF, DECLARING &#8216;WAR ON PROTEIN IS OVER&#8217; AS HE THANKS AMERICA&#8217;S CATTLE RANCHERS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Among the top 500 counties for per-square-mile pesticide use, more than 60% had <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\/medical-research\/cancer-research\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">cancer rates<\/a> above the national average of 460 cases per 100,000 people, according to the report.<\/p>\n<p>Investigate Midwest, which is based in Illinois, interviewed more than 100 farmers, environmentalists, lawmakers and scientists as part of a partnership with the Pulitzer Center\u2019s StoryReach U.S. Fellowship.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/343\/192\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/686\/384\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/672\/378\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1344\/756\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/931\/523\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1862\/1046\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/720\/405\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1440\/810\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/1200\/675\/assortment-of-apples.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"assortment of apples\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Among the top 500 counties for per-square-mile pesticide use, more than 60% had cancer rates above the national average of 460 cases per 100,000 people, according to one study.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Iowa, which used 53 million pounds of pesticides last year, holds the nation\u2019s title for second-highest cancer rate.<\/p>\n<p>Bill Billings, a resident of Red Oak, Iowa, was diagnosed with cancer in 2014.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The cancer specialist said, very directly, (my) cancer is a result of being exposed to chemicals,&#8221; Billings said in the report.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters?cmpid=fnfirstnl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Kelly Ryerson, founder of Glyphosate Facts and owner of the Instagram account @glyphosategirl, told Fox News Digital her journey researching the herbicide began with her own\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">health struggles<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Ryerson, who is based in California, previously struggled with chronic illness and autoimmune issues, which she said improved when she stopped\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/food-drink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eating gluten<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/343\/192\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/686\/384\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/672\/378\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1344\/756\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/931\/523\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1862\/1046\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/720\/405\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1440\/810\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/1200\/675\/corn-stalks.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"corn stalks\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Iowa, which used 53 million pounds of pesticides last year, holds the nation\u2019s title for second-highest cancer rate.<\/span> <span>(iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>After attending a medical conference at Columbia University\u2019s Celiac Disease Center, Ryerson began to question modern farming practices rather than the gluten itself.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;A lot of times, farmers are spraying Roundup on our grains right before harvest to facilitate an easier harvest,&#8221; she said. &#8220;After that easier harvest, because everything&#8217;s dry at the same time,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/food-drink\/food\/healthy-foods\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">those crops<\/a>\u00a0go directly to the mill and may end up in our food supply, at alarmingly high levels.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/lifestyle\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization framework, classified glyphosate as &#8220;probably carcinogenic to humans.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>The classification was based on limited evidence of cancer in humans (notably non-Hodgkin lymphoma in some studies) and sufficient evidence in experimental animals.<\/p>\n<div class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/343\/192\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/686\/384\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/672\/378\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1344\/756\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/931\/523\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1862\/1046\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/720\/405\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1440\/810\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1200\/675\/glyphosate-herbicide-pescticide-round-up-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Gardener holds up pesticide\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>&#8220;President Trump\u2019s executive order reinforces the critical need for U.S. farmers to have access to essential, domestically produced crop\u00a0protection tools, such as glyphosate,&#8221; a Monsanto spokesperson said.<\/span> <span>(Wolf von Dewitz\/picture alliance via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>A spokesperson for Monsanto told Fox News Digital it will comply with Trump&#8217;s order to produce glyphosate and elemental phosphorus.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;President Trump\u2019s executive order reinforces the critical need for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxbusiness.com\/category\/agriculture\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">U.S. farmers<\/a> to have access to essential, domestically produced crop\u00a0protection tools, such as glyphosate,&#8221; the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>HHS Secretary <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/person\/robert-f-kennedy-jr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Robert F. Kennedy Jr.<\/a> has long been a vocal critic of Roundup, working with his legal team in 2018 to award $289 million to a man who alleged the weed killer caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma, according to reports.<\/p>\n<p>Following backlash to Trump&#8217;s executive order, Kennedy said he supports the order but acknowledged that &#8220;pesticides and herbicides are toxic by design, engineered to kill living organisms.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/lifestyle\/quizzes\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8220;When we apply them across millions of acres and allow them into our food system, we put Americans at risk,&#8221; he posted on X. &#8220;Chemical manufacturers have paid tens of billions of dollars to settle cancer claims linked to their products, and many agricultural communities report elevated cancer rates and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chronic disease<\/a>.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <\/p>\n<section data-fetch-key=\"RelatedArticle:0\" class=\"related-article\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<h3 class=\"component-title\">Related Article<\/h3>\n<div class=\"inner\">\n<div class=\"m\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/pesticide-food-thats-making-america-sick-again-may-get-free-pass\" data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_health_article_article-content_related-article_1_1_media\"><picture><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Pesticides-Liability-Protection.gif\" alt=\"Pesticide in food that's 'making America sick again' may get free pass\" width=\"117\" height=\"66\"\/><\/picture><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"article-meta\">\n<div class=\"author-bio\">\n<p>Ashley J. DiMella is a lifestyle reporter with Fox News Digital.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/health\/cancer-linked-herbicide-spotlight-after-controversial-order-toxic-design\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! There has been a shake-up in the Make America Healthy Again movement regarding glyphosate, a widely used herbicide&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health-wellness"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=7193"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7193\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=7193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=7193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/foreignnewstoday.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=7193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}