Clean food options should be a right.
Unfortunately, the use of pesticides in farming makes it challenging to prepare nutritious and delicious meals without exposing ourselves to harmful chemicals. Inorganic pesticides are used to produce up to 90% of crops in the United States [1]. Not only do pesticides contaminate the fruits and vegetables we eat directly, but these crops are also used in processed foods and to feed farm animals that we consume. Chemicals in synthetic pesticides, like glyphosate and atrazine, have been linked to cancer development and reproductive harm [2][3]. Increasing awareness about the health harms of pesticides has led to a rise in lawsuits against companies that develop pesticides, namely Bayer (Monsanto), the makers of RoundUp. However, new legislation may protect these companies from responsibility. Here’s what you need to know!
New Bill Aims to Limit EPA Regulations on Pesticides?
The United States government drafted the FY26 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill in July 2025, passing the House of Representatives [4]. However, a political divide has paused its momentum in the Senate.
This legislation would determine the budget for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and its various agencies. Its outcome will impact environmental health policies related to clean air, water, and food. A major roadblock in passing the bill is Section 453, a provision that may protect pesticide companies from liability for environmental and human health problems [5].
The EPA is responsible for evaluating and approving pesticides for farmers and landscapers, as well as everyday people who use pesticides on their own lawns and gardens [6]. In addition, the EPA decides which warnings should appear on packages to alert us to potential health or environmental effects.
If Section 453 is approved, it will freeze current EPA labeling requirements. Therefore, pesticide companies wouldn’t have to update their label warnings if new scientific evidence about the health effects of certain active ingredients, like glyphosate, comes to light. If the EPA believes a formula would need reassessment, it could take years before a company would be required to update its label.
In addition, this new bill could potentially absolve pesticide companies from lawsuits for the health harms pesticides may cause.
Lawsuits Against Bayer/Monsanto for Glyphosate Exposures
As of October 2025, approximately 170,000 lawsuits have been filed against Bayer/Monsanto related to Roundup and other glyphosate-based pesticides. Most of the lawsuits involving Roundup allege health harms caused by repeated exposure to glyphosate.
41% glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, which is used in farms and homes across the United States [7]. Long-term exposure to glyphosate has been linked to various cancers, but it is strongly linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma [2].
To date, Bayer has settled almost 100,000 lawsuits, totaling around $11 billion in payouts. There are currently over 60,000 cases against Bayer pending today.
Section 453 in the FY26 Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill would make it nearly impossible for anyone harmed by pesticides to sue manufacturers if the EPA has approved the product’s warnings.
If label freezes under Section 453 are to be approved, this provision would slow the mounting number of lawsuits that Bayer is facing, especially as new research on the health effects of glyphosate is discovered.
Will Pesticide Companies Receive Immunity from Lawsuits?
Section 453 would extend immunity to all pesticides registered under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), not just glyphosate. FIFRA is the primary federal law that requires the EPA to review and approve every pesticide sold in the United States [8].
This legislation ensures products will not cause “unreasonable adverse effects” on people or the environment when used as labeled. Roundup and most other common pesticides are registered under FIFRA.
If Section 453 passes, as long as a pesticide label meets the (possibly outdated) EPA requirements, manufacturers could not be sued for health harms or failure-to-warn, even if new evidence of risk emerges. Therefore, pesticide makers would be protected from many types of legal accountability.
The Problems with Pesticides
The most effective way to avoid pesticides is to grow and purchase organic foods whenever possible. Every year, the Environmental Working Group (EWG) releases a list called the Clean Fifteen/Dirty Dozen. The Dirty Dozen contains fruits and vegetables that tend to have the highest pesticide residue levels.
Shop for organic variations of these foods whenever possible to limit exposure to pesticides. Also, always wash your produce thoroughly before consuming to reduce the amount of pesticides you consume.
Unfortunately, eating organic isn’t a perfect practice. A 2025 peer-reviewed study found that 40% of organic food samples in the U.S. contained detectable pesticide residues [9]. That’s because air can carry pesticide chemicals sprayed on conventionally-grown fruits and vegetables for miles, contaminating crops grown organically.
In addition, pesticides can enter the water cycle through evaporation, allowing chemical residues to travel through the air and return to soil or crops via rainfall. Runoff from agricultural fields, including food scraps and decaying plant material, can carry pesticide residues into streams, ponds, and groundwater, where these chemicals may then be absorbed by organic crops irrigated with contaminated water.
That’s why it’s so important to support organic farmers whenever possible. Also, support legislators locally who champion for environmental health and stricter chemical regulations. Your local air, water, and food quality are extremely important for controlling your harmful chemical exposures.
Also, set your body up for success by minimizing chemical exposures you can control. Test yourself for other harmful chemicals in everyday products, like personal care products and foods, with the Million Marker Test.
Get actionable feedback to limit your exposure to chemicals that can impact your health, so your body is better equipped to handle things beyond your control, like pesticides. Every little bit counts in supporting your overall health!
Resources
[1] https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-united-states/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption
[2] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1383574218300887
[3] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40016167/
[5] https://www.beyondpesticides.org/resources/failure-to-warn
[6] https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration
[7] https://www.cropscience.bayer.us/d/roundup-powermax-3-herbicide