Bayer-Monsanto Faces Legal Challenge Over Glyphosate and Health Claims
Family alleges link between glyphosate exposure and severe health issues in their son as trial unfolds.
The judicial proceedings held on April 3 in Vienne, Isère, marked a significant moment for the Grataloup family, who are confronting Bayer-Monsanto in court.
They allege that exposure to glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, during pregnancy led to severe malformations in their son, Théo Grataloup, who is now 17 years old and has faced serious health challenges since birth.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a ‘probable human carcinogen’ in 2015, leading to its ban for domestic use in France at the end of 2018. In November 2023, however, the herbicide was granted a renewed ten-year approval in Europe, albeit with certain conditions and restrictions.
During the trial, Bayer-Monsanto strongly refuted the Grataloup family’s allegations, asserting there is ‘no causal link’ between glyphosate and Théo's disabilities.
Bayer's counsel, Me Jean-Daniel Bretzner, cited numerous scientific studies claiming the herbicide has ‘no effect on human reproduction’.
In contrast, the Grataloups initiated a civil action in 2018 to legally establish this connection, which they characterize as a precedent-setting case, as previous lawsuits against Bayer-Monsanto have primarily focused on cancer claims.
Théo Grataloup, who has undergone 55 surgeries to manage his condition, described his legal battle as representing ‘all those who are malformed’.
He expressed hope that a favorable ruling would create legal precedent, aiding other victims in similar situations.
His mother, Sabine Grataloup, recounted her use of glyphosate to weed a horse-riding arena in August 2006 at a time when she was unknowingly pregnant, emphasizing the critical nature of early fetal development.
During the court proceedings, Bayer's attorneys challenged the credibility of witness testimonies, labeling them as ‘improper statements’ made ‘eleven years after the events’ in question regarding Sabine Grataloup's exposure to a glyphosate generic product known as Glyper.
Bayer's representatives also shifted responsibility for manufacturing the product at the time to a Belgian entity, a claim contested by the Grataloup family's legal team.
The family’s lawyers argued for the existence of ‘serious, precise, and concordant assumptions’ linking glyphosate usage with Théo's malformation, pointing to the timing of the exposure and the absence of other external factors.
They accused Bayer-Monsanto of attempting to dilute responsibility.
At the end of the hearing, Sabine Grataloup likened her family’s struggle to a ‘David versus Goliath’ scenario.
She criticized Bayer’s arguments, stating that their defenses felt like an evasion of direct accountability, likening their defense to ‘it’s not me, it’s my Belgian cousin.’
The Grataloup family has experienced some success in their protracted battle; in 2022, a French fund for pesticide victim compensation acknowledged a potential link between glyphosate exposure and Théo's malformations, awarding him a monthly compensation of €1,000 until he turns twenty.
Since acquiring Monsanto, Bayer has faced numerous lawsuits regarding glyphosate, resulting in over $10 billion in settlements related to more than 100,000 cases, predominantly in the United States, where the company is accused of causing various cancers, which Bayer denies.
The court’s decision on the Grataloup case is expected on July 31.
They allege that exposure to glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, during pregnancy led to severe malformations in their son, Théo Grataloup, who is now 17 years old and has faced serious health challenges since birth.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a ‘probable human carcinogen’ in 2015, leading to its ban for domestic use in France at the end of 2018. In November 2023, however, the herbicide was granted a renewed ten-year approval in Europe, albeit with certain conditions and restrictions.
During the trial, Bayer-Monsanto strongly refuted the Grataloup family’s allegations, asserting there is ‘no causal link’ between glyphosate and Théo's disabilities.
Bayer's counsel, Me Jean-Daniel Bretzner, cited numerous scientific studies claiming the herbicide has ‘no effect on human reproduction’.
In contrast, the Grataloups initiated a civil action in 2018 to legally establish this connection, which they characterize as a precedent-setting case, as previous lawsuits against Bayer-Monsanto have primarily focused on cancer claims.
Théo Grataloup, who has undergone 55 surgeries to manage his condition, described his legal battle as representing ‘all those who are malformed’.
He expressed hope that a favorable ruling would create legal precedent, aiding other victims in similar situations.
His mother, Sabine Grataloup, recounted her use of glyphosate to weed a horse-riding arena in August 2006 at a time when she was unknowingly pregnant, emphasizing the critical nature of early fetal development.
During the court proceedings, Bayer's attorneys challenged the credibility of witness testimonies, labeling them as ‘improper statements’ made ‘eleven years after the events’ in question regarding Sabine Grataloup's exposure to a glyphosate generic product known as Glyper.
Bayer's representatives also shifted responsibility for manufacturing the product at the time to a Belgian entity, a claim contested by the Grataloup family's legal team.
The family’s lawyers argued for the existence of ‘serious, precise, and concordant assumptions’ linking glyphosate usage with Théo's malformation, pointing to the timing of the exposure and the absence of other external factors.
They accused Bayer-Monsanto of attempting to dilute responsibility.
At the end of the hearing, Sabine Grataloup likened her family’s struggle to a ‘David versus Goliath’ scenario.
She criticized Bayer’s arguments, stating that their defenses felt like an evasion of direct accountability, likening their defense to ‘it’s not me, it’s my Belgian cousin.’
The Grataloup family has experienced some success in their protracted battle; in 2022, a French fund for pesticide victim compensation acknowledged a potential link between glyphosate exposure and Théo's malformations, awarding him a monthly compensation of €1,000 until he turns twenty.
Since acquiring Monsanto, Bayer has faced numerous lawsuits regarding glyphosate, resulting in over $10 billion in settlements related to more than 100,000 cases, predominantly in the United States, where the company is accused of causing various cancers, which Bayer denies.
The court’s decision on the Grataloup case is expected on July 31.
