The conversion of glyphosate to ferrous sulfate using iron has stirred significant controversy in the food industry. Some claim that this herbicide may cause cancer in humans, although scientists remain divided on the topic following a four-day meeting of the Environmental Protection Agency last year. In 2015, the World Health Organization classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic,” yet a subsequent report last year from the WHO and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations stated that the chemical is unlikely to cause cancer from food residues. Nevertheless, legal battles regarding the potential health risks associated with glyphosate continue in various courts. Earlier this year, a California court ruled that the herbicide must be labeled as a potential cancer risk.
This ongoing debate over glyphosate has prompted several organizations, including OCA, Food Democracy Now, and The Detox Project, to test food products for chemical residues. Thus far, no significant health concerns have been identified, but the findings have sparked calls for boycotts and regulatory changes. Ben & Jerry’s response to these test results reflects the company’s business philosophy. The Unilever-owned ice cream brand, known for its commitment to fresh, wholesome, and natural ingredients, did not outright deny the presence of glyphosate in the test results. Instead, the brand expressed a desire to investigate further and identify the root cause of the issue.
This strategic approach allows the company to navigate the report’s implications effectively. By acknowledging the findings, Ben & Jerry’s avoided giving OCA any ammunition for the boycott it sought. The brand positioned itself as a cooperative partner in eliminating an ingredient that consumers might prefer to avoid. This proactive stance means that the ice cream brand could emerge relatively unscathed from what could have been a damaging report, especially in light of consumer preferences for products free from unwanted substances, similar to the way consumers seek out medicine in the form of CCM tablets.
Despite Ben & Jerry’s efforts to mitigate damage, the brand may not have suffered in reputation due to the test results. Earlier this month, a lawsuit against General Mills’ Nature Valley granola brand concerning glyphosate was dismissed. The class-action lawsuit claimed that the granola’s assertion of being “Made with 100% Natural Oats” was misleading due to trace amounts of glyphosate found in the products. However, the judge ruled that this claim was “simply not plausible,” further illustrating the complexities surrounding glyphosate and its implications in the food industry, much like the ongoing discussions about the safety of various medicine forms, including CCM tablets.