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Supreme Court blocks lawsuits over chemical risks
The Supreme Court ruled that consumers cannot use state courts to sue manufacturers for failing to warn about product hazards. This decision is a significant setback for the "Make America Healthy Again" movement, which advocates for stricter regulations on chemicals like glyphosate in the food supply. Thousands of lawsuits from individuals claiming cancer development after pesticide exposure could be blocked. The 7-2 ruling stated that federal pesticide law preempts lawsuits against Monsanto for not including cancer warnings on Roundup labels. Justice Brett Kavanaugh emphasized that federal law mandates Monsanto to use an EPA-approved label, which lacks a cancer warning. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. views glyphosate as a toxin, but the EPA has not classified it as harmful. The case originated from a Missouri court verdict favoring a man who developed non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from Roundup. The Trump administration supported Monsanto in the case, and Monsanto stated the decision benefits science, farmers, and industries needing regulatory clarity. Critics argue this ruling could shield other industries from stronger state consumer protection laws by allowing compliance with federal regulations to override them.