Skip to main content
Natural Society
Store
MENUMENU
  • Latest News
    • Latest News

    • Popular Topics

      • Drugs
      • Lawsuit
      • Marijuana
      • The Trouble with Studying Government-Provided Marijuana

        The Trouble with Studying Government-Provided Marijuana

      • Plastic Straws, Utensils to Be Banned in Seattle Restaurants in 2018

        Plastic Straws, Utensils to Be Banned in Seattle Restaurants in 2018

      • Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP Company Accused of Deceptive Advertising

        Gwyneth Paltrow’s GOOP Company Accused of Deceptive Advertising

  • Healthy Living
    • Healthy Living

    • Popular Topics

      • Food & Diet
      • Fitness
      • Mind & Body
      • Amazon’s Acquisition: Deep Discounts Coming to Whole Foods Today

        Amazon’s Acquisition: Deep Discounts Coming to Whole Foods Today

      • Study: How Magnesium Supplementation Could Help with Depression

        Study: How Magnesium Supplementation Could Help with Depression

      • Cultures Around the World Show Us How Life Purpose Fuels Longevity

        Cultures Around the World Show Us How Life Purpose Fuels Longevity

  • Home Remedies
    • Home Remedies

    • Popular Topics

      • Heartburn Drugs Linked to Early Death – How to Safely Find Relief

        Heartburn Drugs Linked to Early Death – How to Safely Find Relief

      • 6 of the Best Natural Remedies for Arthritis

        6 of the Best Natural Remedies for Arthritis

      • Kidney Cleanse: 22 Foods for Kidney Health

        Kidney Cleanse: 22 Foods for Kidney Health

  • Food As Medicine
    • Food As Medicine

    • Popular Topics

      • Food Health Benefits
      • 11+ Reported Health Benefits of Basil Seeds

        11+ Reported Health Benefits of Basil Seeds

      • Ancient Medicine: Black Seed Oil’s 21 Powerful Health Benefits

        Ancient Medicine: Black Seed Oil’s 21 Powerful Health Benefits

      • 6 Little Known Reasons to Eat Cantaloupe this Season

        6 Little Known Reasons to Eat Cantaloupe this Season

  • Health Science
    • Health Science

    • Popular Topics

      • Doctors: Maybe You Shouldn’t Finish that Course of Antibiotics After All

        Doctors: Maybe You Shouldn’t Finish that Course of Antibiotics After All

      • Commission to Trump: Declare National Emergency over Opioid Epidemic

        Commission to Trump: Declare National Emergency over Opioid Epidemic

      • Survey: 42% of People Replaced Pharmaceuticals with Marijuana Compounds

        Survey: 42% of People Replaced Pharmaceuticals with Marijuana Compounds

Monsanto Combats Rumors Regarding Larvicide, Zika Virus

As Brazilian state suspends the larvicide's use

Latest News

Christina Sarich
By Christina Sarich
Posted On February 16, 2016

Monsanto isn’t too happy about what they are calling ‘rumors’ linking its larvicide to microcephaly, the shrunken head and brain-damaged baby phenomenon currently being blamed on the Zika virus.

Those ‘rumors’ are strong enough, though, that the entire state of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil is suspending the use of pyriproxyfen – a chemical added to drinking water to stop the growth of mosquito larvae.

The state government said, “the suspension was communicated to the 19 Regional Health Coordinating Authorities, which in turn will inform the respective Municipal Monitoring services” in all cities in the state.

This followed the release of a report written by doctors with the Argentina-based Physicians in the Crop-Sprayed Towns organization and the Brazilian Collective Health Association, or Abrasco, who questioned whether the larvicide might be linked with microcephaly.

Rio Grande do Sul Health Secretary Joao Gabbardo said that, despite the fact that a relationship between the larvicide and microcephaly has not been proven, the “suspicion” that there may be a linkage had led the organizations to decide to “suspend” the use of the chemical.

He also tweeted:

“In a moment I’ll be in Gente, talking about prohibition of larvicide and Zika.” #BandRS @andrelmachado @ozirismg” [1]

The health secretary said that they cannot ‘run the risk’ of causing more cases of microcephaly, simply because they refused to intervene.

Health Minister Marcelo Castro had a differing opinion which more closely matches Monsanto’s. He said that the larvicide supplied by his ministry presents no danger to the public.

“That is a rumor lacking logic and sense. It has no basis. (The larvicide) is approved by (the National Sanitary Monitoring Agency) and is used worldwide. Pyriproxyfen is recognized by all regulatory agencies in the whole world,” Castro told reporters in the northeastern city of Salvador.

Pyriproxyfen has been used in a massive government-run program tasked to control the mosquito population in the country. Pyriproxyfen is a larvicide manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical, a subsidiary company associated [PDF] with Monsanto.

In their report, the doctors argue that during past Zika epidemics, there have not been any cases of microcephaly linked with the virus. In fact, about 75 percent of the population in countries where Zika broke out had been infected by the mosquito-borne virus.

Monsanto issued a response on Saturday to the “misinformation and rumors on social media.”

Monsanto Combats ‘Rumors’

Monsanto’s post, The truth about Monsanto and the Zika virus, reads:

“You may have seen misinformation and rumors on social media regarding Monsanto, the Zika virus and microcephaly. Unfortunately, this misinformation causes unwarranted fear and distracts from the health crisis at hand and how you can take steps to protect you and your family. Here are some facts:

  • Neither Monsanto nor our products have any connection to the Zika virus or microcephaly.

  • Monsanto does not manufacture or sell Pyriproxyfen.

  • Monsanto does not own Sumitomo Company. However, Sumitomo is one of our business partners in the area of crop protection.

  • Glyphosate is not connected in any way to the Zika virus or microcephaly.

  • GMOs have no role in the Zika virus or microcephaly.” [1]

Sources:

[1] EcoWatch (Page 1 and 2)

Featured article image sourced from Heavy.com


Post written byChristina Sarich:
Christina Sarich is a humanitarian and freelance writer helping you to Wake up Your Sleepy Little Head, and See the Big Picture. Her blog is Yoga for the New World. Her latest book is Pharma Sutra: Healing the Body And Mind Through the Art of Yoga.
Newsletter

Featured Product

Essential Survival Tools

The Scrubba™ Wash Bag

More Trending News

  • The Numbers on Plastic Bottles: What do Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean? The Numbers on Plastic Bottles: What do Plastic Recycling Symbols Mean?
  • Health Benefits of Dates - Promoting Heart, Brain, and Digestive Health Health Benefits of Dates – Promoting Heart, Brain, and Digestive Health
  • Top 10 Worst GMO Foods for Your GMO Foods List Top 10 Worst GMO Foods for Your GMO Foods List
  • 16 Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms - Signs of Low Magnesium Levels 16 Magnesium Deficiency Symptoms – Signs of Low Magnesium Levels
  • Home
  • About
  • Contact
  • Store