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Question

Why do employees of these companies wear protective clothing while spraying them with poison and why does the cafeteria at Monsanto serve only organic food and how do you all sleep at night? Horrible greedy corporations. Horrible.

Submitted by: Human


Answer

Expert response from GMOAnswers Admin_1

Monday, 14/10/2013 18:16

I’m assuming you are referring to pictures that can be found on the Internet and Facebook showing people in full protective gear apparently applying pesticides. Some of these images can look scary, but I’ve never seen one that includes information about or documents what is really happening in the photo. Without that information, it is almost impossible to answer your question—or even draw conclusions about the situation in these photos.  It is quite possible that these pictures are not of Monsanto products or Monsanto employees.

 

I will share that our employees do wear extensive protective gear when they are doing small-scale testing on a new pesticide or formulation for which safety information has not yet been determined.  And when safety information has not yet been determined, we always take precautions. 

 

When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) allows for the sale and distribution of a pesticide, it also sets the requirements for what protective gear is required.  For even the most favorable products (Category VI), the EPA requires a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, shoes and socks.  For example, Yellow Jacket Special Dusting Sulfur (approved for organic production) requires applicators to wear a long-sleeved shirt and long pants, chemical-resistant gloves made of waterproof material, shoes with socks and protective eyewear.

 

Last, I recommend you review this response from my colleague to a similar question about the Monsanto cafeteria: If GMOs are so great, why does Monsanto serve organic produce in it's cafeteria?