The CBS news program 60 Minutes airs a story based on a report published by
the Natural Resources Defense Council discussing the detrimental effects of pesticide
use by farmers. The program highlights the impact of the herbicide Alar, which is used
by apple growers to stimulate growth and enhance apple appearance. As a result of the
program, some consumers boycott apples and apple products. Do apple growers have a
viable cause of action against CBS and the Natural Resources Defense Council?
My answer
(“8 Impressive Health Benefits of Apples”) states when explaining the
benefits of apples that “They're rich in fiber and antioxidants. Eating them is linked
to a lower chance of getting many chronic conditions, including diabetes, heart
disease, and cancer.” If that is true, then how can all the apples the farmers spray causes those
effects? Nobody can be 100% sure that all the apples that are sprayed cause these effects, not even the
CBS and the Natural Resources Defense Council. So, does that mean all the farmers can file a
lawsuit based on this fact and special harm. No, because as (Edwards, n.d.) stated “the growers failed to
prove that the claims were “verifiably false “As I stated before there may be some farmers whose apples
do not cause the effects in their report or do not use the pesticide. Who lost money just because of the
report? Does this mean that CBS and the Natural Resources Defense Council painted them
in a false light? Not necessarily, if they did not specifically say their names in their report it would be the
public that jumped to that conclusion because of their own opinion. So, in conclusion the apple
growers do not have a viable cause of action against CBS and the Natural Resources
Defense Council. This is because as stated before they cannot prove that their apples
are not having these effects, so they do not have enough ground to try and peruse a
class action lawsuit.
References
8 Impressive Health Benefits of Apples. (2022, January 5). Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/10-health-benefits-of-apples#:~:text=They
Edwards. (n.d.). MindTap - Cengage Learning. Ng.cengage.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023,
from https://ng.cengage.com/static/nb/ui/evo/index.html?
deploymentId=4869182456081256867599539091&eISBN=9781285863221&id=181345
7690&snapshotId=3509085&
