DBCP

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1,2-Dibromo-3-chloropropane, better known as DBCP, is the active ingredient in the nematicide Nemagon, also known as Fumazone. It was banned in the U.S. for all uses except on pineapple in 1979. In 1985, it was banned completely in the U.S.

Nemagon was used extensively on banana plantations in Nicaragua. When several banana workers sued and initially won, Dole recruited and bribed 27 secret witnesses to testify that the plaintiffs were fraudulent. In 2009, Dole won. In a dramatic turn of events, one of the witnesses admitted to being bribed by Dole on his deathbed in November 2009. He added that although he was bribed with a promise of $500,000, Dole never gave him the money. This corroborated with confessions of seven others who also came forward:

"Garcia’s deathbed confession corroborated claims against Dole by seven other secret witnesses who were among the 27 and who renounced their trial testimony at a press conference on May 14, 2009. The seven said they were offered varying amounts of money and US visas by Dole agents Luis Angel Madrigal Guevara of Costa Rica and Mexican Jose Francisco Valadez in exchange for their testimony in support of Dole’s defense that the former banana workers’ claims were false. The judge allowed their identities to be kept secret on the claim that their lives would be in danger otherwise. The seven said that Dole reneged on its bribes and they were sent back to Nicaragua with nothing."

Articles and resources

Related SourceWatch articles

• Biosolids
• Sewage sludge
• Food Rights Network

External resources

Pesticide Action Network Pesticide Database: DBCP

External articles

"What is Nemagon?" Bananas The Movie

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