Benlate, containing the active ingredient benomyl, is a discontinued fungicide manufactured by the DuPont Co. Although it was first introduced in 1970, Benlate was initially linked to problems in 1989 when Dupont temporarily recalled the product due to the presence of atrazine, a herbicide restricted by the EPA because of its link to birth defects, like being born without eyes, or anophthalmia. Anophthalmia is a medical term that is used to describe the absence of the globe and ocular (eye) tissue from the orbit.

Shortly after, farmers began filing lawsuits against the company alleging Benlate caused massive crop damage. Dupont, which phased out Benlate production in late 2001, has reportedly paid out $1 billion in litigation costs over the substance since the early 1990s. The company insists the fungicide is safe, saying production was halted due to overwhelming legal costs.