“Deeply troubling” and “misguided” are among the words that a number of major ag organizations are using to describe the newly-released report from the “Make America Healthy Again” (MAHA) Commission, which is led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
“There are four sections of the report that talk about processed foods, chemicals in the environment, childhood behavior, and medication. But throughout the report, there are positive things said about farmers, but some concerning comments made about the tools farmers use,” says Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation.
He says the report is often contradictory, which claims that America’s farmers are “partners,” while criticizing farming practices.
“And then attempts to celebrate the farmers and the critical role that farmers play in producing safe food, not only for the U.S. and the world, which they acknowledge in the report. The report identifies farmers as critical partners, but yet, despite several requests to be included in the development of the report, farmers were not invited.”
Despite the report, Kieffer says that farmers are committed to improving the health outcomes of Americans.
“That’s how American agriculture is as efficient, productive and safe as it is today, because we’re grounded by sound science and technological advances. We’ve got the greatest, most abundant, and safest food system.”
The MAHA Commission says it now plans to put together a strategy based on the findings in their report and release it later in August.
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