American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall issued a statement in response to the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission report released by the White House:
"It is deeply troubling for the White House to endorse a report that sows seeds of doubt and fear about our food system and farming practices, while at the same time attempting to celebrate farmers and the critical role they play in producing the safest food supply in the world.
"Farmers are identified as 'critical partners,' yet were excluded from the development of the report, despite many requests for a seat at the table. The report also expresses a desire to ensure farmers continue to thrive, but undermining confidence in our food system directly contradicts that noble goal. It highlights outlier studies and presents unproven theories that feed a false narrative, only acknowledging the wealth of evidence supporting the safety of our food system as an afterthought.
"We suspect the USDA played a significant role in ensuring the report recognized that farmers are the crucial first step in the food system. However, as a whole, the report falls short. The American people were promised transparency, but were presented with a report developed in secret.
"As a farmer myself, I can confidently say that farmers and ranchers share the goal of improving health outcomes in America. They are committed to continuous improvement, guided by sound science and technological advances.
"We are carefully reviewing the nearly 70 pages of contradictory assertions and look forward to further discussions with administration officials. President Trump has repeatedly expressed his trust in farmers, and we urge him to ensure a transparent process going forward — one that includes farmers at the table and relies on sound science, not emotionally charged rhetoric, to guide the conversation."
For more information:
Mike Tomko
American Farm Bureau Federation
Tel: +1 202 406-3642
Email: [email protected]
www.fb.org