Key Takeaways
- The Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Report raises concerns over the cumulative exposure of U.S. children to agricultural chemicals, particularly pesticides, dioxins, and microplastics.
- The report calls for a paradigm shift in agricultural policy, focusing on whole foods and health-conscious farming practices.
- Industry groups, including CropLife America and the Modern Ag Alliance, criticized the report for downplaying the role of regulated crop protection tools.
- USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins announced updates to federal nutrition programs, including SNAP revisions and school food reforms.
- Final recommendations from the MAHA Commission are expected in August 2025.
MAHA Commission Report Links Chemical Exposure to Childhood Disease Trends
The Make Our Children Healthy Again assessment, published under the broader Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission Report, identifies a potential relationship between exposure to synthetic agricultural chemicals and rising rates of chronic diseases in American children. It points to widespread exposure through food, water, and air, particularly during critical developmental stages such as infancy and puberty.
“Pesticides, microplastics, and dioxins are commonly found in the blood and urine of American children and pregnant women—some at alarming levels.” (p. 16)
The report calls for updated toxicological methods to assess combined exposure risks and argues that current regulatory frameworks may not fully account for the health effects of chemical mixtures.
Policy Recommendations Focus on Food, Farming, and Transparency
The Commission advocates placing American farmers and whole foods at the center of national health efforts. It calls for reducing dependency on ultra-processed foods, improving dietary guidelines, and increasing support for transparent, health-focused agriculture.
“The greatest step the United States can take to reverse childhood chronic disease is to put whole foods produced by American farmers and ranchers at the center of healthcare.” (p. 21)
The report also notes that in 2024, the chemical-manufacturing industry spent an estimated $77 million on federal lobbying, with a majority of lobbyists having previously served in federal roles.
Industry Groups Push Back Against Report’s Claims
CropLife America (CLA) stated that the report mischaracterizes the role of crop protection tools and emphasized the importance of science-based regulation. The organization warned that reduced access to EPA-approved pesticides could lead to higher food prices and reduced crop yields.
Similarly, Modern Ag Alliance expressed concerns about potential regulatory shifts. Executive Director Elizabeth Burns-Thompson commented: “Farmers are already facing a host of challenges—uncertainty about their access to critical crop protection products shouldn’t be added to the list.”
Multiple grower associations and national farm groups cited global precedents—such as Sri Lanka’s 2021 pesticide ban, which led to a 50% drop in yields—as a cautionary example.
In a separate statement, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) expressed concern over the report’s credibility and implications for widely used products like glyphosate and atrazine.
“The Make America Healthy Again Report is filled with fear-based rather than science-based information about pesticides. We are deeply troubled that claims of this magnitude are being made without any scientific basis or regard for a long history of EPA expert evaluations of these products. Decades of extensive research and testing show that pesticides, including atrazine and glyphosate, can be applied safely for their intended uses. We call on the administration to respect the existing body of science on pesticides and, moving forward, to include America’s farmers in discussion as this process evolves.” Commented the NCGA.
USDA Aligns Nutrition Policy with MAHA Findings
Alongside the report, USDA Secretary Brooke L. Rollins and President Donald J. Trump announced new efforts to align food policy with health objectives. Rollins unveiled the first SNAP waiver in Nebraska to remove soda and energy drinks, and introduced initiatives to eliminate artificial colors in school meals and processed foods.
The USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services are working jointly to update the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, with a focus on whole foods, reduced sugar, and lower sodium.
“We are committed to ensuring that families have access to the healthiest food produced by America’s farmers and ranchers,” Secretary Rollins stated.
The Commission’s final recommendations are expected later in 2025, following continued engagement with stakeholders across agriculture, public health, and food systems.
Read the complete MAHA report here.
