MAA's Response to the MAHA Commission Report
The government's Make America Healthy Again Commission Report promised bold reform — but critical gaps in its pesticide and GMO recommendations leave American families unprotected.
What the MAHA Commission Report Got Wrong
When the MAHA Commission released its landmark report on American health, Moms Across America hoped it would finally address the chemical contamination crisis affecting millions of families. While the report acknowledged some systemic problems in the food supply, it fell critically short in three areas that matter most to parents.
After careful review, MAA published a detailed assessment identifying where the commission's findings diverge from independent science — and where its recommendations could actually put families at greater risk by creating a false sense of progress.
Three Critical Gaps
MAA's review of the commission report identified these fundamental failures.
GMOs Not Mentioned
Despite the well-documented connection between genetically modified organisms and increased pesticide use, the MAHA Commission Report makes no mention of GMOs. Over 90% of corn and soy grown in the U.S. is genetically engineered to withstand glyphosate, the most widely used herbicide on earth. Ignoring GMOs means ignoring the root driver of pesticide contamination in America's food supply.
FDA Only Tested 2 of Top 25 Pesticides
The FDA's pesticide monitoring program, which the commission relied upon for its safety assurances, tests for only 2 of the top 25 most commonly used pesticides in the United States. This means the vast majority of pesticide residues on American food go completely unmonitored — and unreported. The commission's conclusions about food safety are built on dangerously incomplete data.
EPA Safety Limits Based on Industry Use, Not Health
The EPA's "safe" tolerance levels for pesticide residues are not based on health outcomes. They are calculated based on how much pesticide the agricultural industry needs to use to grow crops — then the EPA works backward to declare that level "acceptable." This means safety standards are designed to protect industry practices, not children's health.
The Nutrient Uptake Crisis
Reduction in nutrient uptake in roots when exposed to drift-level glyphosate
Reduction in nutrient uptake in edible shoots when exposed to drift-level glyphosate
Even at drift levels — concentrations far below direct application — glyphosate dramatically reduces the nutritional value of the food we grow. This means even crops not directly sprayed are affected by nearby pesticide use, and the food arriving on family dinner tables contains a fraction of the nutrients it should.
What This Means for Families
The MAHA Commission Report was positioned as a turning point for American health policy. But without addressing GMOs, without comprehensive pesticide testing, and without health-based safety limits, the report risks becoming another document that protects the status quo while families continue to be exposed to harmful chemicals.
Moms Across America believes the commission must go further. Real reform means testing for all major pesticides in the food supply, setting safety standards based on health outcomes rather than industry needs, and acknowledging the role GMOs play in driving chemical agriculture.
Our full assessment breaks down these issues in detail, with supporting data from independent research and MAA's own testing programs.
Read the Full Assessment Report
Dive into MAA's detailed, science-backed analysis of the MAHA Commission Report — what it got right, what it missed, and what must change to truly protect American families.