MegaFood® Leads Rally in Washington, D.C. to Ban Glyphosate

Urging the Environmental Protection Agency to end the use of this harmful herbicide, the brand will deliver over 80,000 petition signatures

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MegaFood

May 14, 2019, 08:02 ET

WASHINGTON, May 14, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- MegaFood^®, a premium supplement and vitamin brand, announced today it will formally deliver its petition to ban the use of glyphosate as a desiccant, or drying agent, on consumer grade oats before harvest to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), beginning with a rally at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C. on Thursday, May 23, from noon to 1 pm. Together with the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and several like-minded brands, including Patagonia, Ben & Jerry's, Stonyfield Farm, MOM's Organic Market, and others, MegaFood invites the public to join in its mission to change the world starting with food as they deliver over 80,000 petition signatures to the office of the EPA and raise awareness on the unsafe levels of glyphosate residue found in our foods today.

"Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum antibiotic and mineral chelator, destroying the microbiome of the soil our food is grown in and therefore, causing the food we consume to be devoid of essential nutrients," said Sara Newmark, VP of Social Impact at MegaFood. "We hope the EPA will do their part and recognize the need to protect the health of our planet and people. We are excited and honored to invite the public and, as a community, deliver this petition so that we can ultimately inspire much-needed change."

As the number one herbicide used in the world, glyphosate has been classified by the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer as "probably carcinogenic in humans" and reports suggest it is linked to cancer and other diseases. Using glyphosate as a desiccant enables food to be harvested quickly but in turn, increases the likelihood that consumers will be directly exposed to the herbicide through the foods they eat. Although the EPA does regulate pesticides and herbicides under the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996, the agency is required to make special considerations for protecting children's health from pesticides and herbicides, as well as limit the overall negative impacts of pesticides on human health and the environment, all of which are at risk with the increased use of glyphosate.

"We launched this petition last year urging the EPA to put an end to this pre-harvest use of glyphosate. Now that the EPA has opened a public comment period on this petition, we will come together to show consumer and industry support for keeping our food safe from glyphosate," said Bethany Davis, Director of Advocacy and Government Relations at MegaFood.

Christopher Miller, Global Activism Strategy Manager at Ben & Jerry's comments, "We joined the EWG, MegaFood and the other companies in petitioning the EPA in order to reduce the permissible levels of glyphosate in oats. All of us, food companies and consumers alike, have an interest in reducing the amount of chemical pesticides and herbicides used broadly in agriculture and we believe this would be an important first step in doing just that."

During the rally in Freedom Plaza, select speakers including Matthew Modine (actor and activist), Gary Hirshberg (Stonyfield Farm), Leah Segedie (Mamavation) and Colin O'Neil (Environmental Working Group) will inform the crowd and encourage their participation in protecting our food while attendees carry and promote campaign signs pressuring the EPA to make the changes outlined in the petition. As the first supplement brand to have its entire line certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project, MegaFood will continue to inspire and serve as a trusted resource for consumers by championing change. At its core, MegaFood exists to create a more sustainable future, working with like-minded farm partners who share in their commitment to organic and regenerative agriculture—the rally underscores the company's dedication to pushing boundaries for the good of the planet and its people.

MegaFood aspires to transform '"agri-culture" by empowering communities and revolutionizing food systems. As such, through this rally, the company will create an experience that elevates this mission, therefore, reducing dietary exposure of glyphosate amongst consumers. The petition requests the EPA reduce the amount of glyphosate in oats and prohibit its use as a pre-harvest desiccant on the label of all glyphosate-containing products. To learn more about MegaFood's role and to sign the petition, visit https://p2a.co/pv9Wwue, and participate in the public comment period here. For more information on MegaFood, visit megafood.com.

About MegaFood^®MegaFood is on a mission to change the world starting with food. A leader in the natural industry since 1973, MegaFood has remained dedicated to producing premium, clean, award-winning supplements made with real food ingredients and added nutrients. The company works with a select group of trusted farm partners, who share in its commitment to organic and regenerative agriculture, to source many of the whole foods found in their products. MegaFood crafts 44 proprietary nutrients, pairing a vitamin or mineral with a whole food, in its own facility in New Hampshire. A certified B Corp and the first supplement brand to have its entire line certified Glyphosate Residue Free by The Detox Project, MegaFood underscores their commitment to delivering the highest-quality, products that work the best for you and for a sustainable future. Additionally, MegaFood offers products that are non-GMO, organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, kosher and tested for 125+ pesticides and herbicides. MegaFood can be found at natural retail, online and at national retailers throughout North America. For more information, visit MegaFood.com

SOURCE MegaFood