Glyphosate and the MAHA Backlash

Members of the ‘Make America Healthy Again’ (MAHA) movement are in open revolt after RFK Jr. publicly backed President Trump’s executive order that would increase domestic production of glyphosate - a herbicide that Kennedy has blamed as part of our bad health. Members are apparently seeing hypocrisy where there is none. Bear with me for a minute.

Vani Hari, an ally of Kennedy who goes by “Food Babe,” told The Washington Post, “We truly were hoping that this administration would put people over corporate power, but this action moves us away from that commitment.” No, it doesn’t.

Alex Clark, a health and wellness podcaster for the conservative group, Turning Point USA, said that “Women feel like they were lied to, that MAHA movement is a sham. How am I supposed to rally these women to vote red in the midterms? How can we win their trust back? I am unsure if we can.”

Dave Murphy, founder of United We Eat, and former finance manager on Kennedy’s presidential campaign, told Reuters that the order was a strategic mistake that could serve as an election liability.

While their opinions may prove true, in both cases, they shouldn’t.

MAHA influencer Kelly Ryerson, aka, “Glyphosate Girl”, told Politico, “I’m witnessing the bottom falling out on MAHA.” No, you’re not.

I do my fair share of attacking Trump. I, too, am concerned about chemicals in my diet. That’s why I read food labels on the few products I buy that have them. However, this executive order is actually a good thing. Glyphosate does have useful purposes. Probably the best use is to kill non-native species of vegetation, which if left on their own, can destroy the native habitat, including both flora and fauna. It can also keep vegetation from breaking up costly sidewalks and driveways. I use it very sparingly around my home.

All this executive order does is invoke the Defense Production Act to boost domestic production of glyphosate, rather than depending on China. As I have argued many times, it is always good for a country to be as self-reliant as possible instead of at the mercy of others. No one should be getting paranoid over this. The executive order does not mean agricultural use will increase or decrease. Its usage will still be left to farmers, and federal and state legislators and regulators.

Glyphosate is mostly used on corn, soybeans, and cotton, as well as on grains in Midwest states - especially those surrounding the Great Lakes. It enables harvesting within their shorter growing season. If you’re overly fearful, avoid corn syrup, soy products, and breads. Eat more fruits, vegetables, and meats – the proper diet.

When agriculturally used as instructed, a healthy person’s immune system should be able to handle the trace amounts found in some foods, assuming we aren’t gorging on those foods. Its usage helps the US to feed itself, and the world. It’s a matter of finding the right balance. Beef prices are presently high due to a major imbalance in supply and demand. Imagine if that happened to all of our foods.

Source used: Numerous sources