McDonald's claims that their potatoes are produced sustainably, but rural residents in central Minnesota know differently: pesticide drift from potato fields is a major problem. Hazardous pesticides applied to McDonald's potatoes may cause chronic health problems, damage nearby crops and livestock, and disrupt local ecosystems. Tell McDonald's to do the right thing and transition to truly sustainable potato production.
Note: In 2014, we delivered this petition to McDonald's with more than 20,000 signatures. With our new website we're restarting the petition. When you add your name here, you're joining more than 20,000 people who have already called on McDonald's to cut potato pesticides!
To: Steve Easterbrook, CEO, McDonald's
From: [Your Name]
As the largest purchaser of potatoes in the United States, McDonald’s has incredible influence over the way potatoes are produced. You recognized this opportunity in 2009 when McDonald’s pledged to reduce the application of pesticides used by your potato suppliers.
We know that farmers across the country are growing potatoes with cutting edge practices that avoid the use of health-harmful pesticides. Unfortunately, McDonald’s is still sourcing potatoes from companies like RDO that frequently use drift-prone and health-hazardous chemicals.
RDO’s application of pesticides is drifting into rural communities. Communities in rural Minnesota have measured the fungicide chlorothalonil and other pesticides drifting into their homes, farms, schools, and businesses.
French fries are delicious, but they shouldn’t come at such a cost. You have the power to make a difference for these communities. We urge you to make the following changes:
- McDonald’s makes its potato producers — like RDO — achieve measurable and significant decrease in their use of health-harming pesticides.
- McDonald’s sets a standard requiring their potato producers to release information on the chemicals they apply to their crops.
- McDonald’s funds an independently-conducted human and ecological health study on the regions impacted by potato production.
- McDonald’s insist potato producers adopt environmentally sound sustainable agriculture practices.
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