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Syngenta exits paraquat production, but other manufacturers will continue supplying it Anthony Lacey March 6, 2026 The agricultural chemical and seed giant Syngenta announced it will stop producing the toxic weedkiller paraquat by the end of June this year. But this is a tactical retreat, not a public health victory.Syngenta currently produces paraquat at just one plant, in the United Kingdom. It will cease production of paraquat at the facility before July. But the decision is unlikely to significantly reduce the use of paraquat on U.S. farms, where it remains widely sprayed, despite growing evidence linking it to Parkinson’s disease and other serious health harms.The reason it may not make much of a difference to use in the U.S. is that other companies will continue to produce paraquat as an active ingredient in herbicides. Globally, 377 companies are registered to produce the generic active ingredient. China is the largest producer of paraquat due to other companies that manufacture it there, even though the weedkiller’s application is banned in the country. Syngenta is owned by the Chinese state-owned corporation ChemChina.At least 70 countries have banned paraquat because it threatens the health of people exposed to the chemical. That includes the U.K., where Syngenta has been manufacturing paraquat, and China, where ChemChina is based. U.S. application of paraquatTen million pounds of the active ingredient were applied in the U.S. in 2017, one of the most recent years for which data is available.In addition to Parkinson’s disease, exposure to paraquat has been linked to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, childhood leukemia and more. Farmers, farm workers and people who live near farm fields sprayed with the pesticide are at greater risk from exposure. While Syngenta’s decision is a step in the right direction, it said nothing about whether it will continue to sell paraquat-based herbicides, such as Gramoxone, after it has ceased production. Paraquat is a generic active ingredient used in many herbicides. Because it is generic, over 750 different companies sell paraquat globally. In the U.S., that includes Drexel Chemical Company, Helm Crop Solutions, Anhui Costar Biochemistry, Helena Agri Enterprises, Nanjing Red Sun Biochemistry, Solera and RedEagle International. Common product or brand names globally with paraquat as an active ingredientFirestorm Bonfire ParazonePP148DevourGramixelHelmquatBai Cao KuBlancoPara-shotBoneDryQuik-QuatGramoxoneWillowoodCycloneParaquat concentrateCrisquat Business reasons behind the decisionAccording to an EWG analysis of 2017-2021 data, Syngenta’s Gramoxone accounted for about half the paraquat products applied in California. The other half had been sold by other companies. Syngenta could continue to sell paraquat but arrange for production by another company once its U.K. manufacturing facility goes offline. Paraquat is a very small portion of the company’s portfolio – less than 1% of Syngenta’s sales globally, according to its recent announcement. The announcement says business reasons prompted the decision to stop paraquat production. Many other companies sell generic paraquat, and because the herbicide is only a small part of Syngenta’s overall business, they want to focus on more important areas of the business. One potential motivation not mentioned in Syngenta’s announcement is the thousands of lawsuits it has faced over the links between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. While the company has begun to settle some of the lawsuits, thousands more remain. This would not be the first time a chemical company discontinued the sale of a pesticide in response to ongoing litigation. In 2023, the chemical giant Bayer began to remove the active ingredient glyphosate from its residential lawn and garden herbicide products as a direct response to over 100,000 lawsuits. State action still neededSyngenta’s tactical retreat does not change national law. The Environmental Protection Agency continues to allow the use of paraquat, despite its own admission of scientific uncertainty regarding drift data. The chemical will still be used on crops throughout the U.S., since other companies sell it. Because of this regulatory failure, the burden will continue to fall to states to restrict paraquat use on farm fields. The stakes are significant. Chronic exposure to paraquat increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. One study found people who sprayed paraquat were more than twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease as those who applied other pesticides. And a meta-analysis of 13 studies found a 64% increase in the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease from paraquat exposure.In the U.S., momentum for paraquat restrictions is growing. Thirteen states are currently weighing bills to prohibit the use of paraquat entirely or near public schools, signaling growing support for banning the chemical. But unless these states ban paraquat, Syngenta’s exit from production will do little to reduce Americans’ exposure. It will keep being manufactured abroad and shipped to the U.S., where it is sprayed on millions of acres of farms across the country.  Areas of Focus Farming & Agriculture Family Health Paraquat Pesticides Toxic herbicide used on U.S. farms is linked to Parkinson’s disease Authors Anne Schechinger March 6, 2026

EWG statement on House farm bill Anthony Lacey March 5, 2026 WASHINGTON – H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, breaks from the longstanding bipartisan, collaborative process that has traditionally produced durable farm bills, the Environmental Working Group says.This proposal turns its back on hungry families, erodes public health protections from pesticides, overlooks the needs of workers and consumers, undermines farmers’ access to proven conservation programs, lacks the robust investments and reforms necessary to propel small family farms forward and weakens longstanding environmental laws.The following is a statement from Geoff Horsfield, legislative director at EWG:This bill fails to deliver what farmers and consumers need. It should never be brought to the House floor. This bill fails to address rising food prices or restore much-needed funds to hunger assistance programs. This bill would put children at greater risk of pesticide exposure by blocking state and local laws and regulations that prevent the use of harmful chemicals on fields near schools or public parks. States with these protective measures for kids would see them dismantled.  And this bill will limit access to the federal government’s most popular conservation program, which supports farmers adopting regenerative agriculture practices. Congress should reject this bill and go back to the drawing board to create a farm bill that protects our families and supports our farmers. ###The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a nonprofit, non-partisan organization that empowers people to live healthier lives in a healthier environment. Through research, advocacy and unique education tools, EWG drives consumer choice and civic action. Areas of Focus Farming & Agriculture Pesticides Press Contact Alex Formuzis alex@ewg.org (202) 667-6982 March 5, 2026

How to speed-read a nutrition label in three steps (or less) Anthony Lacey March 5, 2026 Sometimes food labels are so complex it feels like you need a degree in food science to go grocery shopping – especially if you’re trying to eat less ultra-processed food, or UPF. Typically made in industrial settings with additives, artificial colors or flavors, and ample sugar, salt, or fat, UPF have been linked to a host of health problems.Navigating complicated ingredient lists or misleading claims about what’s in a product can make it much harder to eat healthfully. That’s why EWG supports policies that make it easier for consumers to identify harmful foods and ingredients or get them out of our food supply entirely. More than 40 states across the country have now introduced or passed policies to regulate or remove harmful chemicals in food.Below are three steps to speed-read the nutrition label on the back of a package or container, starting from the bottom. For some extra help, download EWG’s Healthy Living App to scan products and see EWG’s Food Scores ratings for nutrition, ingredients and processing concerns in more than 150,000 products. Nutrition facts infographic showing 2/3-cup serving, 230 calories, and annotated tips https://www.ewg.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/ewg_article_03.26_nutrition-lab… Ruffles nutrition label https://www.ewg.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/ewg_article_03.26_nutrition-lab… Pringles nutrition label https://www.ewg.org/sites/default/files/2026-03/ewg_article_03.26_nutrition-lab… PreviousNext 1. Screen the ingredient listUsually found at the very bottom of the nutrition facts, the ingredient list tells you what the food contains. What to look forOne or more whole foods, including whole grains like oats, rice, or whole wheat; nuts, seeds or beans; fruits or vegetables; or animal-based foods like dairy, poultry, meat or seafood. These foods provide a variety of important nutrients, like the fiber found in many whole grains, seeds, fruits and vegetables.Ideally, these ingredients appear at or near the top of the list.What to avoid A long list of food chemicals, including sweeteners, artificial or natural colors and flavors, preservatives, emulsifiers, stabilizers and thickeners. Some of these chemicals have been directly linked to health harms (see the EWG Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals for our top offenders), while others signal that the food is highly processed. Until federal agencies define and label UPF, consumers are left to make judgment calls. As we understand more about what makes UPF so harmful to human health, a long list of chemicals on the ingredients label should serve as reason for caution.If the ingredient list doesn’t look good, you might stop here and pick up a different option. If you’re still not sure, move on to the nutrition facts. Get your free guide: EWG's Guide to Food Additives 2. Check three key nutrition factsMost of us get too much added sugar, sodium and saturated fat from the foods we eat. The typical U.S. diet high in these nutrients is associated with higher risk of chronic diseases across the lifespan.The same nutrients are also frequently found in UPF. Food companies often use them to create foods that are highly palatable, if not downright addictive.When you’re reading for speed, focus on three key nutrition facts: the percent daily value of saturated fat, sodium and added sugar. Your daily value is the maximum recommended amount you consume every day. The percentages – listed in bold on the label – tell you how much one serving of this food contributes to the recommended limits.The Food and Drug Administration has considered a food to be “low in” these nutrients if it contains 5% or less of your daily value for those nutrients and “high in” these nutrients if it contains 20% or more of your daily value. The FDA criteria for “healthy” nutrient claims released in 2025 contains more detailed guidance by food group. What to look forIn individual foods, drinks and snacks like baked goods, bars, yogurts, chips and dips:Saturated fat – 5% to 10% or less of daily valueSodium – 10% to 15% or less of daily valueAdded sugars – 5% to 10% or less of daily valueIn main dishes and meals like breakfast sandwiches, burgers, pizzas and frozen dinners:Saturated fat – 15% to 20% or less of daily valueSodium – 20% to 30% or less of daily valueAdded sugars – 15% to 20% or less of daily valueThere are always exceptions. For example, salad dressings made with oil (like olive, avocado, canola, corn, peanut, safflower, soybean and sunflower oils) or snacks made with nuts are likely to have higher levels of saturated fat – but also higher levels of heart-healthy unsaturated fat. Allow yourself flexibility and aim for “better” instead of “best.”When it comes to added sugar, experts recommend that kids under age 2 avoid these foods altogether. You might find added sugar on the ingredient label as honey, molasses, nectar, juice, syrup or sweeteners ending in “ose.” It’s also good for kids to consume lower-sodium food, because their taste preferences are still developing. Nutrition labels are based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Kids typically need less than that. The 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans discusses age-specific nutrient needs in appendix 1, table A1-2. (The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans did not complete a full review of scientific evidence and did not update this guidance.)3. Confirm the serving sizeIf you’ve come this far without finding any red flags, you’re probably fairly happy with the food you picked out. Now just look at the suggested serving size. What to look forAn amount you’re likely to eat in one sitting (e.g., one muffin or 20 chips).Some companies use a smaller serving size – like one-third of a muffin or seven chips – to make the nutrition facts look better than they are. But those quantities aren’t what most people consume. If the serving size doesn’t seem realistic, it’s up to you to decide whether having less of the food works or whether you’d rather choose something else.This formula isn’t foolproof. It’s just a few general rules for making your grocery run a little easier. A healthy diet is all about balance and can include a variety of foods and dishes with a range of nutrients. These foods serve different purposes in our lives. People at different ages and life stages, including those with chronic conditions, also have different needs. Choose what works best for you and your family. Areas of Focus Food & Water Food Ultra-Processed Foods Family Health Food Chemicals Authors Sarah Reinhardt, MPH, RDN March 5, 2026

Eight full-time M.S. in Climate students have been honored with a scholarship recognizing their academic and professional excellence in the field.