National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Duane Stateler, a pork producer from McComb, Ohio, released the following statement on the ‘Make American Healthy Again’ (MAHA) Commission report.
“U.S. pork producers are proud to provide a safe and nutrient-dense protein for all Americans, and we support honest efforts to continuously improve our nation’s health and prosperity. Like others in farming and agriculture, we agree that nutritious, healthy, safe, and affordable protein from meat should be widely accessible so everyone can achieve the basic needs of a balanced diet. Filling our nation’s protein gap is critical, especially for those focused on food insecurity and improving the health of our nation.
“Efforts that not only exclude agriculture’s input, but also undermine the work of farmers serving our nation, are misguided and detrimental to all who care about facts and truth. Inflammatory rhetoric and distortions, meant to galvanize attention to achieve particular ideological outcomes, are harmful and undermine the world-class safety and reliability of the American food system. We urge extreme caution and recognize this as a moment for leadership that not only fosters and maintains trust in the foods we consume but also defends farmers against unwarranted and unfounded attacks.
“Our current system of producing food at scale for a vast and growing nation has unleashed prosperity and opportunity from coast to coast, and it is built on the strength of the shrinking number of us who continue to farm. Right now, it is vital for policy makers, members of Congress, and executive branch officials to ensure that America’s food security – and farm families like mine – remain strong, vibrant, and lasting.
“We urge President Trump to support America’s farmers, who use modern practices to feed 98% of the population. We implore this administration to ensure farmers have a seat at the table when discussions and decisions impacting our livelihoods are made. On behalf of my fellow 60,000+ pork producers and our commitment to continuous improvement, we stand ready and willing to assist and partner in transparent, risk-based research to further the health of our nation.”
