Petition to Ban Ultra-Processed Foods and Hold Companies Accountable for Food Safety Violations
Petition to Ban Ultra-Processed Foods and Hold Companies Accountable for Food Safety Violations
We, the undersigned, demand immediate action to address the catastrophic health crisis caused by ultra-processed foods. The deliberate mass production and sale of these harmful products constitute nothing less than a genocide of the American people, driven by corporate greed at the expense of public health. It is clear that our food system is intentionally poisoning citizens for profit, and it must be stopped.
1. Ban Ultra-Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods, which are industrial formulations made from ingredients extracted from whole foods or synthesized in labs, are directly linked to chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. These chronic diseases are responsible for killing over 678,000 Americans every year – a death toll higher than the combined combat deaths of all American wars. This is a public health crisis of epic proportions, and it’s time for the FDA and USDA to use their authority to ban ultra-processed foods.
2. Classify Ultra-Processed Foods as a Poisonous Substance
According to federal law, any "poisonous or deleterious substance" that can render food injurious to health must be banned. Ultra-processed foods fit this definition and must be treated as such. Our government’s inaction is unconscionable, allowing corporations to continue producing these harmful products, even though they are as dangerous as the toxic chemicals and bacteria already regulated by federal agencies.
3. Use Federal Law to Protect Americans from Chronic Food Illness
The FDA has used its legal authority to regulate harmful substances that cause acute illness, but the same rigor must be applied to chronic food illnesses. Under the law, any food additive that induces cancer or any other chronic illness is deemed unsafe. The precedent exists—FDA banned trans fats in 2015 due to their link to heart disease. It’s time for the agency to extend its enforcement to ultra-processed foods, which are responsible for widespread suffering and death.
4. Shift Subsidies to Promote Healthy, Whole Foods
For too long, government subsidies have supported the production of cheap, unhealthy ingredients used in ultra-processed foods. We call for an immediate shift of subsidies toward organic, non-GMO, and whole foods, which promote health and well-being. Our government should invest in the production of healthy foods, making them affordable and accessible for all Americans, rather than supporting crops that contribute to chronic illnesses.
5. Regulate Additives and Mandate Transparent Labeling
The public deserves to know what’s in their food. We demand transparent labeling of all food products, with clear information on additives and chemicals that are potentially harmful. The FDA and USDA must work together to regulate the design and production of foods, ensuring they are not only affordable and convenient but also safe for daily consumption without causing long-term harm.
6. Hold Companies and Executives Criminally Responsible
The intentional poisoning of the American public for profit is a crime. We demand that those responsible for the production and sale of ultra-processed foods face criminal charges, including significant prison time. This includes not only the corporate executives who knowingly approve these products but also the regulatory bodies who enable this harm through inaction. No excuse should be tolerated for this willful negligence, and accountability is long overdue.
7. Establish Zero Tolerance for Chronic Food Illnesses
Regulators already enforce laws to prevent acute food illnesses like salmonella or E. coli, which kill around 1,400 Americans annually. However, 1,600 Americans die every day from chronic food illnesses linked to ultra-processed foods. It is time for the FDA and USDA to enforce the same zero-tolerance policies toward chronic food illness as they do with acute food poisoning.
8. Invest in Healthier Food Options
We demand that the government incentivize and invest in the production of healthy, whole foods that nourish the American public. Food must be delicious, affordable, and convenient—without compromising our health. The health and safety of the nation should take precedence over corporate profit margins, and our government must ensure that food companies are producing products that are safe to eat daily.
9. Provide Adequate Funding for Nutrition Programs
The President and Congress must provide at least $200 million in funding for FDA nutrition regulation, USDA nutrition security, and NIH nutrition research to address the public health crisis caused by ultra-processed foods. In previous budget cycles, requested funding has been ignored, leaving critical nutrition programs underfunded. This must change. Our leaders need to prioritize public health and take action against the food industry’s role in causing widespread chronic illness.
10. Strengthen Food Safety Laws and Enforcement
There is precedent for strengthening food safety regulations. In 2015, the FDA banned trans fats, citing heart disease—a chronic illness linked to diet. We demand the same rigorous approach be applied to ultra-processed foods that are contributing to chronic illness and premature death in the U.S. Regulations must be enforced to reduce and ultimately eliminate harmful substances from our food supply.
11. Mandate Independent, Ongoing Research into Food Safety
We call for independent and ongoing scientific research into the long-term health effects of ultra-processed foods and food additives. Current research is often funded or influenced by the food industry itself, which leads to biased results. Publicly funded, transparent research is needed to inform future regulations and ensure the public is aware of any potential risks in their food.
12. Implement Stricter Penalties for Non-Compliance
Food manufacturers and corporations that violate food safety laws must face substantial financial penalties and criminal charges. Minor fines are no longer acceptable. Companies that knowingly endanger the public must be held accountable. We demand stricter enforcement of food safety laws and severe consequences for those responsible, including mandatory recalls for products that do not meet safety standards.
Summary:
The evidence is clear: ultra-processed foods are killing Americans at a staggering rate. Our federal food safety laws clearly state that poisonous substances must be banned from our food supply, yet ultra-processed foods remain a staple of the American diet, contributing to chronic illnesses and preventable deaths every day.
The time for action is now. We call on the FDA, USDA, President, and Congress to protect the health of the American people by banning ultra-processed foods, investing in healthier food options, and holding companies and individuals accountable for their role in this public health crisis. The intentional poisoning of the American people for profit cannot continue. Those responsible must face prison time, and organizations complicit in this tragedy must be met with stiff penalties.
Let’s act now to end this deliberate public health catastrophe and ensure a healthier future for all Americans.
firma la peticiónfirma la peticiónWe, the undersigned, demand immediate action to address the catastrophic health crisis caused by ultra-processed foods. The deliberate mass production and sale of these harmful products constitute nothing less than a genocide of the American people, driven by corporate greed at the expense of public health. It is clear that our food system is intentionally poisoning citizens for profit, and it must be stopped.
1. Ban Ultra-Processed Foods
Ultra-processed foods, which are industrial formulations made from ingredients extracted from whole foods or synthesized in labs, are directly linked to chronic illnesses like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. These chronic diseases are responsible for killing over 678,000 Americans every year – a death toll higher than the combined combat deaths of all American wars. This is a public health crisis of epic proportions, and it’s time for the FDA and USDA to use their authority to ban ultra-processed foods.
2. Classify Ultra-Processed Foods as a Poisonous Substance
According to federal law, any "poisonous or deleterious substance" that can render food injurious to health must be banned. Ultra-processed foods fit this definition and must be treated as such. Our government’s inaction is unconscionable, allowing corporations to continue producing these harmful products, even though they are as dangerous as the toxic chemicals and bacteria already regulated by federal agencies.
3. Use Federal Law to Protect Americans from Chronic Food Illness
The FDA has used its legal authority to regulate harmful substances that cause acute illness, but the same rigor must be applied to chronic food illnesses. Under the law, any food additive that induces cancer or any other chronic illness is deemed unsafe. The precedent exists—FDA banned trans fats in 2015 due to their link to heart disease. It’s time for the agency to extend its enforcement to ultra-processed foods, which are responsible for widespread suffering and death.
4. Shift Subsidies to Promote Healthy, Whole Foods
For too long, government subsidies have supported the production of cheap, unhealthy ingredients used in ultra-processed foods. We call for an immediate shift of subsidies toward organic, non-GMO, and whole foods, which promote health and well-being. Our government should invest in the production of healthy foods, making them affordable and accessible for all Americans, rather than supporting crops that contribute to chronic illnesses.
5. Regulate Additives and Mandate Transparent Labeling
The public deserves to know what’s in their food. We demand transparent labeling of all food products, with clear information on additives and chemicals that are potentially harmful. The FDA and USDA must work together to regulate the design and production of foods, ensuring they are not only affordable and convenient but also safe for daily consumption without causing long-term harm.
6. Hold Companies and Executives Criminally Responsible
The intentional poisoning of the American public for profit is a crime. We demand that those responsible for the production and sale of ultra-processed foods face criminal charges, including significant prison time. This includes not only the corporate executives who knowingly approve these products but also the regulatory bodies who enable this harm through inaction. No excuse should be tolerated for this willful negligence, and accountability is long overdue.
7. Establish Zero Tolerance for Chronic Food Illnesses
Regulators already enforce laws to prevent acute food illnesses like salmonella or E. coli, which kill around 1,400 Americans annually. However, 1,600 Americans die every day from chronic food illnesses linked to ultra-processed foods. It is time for the FDA and USDA to enforce the same zero-tolerance policies toward chronic food illness as they do with acute food poisoning.
8. Invest in Healthier Food Options
We demand that the government incentivize and invest in the production of healthy, whole foods that nourish the American public. Food must be delicious, affordable, and convenient—without compromising our health. The health and safety of the nation should take precedence over corporate profit margins, and our government must ensure that food companies are producing products that are safe to eat daily.
9. Provide Adequate Funding for Nutrition Programs
The President and Congress must provide at least $200 million in funding for FDA nutrition regulation, USDA nutrition security, and NIH nutrition research to address the public health crisis caused by ultra-processed foods. In previous budget cycles, requested funding has been ignored, leaving critical nutrition programs underfunded. This must change. Our leaders need to prioritize public health and take action against the food industry’s role in causing widespread chronic illness.
10. Strengthen Food Safety Laws and Enforcement
There is precedent for strengthening food safety regulations. In 2015, the FDA banned trans fats, citing heart disease—a chronic illness linked to diet. We demand the same rigorous approach be applied to ultra-processed foods that are contributing to chronic illness and premature death in the U.S. Regulations must be enforced to reduce and ultimately eliminate harmful substances from our food supply.
11. Mandate Independent, Ongoing Research into Food Safety
We call for independent and ongoing scientific research into the long-term health effects of ultra-processed foods and food additives. Current research is often funded or influenced by the food industry itself, which leads to biased results. Publicly funded, transparent research is needed to inform future regulations and ensure the public is aware of any potential risks in their food.
12. Implement Stricter Penalties for Non-Compliance
Food manufacturers and corporations that violate food safety laws must face substantial financial penalties and criminal charges. Minor fines are no longer acceptable. Companies that knowingly endanger the public must be held accountable. We demand stricter enforcement of food safety laws and severe consequences for those responsible, including mandatory recalls for products that do not meet safety standards.
Summary:
The evidence is clear: ultra-processed foods are killing Americans at a staggering rate. Our federal food safety laws clearly state that poisonous substances must be banned from our food supply, yet ultra-processed foods remain a staple of the American diet, contributing to chronic illnesses and preventable deaths every day.
The time for action is now. We call on the FDA, USDA, President, and Congress to protect the health of the American people by banning ultra-processed foods, investing in healthier food options, and holding companies and individuals accountable for their role in this public health crisis. The intentional poisoning of the American people for profit cannot continue. Those responsible must face prison time, and organizations complicit in this tragedy must be met with stiff penalties.
Let’s act now to end this deliberate public health catastrophe and ensure a healthier future for all Americans.
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