Sprouts Farmers Market has agreed to stop misting its produce with ProduceMaxx pesticide in a landmark settlement with Texas.
ProduceMaxx is a chlorine-based synthetic antimicrobial pesticide. Thousands of grocery stores allegedly use it to extend shelf life, crisp produce, and control bacteria.
Any produce misted by ProduceMaxx must be rinsed in potable water before consumption to be labeled as organic, USDA-certified produce.
However, the settlement claimed Sprouts did not inform consumers that it uses the pesticide or that organic produce must be washed to be USDA-certified as such.
Texas’ allegations in the Civil Investigative Demand included concerns about compliance with the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Sprouts argued that it did not violate Texas law but made two assurances:
- Sprouts will cease misting all produce with ProduceMaxx.
- Sprouts will cease any other use of ProduceMaxx or any other synthetic antimicrobial pesticide on its organic produce.
The assurances apply nationwide and must be implemented in 90 days.
“My office has now added Sprouts to the list of grocery stores that we have forced to stop secretly misting organic produce with synthetic pesticides,” said Attorney General Ken Paxton. “I will continue to protect consumers and ensure transparency, so that Texans can trust that they are buying clean products.”
Paxton’s settlement with Sprouts comes after he launched an investigation into major grocery chains’ use of in-store pesticides without disclosure.
His announcement stated, “Consumers buying organic produce assume they haven’t been treated with pesticides. They don’t know that stores are spraying pesticides on the organic produce while it’s on the shelf. And they aren’t being told that they need to wash their organic produce before eating.”
Texas also settled with Albertsons Safeway LLC earlier this year. The company agreed to cease misting synthetic pesticides on organic produce sold in Texas and to water-rinse all organic produce after crisping with ProduceMaxx and before putting it on the shelf.
“Many Texans choose organic produce specifically to avoid harmful pesticides,” said Paxton. “It’s not only wrong for grocers to mislead consumers about chemicals being sprayed on their food—it may very well be illegal. There should be no shortcuts when it comes to food safety, and my office will ensure that Texas consumers are not misled about the state of the produce they purchase.”
Sprouts has not responded to Texas Scorecard’s request for comment as of publication.
