Is McDonalds Safe?

 There are some shareholders of McDonalds who have voiced concerns regarding the use of pesticides by potato farmers in the McDonalds potato grower supply chain. This has resulted in McDonalds and three shareholder groups promoting best management practices in pesticide use. Potato grower and member of the Idaho Potato Commission, Jim Tiede, feels that he and his colleagues are already in compliance. “We already are doing all of the things that McDonalds has asked their suppliers to do. We do GAP audits which is Good Agricultural Practicesand we only use the approved EPA pesticides, herbicides and fungicides and only at the recommended rates. We already have an integrated pest management plan, only spray the minimum amounts, McDonalds is asking that to be verified but we’re already doing it so…I don’t think it’s a real serious thing. We’re already making sure our food supply is safe and healthy. I hate using pesticide, herbicides and fungicides”.

 Would you feed your potatoes to your children?

 (Tiede) “Every day. We mash those potatoes up and feed it to them and don’t even worry about it. No qualms at all about eating it myself or feeding it to my babies.”

 I guess that pretty much says it all.