Republican Attorney General Announces Settlement With Grocery Chain To “Ensure Synthetic Pesticide” Won’t Be Sprayed On Produce

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a settlement with Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc., ensuring that a “synthetic pesticide” will not be sprayed on produce at any of its locations nationwide.

“I secured a landmark settlement with Sprouts grocery stores to ensure that the synthetic pesticide ProduceMaxx will not be secretly misted on produce nationwide,” Paxton wrote on X.

BREAKING: I secured a landmark settlement with Sprouts grocery stores to ensure that the synthetic pesticide ProduceMaxx will not be secretly misted on produce nationwide. pic.twitter.com/ctqETlYBPa

— Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) September 21, 2026

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“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,” Paxton said.

“I will continue to protect consumers and ensure transparency, so that Texans can trust that they are buying clean products,” he added.

More from Paxton’s office:

This settlement follows an investigation into grocery stores across Texas, which was announced by Attorney General Paxton in January 2026. The investigation was launched following concerns that synthetic pesticides such as ProduceMaxx were being misted on organic produce. ProduceMaxx is an EPA-registered antimicrobial pesticide containing hypochlorous acid, a chlorine-based compound. Thousands of grocery stores across the United States have engaged in off-label use of ProduceMaxx in produce misting systems to allegedly control bacteria and extend shelf life. ProduceMaxx was additionally being used to treat organic produce by other means such as washing and “crisping,” unbeknownst to consumers.

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“Previously, Attorney General Paxton secured a settlement with all Albertsons-owned grocery stores across the entire state of Texas. That settlement has stopped them from using ProduceMaxx or any other synthetic antimicrobial pesticide in misting systems on organic produce,” the press release read.

“It also requires employees to complete a potable water rinse on all organic produce after any other ProduceMaxx treatment,” it continued.

SPROUTS SETTLEMENT: Texas Attorney General @KenPaxtonTX reached an agreement requiring Sprouts Farmers Market to stop applying the synthetic antimicrobial pesticide ProduceMaxx to produce sold at its stores nationwide, including conventional items, within 90 days. pic.twitter.com/DzEvaYPMKO

— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) September 21, 2026

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Texas Scorecard shared further:

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:

1. Sprouts will cease misting all produce with ProduceMaxx.
2. 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.

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The post Republican Attorney General Announces Settlement With Grocery Chain To “Ensure Synthetic Pesticide” Won’t Be Sprayed On Produce appeared first on 100PercentFedUp.com.

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[H/T 100PercentFedUp]