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John,

How can a bowl of popcorn lead to the disappearance of bees?

When almost every corn seed planted in the U.S. is coated in a toxic, bee-killing pesticide called neonics.[1]

Neonics are one of the biggest culprits in widespread bee die-offs, a phenomenon that could wreak havoc on our food supply. That's because bees pollinate more than 70 of the 100 crops that provide 90% of the world's food.[2]

Send a message to Orville Redenbacher, one of our country's largest popcorn producers: Don't make popcorn from corn planted with bee-killing neonics.
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Imagine sitting down for Thanksgiving this fall without apple pie, chocolate pudding, mashed potatoes or coffee. These are just some of the foods that could disappear if we continue planting crops like corn with neonic-coated seeds, letting them kill off bees at alarming rates.[3]

And bees might not be the only living things impacted by these chemicals. Though more research is needed, early studies show that exposure to neonics could negatively impact human health as well -- and once they enter our environment, they can show up in unexpected places, including even the food we eat.[4][,5]

Yet despite what we know about neonics, 4 million pounds of these toxic pesticides are applied to plants across the U.S. every single year.[6]

We can change that.

As a massive popcorn company, Orville Redenbacher could help protect pollinators and public health if they commit to only buying corn that is grown neonic-free. Send your message today.
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Neonics are widely used to ward pests away from crops. But the ironic truth is, if we soak seeds in toxic pesticides that wreak havoc on bees, those same crops will suffer drastically.

There are safer and better ways to grow food.

We need companies like Orville Redenbacher to stand up and commit to protecting public health, our food supply and pollinators by committing to only buying corn that isn't grown from neonic-coated seeds.

Take action to protect public health, pollinators and our food supply from neonics today.
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Thank you for taking action,

Faye Park
President

1. Chia-Hua Lin, et al, "Honey Bees and Neonicotinoid-Treated Corn Seed: Contamination, Exposure, and Effects," National Library of Medicine, February 5, 2021.
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2. Emily Rogers, "How the widespread use of a bee-killing pesticide is threatening our food supply," PIRG, December 12, 2022.
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3. "The Importance of Pollinators," U.S. Department of Agriculture, last accessed October 16, 2024.
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4. Andria M Cimino, et al, "Effects of Neonicotinoid Pesticide Exposure on Human Health: A Systematic Review," National Library of Medicine, July 6, 2016.
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5. Jim Daley, "Safety concerns mount over neonicotinoid pesticides in unexpected places," PBS, May 6, 2019.
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6. Emily Rogers, "How the widespread use of a bee-killing pesticide is threatening our food supply," PIRG, December 12, 2022.
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