Tell Target before tomorrow’s big meeting: STOP hurting pollinators and eliminate toxic pesticides from your supply chain!

Target

Investor Relations

Target

Dear Target Investor Relations and CEO Brian Cornell,

As Target meets with shareholders this week, I’m writing to ask why Target hasn’t taken more steps to address the use of toxic pesticides in its supply chain. Over six months ago, an independent lab found residues of 21 pesticides in two of Target’s Good & Gather baby food products, including 12 pesticides that are classified as highly hazardous to the environment and/or human health and 8 pesticides that are banned in the European Union. Yet despite Target’s public image as a company committed to sustainability and health, Target hasn’t announced any steps to address the use of harmful pesticides in its supply chain. Meanwhile, competitors have shown that meaningful action on pesticides is possible – Giant Eagle, Walmart, Whole Foods, Kroger, and Meijer all have pollinator health policies that include timebound, measurable commitments aimed at reducing pesticide use in their produce supply chains.

The pesticides found in Target’s baby food have been linked to birth defects of the heart and brain, autism spectrum disorder, damage to the nervous system, hormone disruption, and cancer. Infants and children are particularly vulnerable to the harms of pesticides as their brains and bodies are rapidly developing. Research shows that even small exposures during these critical windows of development can result in lifelong impacts. The American Academy of Pediatrics asserts that “children’s exposure to pesticides should be limited as much as possible.” As a trusted company, Target can and must do more to protect children from the impacts of toxic pesticides.

Neonicotinoid pesticides were found in 100% of the baby food samples tested. Neonicotinoids are among the most ecologically disastrous pesticides since DDT. U.S. agriculture has become nearly 48 times more toxic to insects, including essential pollinators like bees, since the introduction of neonicotinoids. Bees and other pollinators are a cornerstone of Target’s food supply, and Target should take immediate action to protect pollinators from the impacts of toxic pesticides.

Target is falling behind competitors when it comes to protecting people and pollinators from pesticides. Target fell to 15th place on the 2024 Bee-Friendly Retailer Scorecard. Meanwhile, other companies are stepping up and taking action. In order to protect pollinators and people, Target must address the use of pesticides that are driving pollinator declines and endangering human health by setting clear, time-bound targets towards eliminating the use of toxic pesticides in its supply chains as well as taking meaningful action to expand organic and other truly regenerative offerings.

To protect pollinators, people, and the planet, I urge Target to:

• Phase Out Toxic Pesticides: Establish a pollinator health policy that includes targets for phasing out and eliminating neonicotinoids, glyphosate, organophosphates, and other pollinator-toxic pesticides, as well as implementation of alternative, least-toxic pest management strategies in company supply chains.

• Grow Organic: Increase USDA-certified organic food and beverages to at least 15 percent of overall offerings, prioritizing sourcing from domestic growers.

• Increase Transparency: Publicly disclose company policies and progress related to these actions.

As one of the largest grocery retailers in the U.S., it’s important that Target show leadership in making its food supply safer for farmers, farmworkers, consumers, and pollinators.

Sincerely,
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