The U.S. EPA has altered its position on the safety the widely-used pesticide aldicarb. Aldicarb’s manufacturer, Bayer, has agreed to take steps towards halting its use.
Aldicarb has been used for many years on crops such as potatoes, soybeans, peanuts, cotton, tobacco, citrus fruits, and sugarcane. However, the EPA now argues that aldicarb "no longer meets our rigorous food safety standards and may pose unacceptable dietary risks."
According to Planet Green:
“The agency's change of heart is based on a new study of the chemical, even though 25 years ago ... aldicarb sickened more than 2,000 people who ate California watermelons ... Bayer has agreed to stop using aldicarb first on citrus fruits and potatoes, [and] it will ‘voluntarily’ phase out production by the end of 2014”.