Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has reached a settlement with Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. that will bar the grocery chain from applying the synthetic antimicrobial pesticide ProduceMaxx to produce sold at its stores across the country.
Under the agreement, Sprouts will halt the spraying of ProduceMaxx on all produce, including conventional non-organic items, at every location nationwide, Paxton’s office announced. The chain also agreed to stop using ProduceMaxx or any other synthetic antimicrobial pesticide on organic produce, whether through misting or other application methods. The terms take effect within 90 days.
The settlement grew out of an investigation Paxton launched in January 2026 into grocery stores operating in Texas. That inquiry was prompted by concerns that synthetic pesticides, including ProduceMaxx, were being applied to organic produce through in-store misting systems.
ProduceMaxx is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency as an antimicrobial pesticide and contains hypochlorous acid, a chlorine-based compound. According to Paxton’s office, thousands of grocery stores nationwide have used the product off-label in misting systems, with the stated goal of controlling bacteria and extending shelf life. The product was also being used on organic produce through washing and “crisping” processes without consumer knowledge, the office said.
“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.”
Paxton previously reached a settlement with all Albertsons-owned grocery stores in Texas. That deal prohibits the use of ProduceMaxx or any other synthetic antimicrobial pesticide in misting systems on organic produce and requires employees to rinse organic produce with potable water following any ProduceMaxx treatment.
