The EPA claims that ethanol, a fuel made from corn, has only a minimal impact on food prices. But Sam Kazman, general counsel for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, disagrees:

“EPA’s ethanol fuel programs have been criticized for their expense and lack of environmental benefit. But one overlooked issue is the fact that they reduce food supplies by diverting grain stocks. A 2011 study found that these and other biofuel programs cause nearly 200,000 deaths per year globally due to malnutrition. EPA claims that it is protecting people and the environment, but by ignoring this issue the agency is only protecting itself and the ethanol lobby.”