What Parents Should Know About Glyphosates in Food and Hormone Health
Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide applied to crops such as wheat, oats, soybeans, and corn. Because these crops are common in children’s diets, low-level exposure through food is widespread.
Studies show approximately 80–90% of Americans have detectable urinary glyphosate levels (Ospina et al., 2024; Lucia et al., 2023).
While most dietary levels fall within current regulatory limits, researchers continue to study potential long-term effects on hormones and child development.
If you’re wondering whether glyphosates are harmful for kids, this guide explains what we know — and what we still don’t.
What Are Glyphosates?
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum herbicide used to control weeds in agriculture. It is commonly applied to:
- Wheat
- Oats
- Corn
- Soybeans
- Legumes
Because these crops are used in everyday foods, trace residues can remain in finished products.
Detectable exposure is common. Biomonitoring data from NHANES show widespread presence in the U.S. population (Ospina et al., 2024).
Detectable does not automatically mean dangerous. It means exposure is routine.
That distinction matters.
What Foods Contain Glyphosates?
Research indicates the primary dietary contributors are grains and legumes (Louie et al., 2021; Soukup et al., 2020).
Common foods include:
- Bread
- Breakfast cereals
- Oats
- Pasta
- Beans and lentils
- Soy products
Retail surveillance testing found 42.3% of sampled foods contained detectable glyphosate residues, though 99.4% were within regulatory limits (Kolakowski et al., 2020).
For a deeper breakdown of bread specifically, read:
Glyphosates in Bread: What Parents Should Know
Are Glyphosates Safe Under Current Regulations?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets a chronic reference dose of 0.1 mg/kg/day for glyphosate. Most dietary exposures fall well below this threshold.
Regulatory agencies currently state that typical dietary intake does not pose a health risk.
However, safety thresholds are based on traditional toxicology models focused on high-dose toxicity.
Hormone systems operate at extremely small biological concentrations. They do not always behave according to traditional dose-response assumptions.
This nuance is important when evaluating environmental exposures in children.
Is Glyphosate an Endocrine Disruptor?
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals that interfere with hormone systems.
A 2021 review published in Chemosphere concluded that glyphosate satisfies 8 of the 10 key characteristics of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (Muñoz et al., 2021).
This means laboratory and mechanistic data show hormone-related activity.
It does not mean proven clinical harm in children.
Human research is still evolving.
Glyphosates and Hormones in Children
A 2024 study of 964 children aged 6–19 found that higher urinary glyphosate concentrations were associated with decreased estradiol, free androgen index, and testosterone in female adolescents (Sun et al., 2024).
An earlier NHANES-based study also identified associations between glyphosate exposure and serum sex steroid hormone levels (Geier & Geier, 2023).
It is critical to emphasize that these studies show associations, not proof of causation.
However, pediatric endocrinologists pay attention to anything that may influence:
- Puberty timing
- Estrogen and testosterone balance
- Bone maturation
- Long-term reproductive health
Adolescence is a sensitive period of hormonal signaling.
For a deeper discussion on puberty specifically, read:
Glyphosates and Puberty: Do They Affect Hormones?
Prenatal and Developmental Considerations
The American Academy of Pediatrics has noted that prenatal glyphosate exposure may be associated with altered anogenital distance in female infants, suggesting possible hormone-related effects in utero (Abrams et al., 2023).
Animal studies have explored potential neurodevelopmental outcomes following maternal exposure (Marins et al., 2024). A 2025 scoping review examined possible associations between glyphosate-based herbicides and autism spectrum disorder but concluded that human data remain limited (Gonzalez et al., 2025).
Research is ongoing.
What About Kidney Health?
A 2025 cross-sectional pediatric study found glyphosate exposure was associated with increased levels of KIM-1, a biomarker of early kidney injury (Romo-García et al., 2025).
This does not mean children are developing kidney disease from food exposure.
It indicates researchers are examining subtle biological markers that warrant further investigation.
Do Glyphosates Cause Cancer?
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic.”
The EPA and other regulatory bodies maintain that typical dietary exposure does not pose a cancer risk.
These differing conclusions reflect differences in risk assessment models and interpretation of available data.
Currently, there is no clear evidence that normal dietary exposure causes cancer in children.
Long-term pediatric-specific studies remain limited.
Why Children May Be More Vulnerable
Children experience:
- Rapid growth
- Active hormonal signaling
- Developing nervous systems
- Ongoing bone development
Children are not small adults.
Endocrine systems operate at very small signaling levels. Even subtle disruption during key developmental windows deserves careful evaluation.
How Parents Can Reduce Exposure Without Panic
You do not need to eliminate grains entirely.
Instead, consider practical strategies:
- Diversify grain sources rather than relying on one staple daily.
- Consider organic options for high-consumption grain products.
- Emphasize overall whole-food dietary variety.
- Reduce ultra-processed food intake.
Frequent organic food consumption has been associated with lower urinary glyphosate levels (Lucia et al., 2023), though lifestyle factors may contribute.
Balanced dietary diversity remains more impactful than eliminating individual foods out of fear.
The Balanced Takeaway
Here is what we know:
- Glyphosate exposure is widespread.
- Most dietary levels fall within regulatory limits.
- Research suggests possible endocrine associations.
- Definitive long-term pediatric outcome data are limited.
Here is what we do not yet know:
- Whether subtle hormone associations translate into long-term clinical outcomes.
- Whether certain children may be more susceptible.
- How cumulative environmental exposures interact over time.
Awareness should lead to informed decision-making, not anxiety.
If you have concerns about your child’s growth, puberty timing, or hormone health, consultation with a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist is appropriate.
References
Sun X et al. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 2024.
Geier DA & Geier MR. Chemosphere. 2023.
Muñoz JP et al. Chemosphere. 2021.
Abrams SA et al. Pediatrics. 2023.
Romo-García MF et al. Science of the Total Environment. 2025.
Gonzalez B et al. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2025.
Marins K et al. Environmental Pollution. 2024.
Louie F et al. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 2021.
Soukup ST et al. Archives of Toxicology. 2020.
Kolakowski BM et al. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 2020.
Lucia RM et al. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health. 2023.
Ospina M et al. Chemosphere. 2024.
About the Author
Dr. Christi Gerhardt is a board-certified pediatric endocrinologist with over 20 years of experience specializing in growth disorders, puberty concerns, and complex hormone conditions in children and adolescents. She is a national leader in integrative pediatric endocrine medicine, combining evidence-based endocrinology with nutrition, lifestyle, and long-term developmental optimization. Through Life Pediatric Endocrinology, Dr. Gerhardt provides comprehensive, high-touch hormone evaluation for families across the United States, with a focus on precision diagnostics and whole-child care.
