Can glyphosate residues on food affect pregnancy and birth outcomes?

What's actually in it

Glyphosate is sprayed on wheat, oats, corn, soybeans, and many other crops. Residues end up in bread, cereal, crackers, pasta, and beer. When pregnant women eat these foods, glyphosate enters their bloodstream. Its breakdown product, AMPA, is also present. Both chemicals reach the developing baby.

Glyphosate is the most heavily used herbicide in the world. Nearly everyone has detectable levels in their urine.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Int J Hyg Environ Health measured glyphosate and AMPA levels in pregnant women and tracked their birth outcomes. Women with higher glyphosate concentrations showed associations with altered birth weight and other changes in birth measurements.

The study found that both glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA were detectable in most participants, confirming widespread exposure during pregnancy. The effects on birth weight suggest glyphosate may interfere with placental function or fetal nutrient supply.

Choosing organic versions of high-glyphosate crops like wheat, oats, and soy during pregnancy is the most direct way to reduce exposure. Washing produce doesn't remove glyphosate that has been absorbed into the plant tissue.