Do pesticide residues in food affect children's growth?

What's actually in it

Organophosphate pesticides are widely used on fruits and vegetables. Children eat more food relative to their body weight than adults do. They also spend more time on the floor and put their hands in their mouths more, which adds non-dietary exposure.

Organophosphates disrupt the nervous system. At high doses they're acutely toxic. At low doses from food residues, the concern is chronic effects on development, including growth and the hormonal signals that control it.

What the research says

A 2026 study in Int Arch Occup Environ Health examined indirect organophosphate exposure and growth outcomes in children. Even without direct agricultural exposure, children with higher pesticide biomarkers showed associations with possible growth disorders. The researchers flagged food as the main indirect exposure route.

Washing produce reduces but doesn't eliminate surface pesticide residues. Peeling removes more. Choosing organic produce for the items children eat most often reduces their total organophosphate load.

For baby food specifically, store homemade purees in glass baby products rather than plastic to avoid layering chemical exposures from food storage on top of any residues already in the food.