MAHA report highlights glyphosate dangers and ultra processed food impact on children's health
A new federal report warns of growing threats to children's health from glyphosate exposure and ultra processed food. The MAHA Commission's findings urge caution in pesticide regulation and highlight the urgent need to reduce UPFs in children's diets, linking them to chronic disease, developmental risks, and long-term health outcomes
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As she watches her eight-year-old son battle chronic rashes and ADHD symptoms, Maria Sanchez wonders if the food she once trusted is now harming him. On the other side of the country, rural farmer Ben Hughes says he depends on herbicides to keep his crops alive, but admits he's concerned by the growing links between glyphosate and child development issues. These voices reflect the complexity and urgency highlighted in the newly released assessment by the Make America Healthy Again ( MAHA ) Commission, which evaluates threats posed by chemical and environmental exposures to children's health.The MAHA report underscores the mixed but growing concern about glyphosate, the most common herbicide in the United States. While large-scale government studies have not definitively linked glyphosate use, when following label directions, to adverse health outcomes, select studies suggest potential health effects.These include developmental disorders, liver inflammation, and metabolic disturbances. Glyphosate exposure, common through food residues, lawn care, and farming, remains under scrutiny.Also read: Leavitt unveils alarming MAHA report on rising childhood disease crisis, cites 4 risk factors For example, animal studies show endocrine disruption and birth defects from other herbicides such as atrazine. While the USDA's 2023 data showed 99 per cent of food samples complied with EPA safety limits, the MAHA Commission still calls for continued review and transparency in federal safety assessments. A new US health review is expected in 2026.Meanwhile, the MAHA Commission affirms the need to balance health risks with the vital role American farmers play in ensuring affordable food supply. The report urges regulatory caution, noting that sudden policy changes could hurt agriculture and global food access. UPF consumption is rising at an alarming rate among American children. The MAHA report presents strong evidence that diets high in ultra processed foods like sugary cereals, packaged snacks, and sodas are replacing nutrient-rich whole foods. Over 50 per cent of pregnant and postpartum mothers' diets now consist of UPFs, and children follow suit.Numerous peer-reviewed studies link ultra processed foods with serious long-term health risks. A 2024 Nature Medicine study attributes 1.2 million global heart disease cases to sugary beverages alone.A BMJ umbrella review of data from nearly 10 million individuals found links between high UPF intake and 32 adverse outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and mental illness.Also read: Robert F Kennedy Jr lauds Donald Trump during MAHA event One landmark JAMA Internal Medicine study found a 14 per cent rise in all-cause mortality for every 10 per cent increase in UPF intake. Even after adjusting for age, sex, and physical activity, the data speaks to how deeply diet affects health.The MAHA Commission highlights whole foods such as leafy greens, legumes, salmon, dairy, and beef as crucial to protecting children's physiological, cognitive, and immune development. Whole milk, nuts, and vegetables supply essential micronutrients like calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, and folate that help regulate inflammation, strengthen bones, and support nervous system wiring.These benefits start even before birth. Fetal development is shaped by maternal nutrition, influencing everything from hormone regulation to mitochondrial health. Yet research shows that nearly half of children aged 2 to 18 skip discrete fruit entirely each day.Low carbohydrate diets and ultra processed food reduction interventions are showing encouraging results in addressing chronic diseases. Randomized controlled trials of reduced-carb diets have helped adults and children reverse obesity, metabolic disorders, liver disease, and hypertension. Though more research is needed, many of these benefits may stem from reducing insulin resistance, the root cause of many chronic conditions.Also read: RFK Jr. stuns Senate Comm over Covid surge | Full Hearing However, research on ultra processed food reduction remains limited. While several two-year trials support low-carb diets, most UPF studies span only two weeks. The MAHA Commission is calling for expanded long-term studies, especially involving children, to confirm health outcomes and determine public policy.The MAHA report also evaluates other major environmental threats: PFAS , microplastics, fluoride, EMR, phthalates , and bisphenols. PFAS, used in nonstick cookware and water-resistant textiles, are linked to immune suppression and cholesterol changes in children. The EPA will begin enforcing drinking water standards for PFAS in 2025.Microplastics, which saw a 50 per cent rise in brain tissue concentrations between 2016 and 2024, are carriers of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Fluoride exposure above recommended levels is associated with reduced IQ in children. Electromagnetic radiation from cell towers and devices shows conflicting data but warrants further research.Phthalates, found in plastics and personal care products, are linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues. Bisphenols, present in food containers, can mimic estrogen and disrupt hormonal signaling. The FDA and other federal agencies continue regulating and reviewing these exposures.Also read: Cuts have eliminated more than a dozen US government health-tracking programs While recognizing the essential role of farmers and the need for food security, the MAHA Commission calls for rigorous, science-driven review of environmental and dietary exposures. With American children facing growing threats from both synthetic chemicals and ultra processed food, the report urges immediate and coordinated federal response. Protecting the health of future generations requires informed regulation, research investment, and a renewed focus on whole food nutrition.
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