A Wake-Up Call from Canada
A major new study out of Canada has raised urgent questions about the safety of glyphosate exposure during pregnancy. Published in Environmental International in May 2025, this peer-reviewed research adds to a growing body of scientific concern that glyphosate—commonly found in weedkillers like Roundup—may be quietly undermining the health of future generations.
The study followed a cohort of Canadian mothers and their children, measuring levels of glyphosate in maternal urine samples during pregnancy and tracking the developmental outcomes of the children over several years.
What they found was unsettling: higher levels of glyphosate in the mothers’ bodies were associated with measurably worse neurodevelopmental outcomes in their children.
The Study at a Glance
Researchers from multiple Canadian institutions, including Health Canada and the University of Toronto, conducted one of the most comprehensive studies yet on prenatal glyphosate exposure. Here’s what they did:
- Participants: 274 pregnant women from the Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) study.
- Measurement: Glyphosate levels were measured from urine samples taken during the first trimester.
- Assessment: Child neurodevelopment was evaluated between ages 3 and 4 using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development.
And the results?
Children born to mothers with higher levels of glyphosate in their system showed significantly lower scores in cognitive and language development compared to those with lower or undetectable levels.
Not Just a Statistical Blip
This isn’t just academic hand-wringing. The results remained consistent even after adjusting for a range of potential confounding factors—like socioeconomic status, maternal education, smoking, and other environmental exposures. In short, the glyphosate signal couldn’t be explained away.
This isn’t the first study to raise concerns, but it’s among the strongest to suggest a direct link between glyphosate and early brain development.
And it echoes findings from animal studies that have long shown glyphosate can interfere with brain chemistry, neurotransmitters, and oxidative stress pathways. Now we’re seeing signs of these effects in humans.
Glyphosate Is Not Just a Farm Issue
What makes this especially concerning is that glyphosate exposure isn’t limited to people who work in agriculture.
It’s been found in:
- Breakfast cereals
- Bread
- Oats
- Tap water
- Even breast milk
In New Zealand, glyphosate-based herbicides are sprayed not just on crops but on school grounds, parks, and roadsides. Our government is currently proposing to increase the allowable glyphosate residue on staple food crops like wheat, oats, barley, and peas.
That means more glyphosate in our daily food supply, just as research like this warns us to cut exposure—especially for pregnant people and young children.
What This Means for New Zealand
The Canadian study didn’t include New Zealanders—but it should serve as a very loud alarm bell here.
We don’t currently have any published local studies examining prenatal glyphosate exposure in Kiwi mothers. We don’t even have recent government testing data on how much glyphosate is in our food supply. And yet MPI wants to raise the limits?
We’d argue that’s backward.
Instead of raising thresholds, we should be doing the very thing this study calls for: better biomonitoring, more independent testing, and stricter protections for those most vulnerable.
That includes the unborn.
Final Thought: What Are We Willing to Risk for Weeds?
If you knew a chemical might be silently shaping your child’s future—wouldn’t you want to know how much you’re being exposed to?
This isn’t just about what’s on our crops—it’s about what’s happening in our bodies, and in the bodies of those too young to choose for themselves.
The precautionary principle exists for a reason. It’s time we applied it.
Coming Soon
We’ll be running a series of independent tests on common wheat and oat-based breads and cereals sold in New Zealand. Watch for the Test Series banner or join our mailing list to get updates.
Resources & References
If we wait for absolute proof, we may be waiting too long. These resources help us connect the dots before the damage becomes irreversible.
Associations of prenatal glyphosate exposure with child neurodevelopment in a Canadian pregnancy cohort study.
Hall M, Ashley-Martin J, Till C, et al. (2025).
The peer-reviewed study that sparked this article. A strong signal that glyphosate may be impairing cognitive and language development in children before they’re even born.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2025.109480
Maternal-Infant Research on Environmental Chemicals (MIREC) – Health Canada
The Canadian government’s flagship biomonitoring study tracking the impact of environmental chemicals on pregnant women and their children.
A one-of-a-kind study on environmental chemicals
Glyphosate residues in popular US foods – Environmental Working Group (EWG)
An independent nonprofit’s testing revealed widespread glyphosate contamination in breakfast cereals marketed to children. A sobering reminder of what happens when regulators lag behind science.
Glyphosate residues in popular US foods
MPI’s proposal to raise MRLs in New Zealand
The Ministry for Primary Industries’ official page outlining proposed increases in allowable glyphosate levels in our food supply.
MPI’s proposal to raise MRLs in New Zealand
Why Raising MRLs Threatens Public Health
Our in-depth look at why raising glyphosate residue limits is a step in the wrong direction, especially when local residue testing is outdated or absent.
Why Raising MRLs Threatens Public Health
Science is rarely black and white—but when the risk involves unborn children, precaution isn’t paranoia. It’s responsibility.
Image Source & Attribution
We’re grateful to the talented photographers and designers whose work enhances our content. The feature image on this page is by lopolo. You can find more of their work here: https://www.123rf.com/profile_lopolo.
