Today the United States faces an unprecedented decline in fertility rates. The CDC just reported that birth rates are at historic lows.[1] The total fertility rate—the number of children that American women average over their lifetime—is now at a meager 1.62, well below the 2.1 needed for replacement.[2]
The public wants to know why.
Researchers who have carefully studied the problem have uncovered a surprising factor: the chemicals found in our everyday foods. These chemicals are “endocrine disruptors,” and a growing body of research links them to reproductive health problems.
From hormone imbalances to reduced sperm quality, these hidden threats may play a significant role in the declining birth rates and fertility issues that Americans are grappling with today.
Endocrine Disruptors
Endocrine disruptors are chemicals used in everyday food products. Unseen by the consumer, they mess with our body’s most delicate systems. They mimic or block our natural hormones, throwing off the balance and communication that is vital for ovulation, as well as sperm and egg quality. The result is infertility.
The facts are in, and they are not pleasant. As the “American Standard Diet” has become increasingly synthetic, fertility in the United States has plummeted.
One study shows that men today have 60% less sperm than their grandfathers’ generation did.[3] The results indicate that if this decline is not reversed, the sperm count in American men will fall to zero by 2045.
Moreover, men aren’t the only ones affected by these hidden chemicals. Diagnoses of hormone imbalances and infertility issues in women have spiked as well. Conditions such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and Endometriosis are on the rise, and both are thought to be caused by endocrine disruptors in our food. Women have also seen a spike in inflamed ovaries, poor egg quality, and higher miscarriage rates. These conditions may all trace back to some of the most common endocrine disruptors found in food: pesticides, preservatives, phthalates, and PFAS.
Pesticides and Preservatives
Pesticides and preservatives are two types of chemicals most people are familiar with. Pesticides are commonly sprayed on crops to ward off insects, fungi, and diseases, but their effects don’t end there—they often remain on the produce that reaches grocery store shelves and eventually makes its way to our plates. Pesticides have been shown to contain endocrine disruptors that alter male reproductive systems. While the impact on women’s fertility and the development of children is still being studied, the connection is clearly significant.
The record suggests that we should avoid pesticide contamination by opting for organic fruits and vegetables, especially familiar and popular foods like strawberries, spinach, kale, grapes, and peaches.[4]
Like pesticides, preservatives are added to virtually every food sold to the public. They are designed to extend shelf life, and to prevent spoilage and mold. While all artificial preservatives can be harmful to your health, some have been found to have a direct impact on fertility. One preservative to watch out for is propylparaben, commonly found in products like pastries and tortillas. Checking labels for this ingredient can be a crucial step in protecting your reproductive health.
Phthalates
Phthalates are harmful endocrine disruptors that are widely used in plastic packaging and other everyday products. These chemicals have a long history of reproductive toxicity – they have been proven to interfere with the production, regulation, and binding of hormones within the body.
The human reproductive system is particularly sensitive to these compounds, which means that they can contribute to serious long-term fertility issues. Phthalates are typically found in plastics, fragrance, and personal care products, but toxic amounts have been found in food itself. A recent study found alarming amounts of phthalates in an assortment of food such as Yoplait low-fat yogurt, Wendy’s crispy chicken nuggets, and even Del Monte sliced peaches.[5] It is difficult to say with confidence what foods have phthalates and don’t because they have been shown to get into food through conveyor belts, gloves, and food storage containers. If you are looking to avoid these you can make small, everyday differences such as removing frozen vegetables from their plastic bag before steaming them in the microwave, opting for a metal water bottle, and replacing plastic kitchen tools with metal or wooden ones.
PFAS
Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), often referred to as “forever chemicals,” are commonly found in fast-food packaging, non-stick cookware, and water-resistant clothing. PFAS are in the waxy coating of cardboard food containers such as soda cups, wrappers, and to-go boxes. These chemicals do not easily break down in the environment and have been linked to a variety of health issues, including cancers, liver disease, thyroid dysfunction, but most importantly, reduced fertility. The widespread presence of PFAS in the environment means that many Americans are exposed to these harmful substances on a daily basis, further exacerbating the fertility crisis. BPA is an endocrine disrupting PFAS that is easy to check the label and opt for BPA free water bottles, food storage containers, and plastic kitchen tools.
The declining fertility rates in the U.S. signal an urgent need for action, and there is hope on the horizon with the appointment of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., joining Trump’s cabinet as Secretary of Health and Human Services. For years Kennedy has warned about the dangers of chemicals in our food and their harmful effects on our youth. He has said, “The assault on our children’s cells and hormones is unrelenting,”[6] pointing to the alarming fact that children are now going through puberty six years earlier than previous generations. If these chemicals can induce early puberty, there’s no doubt they will have further, long-term effects on the fertility of today’s children, worsening the fertility crisis we are already facing.
Raising awareness about the impact of chemicals in our food on reproductive health is more crucial than ever., “Because America needs more babies,” says PRI President Steven Mosher, “it also needs to remove the endocrine-disrupting toxins from our food and water that cause the epidemic of infertility that Americans are experiencing. Solve that problem—and RFK Jr. will—and couples won’t need IVF to bear children.”
On an individual level, people can take steps to protect their health by choosing organic, minimally processed foods and avoiding products known to contain harmful chemicals. On a larger scale, stricter regulations and more comprehensive research into the effects of these chemicals on human health are necessary. As Hippocrates famously said, “All disease begins in the gut.” Protecting the health of our gut, and by extension our hormones and reproductive systems, may be a key factor to reversing these troubling fertility trends.
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For More Information:
“Food Additives State of the Science | Environmental Working Group.” Www.ewg.org, 16 Sept. 2020, www.ewg.org/research/food-additive-science.
Gross, Liza. “This Chemical Can Impair Fertility, but It’s Hard to Avoid.” The New York Times, 25 Aug. 2020, www.nytimes.com/2020/08/25/parenting/fertility-pregnancy-phthalates-toxic-chemicals.html.
Leslie Eastman. “After RFK Jr. Attacks Ultra Processed Foods, Time Magazine Publishes a Defense.” Legal Insurrection |, 29 Aug. 2024, legalinsurrection.com/2024/08/after-rfk-jr-attacks-ultra-processed-foods-time-magazine-publishes-a-defense/. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
Myers, Iris. “EWG’s Dirty Dozen Guide to Food Chemicals: The Top 12 to Avoid | Environmental Working Group.” Www.ewg.org, 11 July 2022, www.ewg.org/consumer-guides/ewgs-dirty-dozen-guide-food-chemicals-top-12-avoid.
“Propyl Paraben | Environmental Working Group.” Www.ewg.org, 8 Apr. 2015, www.ewg.org/research/propyl-paraben.
“What Are Phthalates? | Environmental Working Group.” Www.ewg.org, 20 July 2023, www.ewg.org/news-insights/news/2023/07/what-are-phthalates.
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- CDC. “U.S. Fertility Rate Drops to Another Historic Low.” Www.cdc.gov, 24 Apr. 2024, www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240525.htm.
- Ibid.
- Hyman, Mark. “Fertility in Crisis: Exploring the Toxic Threats to Fertility and the Rise in Infertility.” Mark Hyman, MD, Mark Hyman, MD, 26 Apr. 2024, drhyman.com/blogs/content/podcast-ep888. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
- “EWG’s 2024 Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in ProduceTM: The Dirty DozenTM Is Packed with Fungicides That Can Disrupt Human Hormones.” Environmental Working Group, 20 Mar. 2024, www.ewg.org/news-insights/news-release/2024/03/ewgs-2024-shoppers-guide-pesticides-producetm-dirty-dozentm. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
- Friedman, Lauren. “The Plastic Chemicals Hiding in Your Food.” Consumer Reports, 4 Jan. 2024, www.consumerreports.org/health/food-contaminants/the-plastic-chemicals-hiding-in-your-food-a7358224781/
- Kennedy, Robert F. “Listening to Toxic Chemicals in Food Packaging and Makeup with Rob Bilott | Everand.” Everand, 2022, www.everand.com/listen/podcast/588450329. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024.
