The Poison Apple Education Project was started in response to the growing concern that a developing child’s exposure to Pesticides/herbicides in the womb could be a part of the rise in some of the neurological disorders we are experiencing in our children (see Information page). Currently, the rates of autism in children have increased from 1 in 150 in 2000 to 1 in 36 as of 2023.

We decided to pass along this new concern in the form of a nutritional brochure for new mothers, WHAT TO EAT FOR A DEVELOPING CHILD (please see brochure tab to print your own). The healthy nutritional information provided by registered dietician Christi Salem M.S., R.D., is partnered with our non-profit message to new mothers about eating organic. Organic food is an increased cost, but we believe that the health benefits to a developing baby in the womb are important. Outside of the new focus of pesticides on neurological/autism disorders, pesticide exposure to a developing child has been proven to cause ADD/ADHD, a lower IQ and cancer risks.

The use of pesticides in US agriculture started in the 1930’s and became widespread in the 1940’s when chemical warfare was produced alongside industrial agriculture around the time of WWII, and later Vietnam. Unfortunately, due to the result of the Toxic Substance Control Act of 1976 that states, “Chemicals are safe until proven dangerous,” this transition of chemicals into our food supply has not been proven safe – it’s only “not” been proven unsafe. There have been revisions added to the TSC in 2016, which provided more EPA control over industrial agricultural pesticides and herbicides, but they are far behind in their assessment of their use and impact.

There is hope that the new direction of research into environmental factors, such as pesticides and herbicides, as a possible cause of neurological disorders will one day show the full effects these chemicals are having on our children.

Like the story of Snow White eating the beautiful apple that she didn’t know was dangerously laced with poison; we are eating food that has been manufactured to be pretty but might be just as dangerous as the “poison apple.”

Please spread the word to anyone you know who is pregnant, or planning to be, that eating organic could reduce serious health risks for a developing child.