Most Baby Food Sold in U.S. Grocery Stores Is Unhealthy, Study Finds

According to a new study published today in the journal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 60 percent of foods marketed to infants and young children do not meet nutritional recommendations and none meet promotional requirements set by World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Nutrients.

In the absence of specific U.S. nutritional or promotional guidelines for these foods, researchers at the George Institute for Global Health evaluated data on 651 infant and toddler food products sold in the top ten U.S. grocery chains held in the institute’s FoodSwitch database against this international benchmark.

Of all products, 70% did not meet protein requirements and 44% exceeded total sugar requirements. One in four products did not meet calorie requirements and one in five exceeded recommended sodium limits.

Dr. Elizabeth Dunford, a researcher at the George Institute and assistant professor in the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, said the growing popularity of ready-made, processed foods for infants and young children was concerning.

“Early childhood is a crucial period of rapid growth and formation of taste preferences and eating habits, potentially setting the stage for the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some cancers later in life,” she said.

“Time-poor parents are increasingly choosing ready-to-eat foods, not realizing that many of these products lack the essential nutrients needed for their child’s development and are being led to believe they are healthier than they actually are.”

Researchers found that baby food pouches are the fastest growing product in the sector, with a 900% increase in the share of sales coming from pouches over the last 13 years. Worryingly, pouches were among the most unhealthy products assessed, with less than 7% meeting total sugar recommendations.

The study also revealed the extent of misleading marketing practices, with almost all (99.4%) products displaying at least one prohibited claim on their packaging. On average, products displayed four prohibited claims, with some displaying as many as 11. The most common claims were “non-genetically modified (GMO)” (70%), “organic” (59%), “BPA-free” (37%) and “no artificial colours or flavours” (25%).

Dr Daisy Coyle, a researcher and dietitian at the George Institute, said these kinds of claims create a “health halo” around these products, saying: “The lack of regulation in this area leaves the door wide open for the food industry to mislead busy parents. We’ve seen this not only in the use of misleading claims, but also in the use of misleading names, where the product name doesn’t reflect the main ingredients listed on the ingredients list. For example, snacks and finger foods often refer to fruit or vegetables in the product name, even though they are primarily made from flour or other starchy foods.”

In the United States, obesity among children ages two to five has more than doubled since the 1970s. About 13% of preschoolers are obese. The situation has only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“While reducing childhood obesity was a priority under the Obama administration, the issue appears to have fallen by the wayside in recent years,” added Dr. Dunford. “Our findings underscore the urgent need for better regulation and direction of the infant and toddler food market in the United States: the health of future generations depends on it.”