Nearly two-thirds of baby food sold in US supermarkets has been found to contain unhealthy ingredients, according to a new study.
About 60% of 651 baby food products sold to infants aged 6 months to 36 months in 10 retail outlets across the country failed to meet nutritional and advertising guidelines, a study by the World Health Organization (WHO) found.
The troubling findings were published in the journal Nutrients on Wednesday, August 21. The study found that 44% of products exceeded the recommended amount of sugar and 20% exceeded the sodium guidelines. In addition, 70% of baby food also did not meet protein recommendations.
Eight stores located in Raleigh, NC, were surveyed between March and May 2023, according to Forbes. These include Target, Kroger, Costco, Ahold Delhaize, Publix, Sam’s Club, Target and Aldi. Data from the other two stores, HEB and Safeway, were collected online.
Brand names of the investigated baby food products were not shared in the study.
Baby food in a jar.
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According to WHO’s nutritional standards for infants, flavored or sweetened beverages cannot be advertised as baby food. The guidelines also include a ban on added free sugars and concentrated fruit juice, sugar not exceeding 15% of total calories, and limiting calories in general for baby food, Forbes reports.
dr. Elizabeth Dunford, an assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, told CNN, “Research shows that 50% of the sugar consumed from infant foods comes from bags…those were some of the worst offenders.”
Promotional guidelines state that minimum and maximum age limits must be indicated on baby food products and that there is no false marketing of ingredients.
False marketing was another serious problem highlighted in the study as 99% of baby food was found to have “misleading” marketing.
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Each product was found to have at least four prohibited claims with the most common terms used being “organic” in 59%, “no artificial colors/flavors” in 25% and “non-genetically modified” in 70%, according to Forbes.
Product names have also been misleading, with snack foods and snacks commonly labeled as fruit or vegetable “despite being primarily made from flour or other starch,” said Dr. Daisy Coyle, a researcher and dietitian at the George Institute, according to Forbes.
“The lack of regulation in this area leaves the door wide open for the food industry to defraud working parents,” Coyle added in a statement to CNN.
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dr. Mark Corkins, St. Jude Endowed Chair in Pediatric Gastroenterology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Tennessee, told the outlet, “One of the biggest concerns about baby and toddler foods is the often fabricated health claims on the front of the product. Some of these are obvious, some are implied and can be misleading to parents and guardians.”
“A concerned, well-intentioned parent will read the claims that they are healthy and nutritious and not only will they buy those products, but they will spend more money on them because of the claims,” he added.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education