Majority of baby foods in US grocery stores may not meet health guidelines, study finds

A caller survey of communal babe foods sampled from market stores successful the United States recovered that astir two-thirds did not conscionable standards for steadfast babe nutrient acceptable by the World Health Organization.

Researchers who led the study, published Wednesday successful the diary Nutrients, said parents should beryllium alert that though much convenient, packaged babe nutrient should beryllium eaten successful moderation.

When imaginable financially and practically, kids' diets should dwell of full foods, including grains, fruits and vegetables.

For the study, researchers looked astatine information connected much than 600 babe and toddler nutrient products sold successful the apical 10 market store chains successful the U.S.

The products analyzed are intended for children ages 6 to 36 months, according to the study.

Of the much than 600 products, 70% did not conscionable macromolecule requirements acceptable by the WHO, and 25% failed to conscionable calorie recommendations.

When it came to sweetener content, 44% of products exceeded sweetener requirements and 74% contained added sweetener oregon sweeteners, according to the study.

In addition, the survey recovered that each of the products had astatine slightest 1 assertion connected their packaging that did not conscionable WHO standards.

Products that came successful snack-size packaging were recovered by researchers to person the lowest nutritional compliance.

"These findings item that urgent enactment is needed to amended the nutritional prime of commercially produced babe and toddler foods successful the United States," the researchers wrote.

Emphasis connected fresh, full foods for kids

The U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends that caregivers commencement to present coagulated foods to infants astir 6 months of age.

Infants and toddlers should person nary added sugars successful their diets, including successful drinks, according to the USDA.

As with adults, it's important that kids devour a assortment of foods, with an accent connected foods that are non-processed.

For grains, the USDA recommends that parents and caregivers look intimately astatine constituent lists for words similar "whole wheat flour" and "whole grain."

Vegetables are important to alteration and tin beryllium served to toddlers and infants successful a assortment of ways, including roasted, steamed oregon mashed, according to the USDA.

Fruits tin beryllium served to infants and toddlers fresh, frozen oregon canned, but should besides see nary added sugar, according to the USDA.

USDA guidelines besides accidental foods precocious successful sodium should beryllium constricted for infants and toddlers.