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Although many commercial foods made for infants tend to have little sugar and sodium added, a large number of dinners, snacks, and desserts sold in the United States that are designed for toddlers contain added sugar and salt, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
In fact, 72% of toddler dinners examined contained added sodium – with an average of 2,295 mg of sodium per 1,000 kcal – and 32% percent of toddler dinners contained added sugar, wrote Mary E. Cogswell, DrPH, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and her associates. The majority of dairy-based desserts (70%) and fruit juices (88%) intended for both infant and toddler consumption also contained added sugar.
For infant diets, nearly all of the vegetables, dinners, fruits, dry cereals, and ready-to-serve mixed grains and fruits examined by the researchers were low in sodium content and did not contain added sugars. But 52% of ready-to-serve mixed grains and fruits contained too much added sugar, and 44% of those took more than one-third of their total calories from sugar.
Dr. Cogswell and her associates used a nutrition database to identify 1,074 food products sold in the United States and marketed to infants, toddlers, or both. They evaluated the products for sugar content and sodium content based on package information. Nutritional content was assessed based on amount per 100 g (concentration), amount per serving, and total amount in relation to calories.
Approximately 79% of U.S. children aged 1-3 years exceed the upper level of 1,500 mg/day of sodium recommended by the Institute of Medicine, the researchers noted (Pediatrics 2014 [doi:10.1542/peds.2014-3251]).
“Key advice for parents includes limiting juice and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor snacks; if purchasing commercial toddler foods, the labels should be checked for sodium and added sugar,” the authors wrote.
The study was supported by the CDC. The authors reported no relevant financial disclosures.
“This report is important for several reasons. It points out the variability of added sugars and salt in toddler foods and the possibility that with guidance parents might make better choices. It provides information that pediatricians can use to guide parents and policymakers can use to set standards for commercial foods intended for children. Alternatively, of course, pediatricians could encourage families to provide home-prepared foods that have no additions and set the stage for lifelong healthy eating.”
Dr. Susan S. Baker and Dr. Robert D. Baker are professors and cochairs of the Digestive Diseases and Nutrition Center at the University of Buffalo, N.Y. Their remarks were taken from an accompanying editorial (Pediatrics 2015 [doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-4028]) The authors said they have no relevant financial disclosures.
“This report is important for several reasons. It points out the variability of added sugars and salt in toddler foods and the possibility that with guidance parents might make better choices. It provides information that pediatricians can use to guide parents and policymakers can use to set standards for commercial foods intended for children. Alternatively, of course, pediatricians could encourage families to provide home-prepared foods that have no additions and set the stage for lifelong healthy eating.”
Dr. Susan S. Baker and Dr. Robert D. Baker are professors and cochairs of the Digestive Diseases and Nutrition Center at the University of Buffalo, N.Y. Their remarks were taken from an accompanying editorial (Pediatrics 2015 [doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-4028]) The authors said they have no relevant financial disclosures.
“This report is important for several reasons. It points out the variability of added sugars and salt in toddler foods and the possibility that with guidance parents might make better choices. It provides information that pediatricians can use to guide parents and policymakers can use to set standards for commercial foods intended for children. Alternatively, of course, pediatricians could encourage families to provide home-prepared foods that have no additions and set the stage for lifelong healthy eating.”
Dr. Susan S. Baker and Dr. Robert D. Baker are professors and cochairs of the Digestive Diseases and Nutrition Center at the University of Buffalo, N.Y. Their remarks were taken from an accompanying editorial (Pediatrics 2015 [doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-4028]) The authors said they have no relevant financial disclosures.
Although many commercial foods made for infants tend to have little sugar and sodium added, a large number of dinners, snacks, and desserts sold in the United States that are designed for toddlers contain added sugar and salt, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
In fact, 72% of toddler dinners examined contained added sodium – with an average of 2,295 mg of sodium per 1,000 kcal – and 32% percent of toddler dinners contained added sugar, wrote Mary E. Cogswell, DrPH, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and her associates. The majority of dairy-based desserts (70%) and fruit juices (88%) intended for both infant and toddler consumption also contained added sugar.
For infant diets, nearly all of the vegetables, dinners, fruits, dry cereals, and ready-to-serve mixed grains and fruits examined by the researchers were low in sodium content and did not contain added sugars. But 52% of ready-to-serve mixed grains and fruits contained too much added sugar, and 44% of those took more than one-third of their total calories from sugar.
Dr. Cogswell and her associates used a nutrition database to identify 1,074 food products sold in the United States and marketed to infants, toddlers, or both. They evaluated the products for sugar content and sodium content based on package information. Nutritional content was assessed based on amount per 100 g (concentration), amount per serving, and total amount in relation to calories.
Approximately 79% of U.S. children aged 1-3 years exceed the upper level of 1,500 mg/day of sodium recommended by the Institute of Medicine, the researchers noted (Pediatrics 2014 [doi:10.1542/peds.2014-3251]).
“Key advice for parents includes limiting juice and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor snacks; if purchasing commercial toddler foods, the labels should be checked for sodium and added sugar,” the authors wrote.
The study was supported by the CDC. The authors reported no relevant financial disclosures.
Although many commercial foods made for infants tend to have little sugar and sodium added, a large number of dinners, snacks, and desserts sold in the United States that are designed for toddlers contain added sugar and salt, according to a study published in Pediatrics.
In fact, 72% of toddler dinners examined contained added sodium – with an average of 2,295 mg of sodium per 1,000 kcal – and 32% percent of toddler dinners contained added sugar, wrote Mary E. Cogswell, DrPH, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, and her associates. The majority of dairy-based desserts (70%) and fruit juices (88%) intended for both infant and toddler consumption also contained added sugar.
For infant diets, nearly all of the vegetables, dinners, fruits, dry cereals, and ready-to-serve mixed grains and fruits examined by the researchers were low in sodium content and did not contain added sugars. But 52% of ready-to-serve mixed grains and fruits contained too much added sugar, and 44% of those took more than one-third of their total calories from sugar.
Dr. Cogswell and her associates used a nutrition database to identify 1,074 food products sold in the United States and marketed to infants, toddlers, or both. They evaluated the products for sugar content and sodium content based on package information. Nutritional content was assessed based on amount per 100 g (concentration), amount per serving, and total amount in relation to calories.
Approximately 79% of U.S. children aged 1-3 years exceed the upper level of 1,500 mg/day of sodium recommended by the Institute of Medicine, the researchers noted (Pediatrics 2014 [doi:10.1542/peds.2014-3251]).
“Key advice for parents includes limiting juice and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages and energy-dense, nutrient-poor snacks; if purchasing commercial toddler foods, the labels should be checked for sodium and added sugar,” the authors wrote.
The study was supported by the CDC. The authors reported no relevant financial disclosures.
FROM PEDIATRICS
Key clinical point: Many prepackaged foods meant for children over 1 year old were either high in sodium content or contained added sugar.
Major finding: 72% of toddler commercial dinners contain added sodium, and 32% percent of toddler dinners contained added sugar.
Data source: Food labels of 1,074 separate food products identified by the Gladson commercial nutrition database, and Food and Drug Administration guidelines.
Disclosures: The study was supported by the CDC. The authors reported no relevant financial disclosures.
