Whether it’s high sodium, too much sugar or misleading labels, nearly 60 per cent of infant and toddler foods sold in the United States aren’t as nutritious as they appear, according to a new study. Published on Aug. 21 in Nutrients , the research found that most of these products fail to meet the nutritional guidelines and recommendations set by the World Health Organization (WHO) .
Of the 651 products analyzed, 70 per cent did not meet protein requirements, while 44 per cent exceeded the recommended sugar levels. One in four products also fell short of calorie requirements and one in five exceeded the recommended sodium limits, the study said. The names and brands of the foods were not disclosed in the study, but senior author, Elizabeth Dunford, an assistant professor in the Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina, told Global News that some of the products they looked at were sold in Canadian grocery stories, too.
“You do have some of the same brands. I am assuming Canada is more closely linked to the U.S.
than any other country with labelling,” she said. Labelling and nutrition are vital, Dunford argued, because early childhood is a crucial period of rapid growth when taste preferences and dietary habits are established. These early choices can pave the way for chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and even some cancers later in life, she said.
“Time-poor parents are increasingly choosing convenience foods, unaware that many of these prod.