Toddlers in the UK obtain nearly half (47%) of their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and this rises to 59% by the age of seven, according to a new study led by UCL researchers. The study, published in the European Journal of Nutrition , looked at data from 2,591 children born in the UK in 2007 and 2008 whose parents recorded what their children ate and drank over three days. The most common UPFs consumed by the toddlers – who were 21 months when their parents recorded their diets – were flavoured yoghurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals, products typically seen as healthy.
By the age of seven, the most common UPFs were sweet cereals, white bread and puddings. Lead author Dr Rana Conway, of the UCL Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, said: "Ultra-processed foods are not all bad for our health and the foods typically eaten by the toddlers in our study are ones that are seen as quite healthy. However, some wholegrain cereals and flavoured yoghurts have high levels of added sugar and salt and our study found that toddlers who consumed more ultra-processed foods also had a higher intake of these ingredients.
" Dr. Rana Conway, Institute of Epidemiology & Health Care, University College London "This is concerning, especially as toddlers in general consume more added sugar and salt than is recommended. "Aside from sugar and salt, a diet that includes a lot of ultra-processed food is less likely to get children used to the natural flavours of whole foods and ther.