A new study published in the peer-reviewed journal finds that the baby food aisle in American supermarkets is full of non-nutritious foods. The study looked at nutritional and advertising guidelines from the World Health Organization. However, Lauren Dunaway, a registered dietitian and professor at Tulane University, says that in the United States, we have our own guidelines separate from the WHO.
“They’re called the Dietary Guidelines, and they’re a joint project between the USDA and the Department of Health and Human Services,” Dunaway said. That is why she has questions about the study, which suggests that 60% of foods marketed to children 6 to 36 months old have too much sugar and salt — as well as make misleading marketing claims. “How are they defining healthy, and how are they defining the misleading claims?” Dunaway asked.
Regan Bailey, a parent and professor of nutrition at Texas A&M, says the best thing to do when shopping for baby and infant food is to try to avoid products with a lot of added sugar and higher amounts of sodium. “You want to limit sodium as much as possible, so not adding it and looking for products with lower sodium amounts,” Bailey said. Despite some skepticism, Bailey believes foods that come in pouches are fine to feed children as long as they have good ingredients.
“They are a safe and nutritious way to help children meet dietary recommendations,” Bailey said. Bailey also says that beginning at about 12 months, table food.