Jarmageddon?
Sixty percent of infant and toddler foods sold within the US aren’t as nutritious as they may appear, in keeping with a recent study from the George Institute for Global Health.
The Australia-headquartered research group compared data on 651 industrial baby foods to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, finding that 70% failed to fulfill protein standards and 44% exceeded total sugar requirements.
“Time-poor parents are increasingly selecting convenience foods, unaware that a lot of these products lack key nutrients needed for his or her child’s development and tricked into believing they’re healthier than they are surely,” said Elizabeth Dunford, a George Institute research fellow and University of North Carolina adjunct assistant professor.
WHO doesn’t want baby foods to have added sugars, including concentrated fruit juice, and supports sodium limits. Products that tout a protein on the front of the package should contain a specific amount of that protein, be it fish, poultry or meat.
While popular, pouches were among the many unhealthiest products the George Institute assessed. Fruit-based pouches contain a variety of sugar, the researchers reported.
In addition they blasted baby food manufacturers for “misleading” marketing claims.
“For instance, snack and finger foods often referred to fruit or vegetables within the product name, despite primarily being fabricated from flour or other starches,” said Daisy Coyle, a George Institute research fellow and dietitian.
The researchers, whose findings were published Wednesday within the scientific journal Nutrients, are “urgently” calling for more US government regulation on infant and toddler foods. They noted our growing childhood obesity epidemic.
US lawmakers recently introduced the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which might empower the Food and Drug Administration to limit toxic heavy metals in industrial baby food.
The laws follows several reports of contaminants like lead and arsenic making their way into food products for babies and toddlers. The FDA recalled fruit puree pouches last 12 months after they were found to be tainted with lead, sickening dozens of youngsters.
Jarmageddon?
Sixty percent of infant and toddler foods sold within the US aren’t as nutritious as they may appear, in keeping with a recent study from the George Institute for Global Health.
The Australia-headquartered research group compared data on 651 industrial baby foods to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, finding that 70% failed to fulfill protein standards and 44% exceeded total sugar requirements.
“Time-poor parents are increasingly selecting convenience foods, unaware that a lot of these products lack key nutrients needed for his or her child’s development and tricked into believing they’re healthier than they are surely,” said Elizabeth Dunford, a George Institute research fellow and University of North Carolina adjunct assistant professor.
WHO doesn’t want baby foods to have added sugars, including concentrated fruit juice, and supports sodium limits. Products that tout a protein on the front of the package should contain a specific amount of that protein, be it fish, poultry or meat.
While popular, pouches were among the many unhealthiest products the George Institute assessed. Fruit-based pouches contain a variety of sugar, the researchers reported.
In addition they blasted baby food manufacturers for “misleading” marketing claims.
“For instance, snack and finger foods often referred to fruit or vegetables within the product name, despite primarily being fabricated from flour or other starches,” said Daisy Coyle, a George Institute research fellow and dietitian.
The researchers, whose findings were published Wednesday within the scientific journal Nutrients, are “urgently” calling for more US government regulation on infant and toddler foods. They noted our growing childhood obesity epidemic.
US lawmakers recently introduced the Baby Food Safety Act of 2024, which might empower the Food and Drug Administration to limit toxic heavy metals in industrial baby food.
The laws follows several reports of contaminants like lead and arsenic making their way into food products for babies and toddlers. The FDA recalled fruit puree pouches last 12 months after they were found to be tainted with lead, sickening dozens of youngsters.
