Most baby foods sold in the US high in sugar, low in protein; fail to meet nutrition standards

A new study has found that a staggering 60 percent of baby food sold in the United States doesn't meet WHO's nutritional standards, and could be affecting children's health.
The packaged baby food being sold in the United States including ready-to-eat foods may be promoting nutritional deficiencies in children and putting them at risk of obesity and a range of lifestyle disorders as they age.
Researchers from the George Institute for Global Health, a medical research center in Australia, examined 651 commercial infant food products bought from major US grocery chains between March and May 2023. They used the 2022 nutrient and promotion guidelines established by the WHO Regional Office for Europe as a benchmark for assessing these products.

Most of these products did not meet protein requirements (70 per cent) that are part of WHO guidelines and nearly half of them (44 per cent) exceeded the total sugar limit. In the study, the researchers found out that 1 in 4 products didn't match up to the calorie requirements while that 1 in 5 exceeded sodium levels. It has also been found that many of these food products have been promoted as 'brain-healthy' foods, which could leave parents confused or encourage them to give it without hesitation to their kids. Let's understand the impact of ultra-processed foods on children's health.

These are the foods that have more than one ingredient that you won't find in your kitchen. They have food additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colours and flavours, the ingredients that help enhance shelf life of a product.
High intake of ultra-processed foods like processed meats, sugary breakfast foods, and sugar may increase risk of early death, according to a study by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, published in The BMJ.
Childhood is a crucial period for inculcating good dietary habits and taste preferences in children. Mothers who consume an array of healthy foods throughout pregnancy and lactation—and subsequently feed their children these foods during the complementary feeding period—can promote healthful eating habits in their children and families, as per a study published in the journal Nutrients.

“Early childhood is a crucial period of rapid growth and when taste preferences and dietary habits form, potentially paving the way for the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some cancers later in life,” said Dr Elizabeth Dunford, Research Fellow at The George Institute, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Nutrition at the University of North Carolina.
Be mindful of offering your child jam, ketchup and all those convenient foods that come from squeezed pouches. “Half of all the sugar that young kids are consuming through these commercial foods come from squeezed pouches, so that’s certainly an area we have to be more careful about.”

Excessive sugar intake early in life could lead to hard-wiring for future dietary habits. If babies eat sugar-rich foods throughout their childhood, they may develop a preference for sweet tastes, which can later lead to a higher risk of obesity and other metabolic issues like type 2 Diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says on an average, sugar constituted 17 percent of a child’s diet, an amount that exceeds the recommended 10 percent.

Excessive intake of ultra processed foods in childhood can lead to obesity and other health issues later in life. It can also promote the habit of over-eating.

Eating ultra-processed foods and a diet high in sugar can make kids susceptible to diabetes later in life. It can also lead to blood sugar imbalance issues such as jitteriness, poor feeding, lethargy, and even seizures. This can even lead to intellectual and developmental disabilities later in life.

Eating such foods can lead to digestive distress and lead to health problems like diarrhea, bloating, and abdominal pain. This can lead to a disbalance of beneficial gut bacteria.

Many children may suffer from dental cavities and decay due to overeating processed and high-sugar foods. This can disrupt healthy bacteria and lead to acid production that may erode tooth enamel.

Sugar in these foods can cause a temporary spike in energy, followed by a crash which can impact their moods and behavior.