Study Shows 60% of 'Baby and Toddler Foods' in the U.S. Do Not Meet Nutritional Standards

New York – A study conducted by the George Institute for Global Health, a medical research center in Australia, reveals that around 60% of baby and toddler food products sold in the U.S. do not meet the nutritional standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The research team analyzed 651 baby food products purchased from major grocery store chains in the U.S. between March and May 2023. They assessed these products based on nutritional and advertising standards established by WHO's European Regional Office in 2022.

The study, published last week in the journal Nutrients, found that about 70% of the products lacked sufficient protein according to WHO’s nutritional standards, 44% contained excessive total sugars, one-fourth of the products did not meet calorie requirements, and one in five had sodium levels exceeding the recommended limits.

On Wednesday (August 28), The Washington Post reported on the study's findings, highlighting growing concerns about the increasing prevalence of undernutrition and highly processed foods among the U.S. child population.

Elizabeth Dunford, an expert from the Nutrition Department at the University of North Carolina, stated that people are not born with food preferences but develop them based on their environment and experiences. As children grow, their food choices are heavily influenced by what they have previously eaten. However, many children’s food products sold in the U.S. are high in sugar, fat, preservatives, and lack essential nutrients.

Source: Xinhua Thai