Pediatricians say that pureed food in pouches doesn't help babies learn to chew or experience different textures. Getty Images
A new study has revealed that many baby foods available in U.S. supermarkets are far from healthy. Researchers found that over half of the baby foods examined do not meet World Health Organization (WHO) nutritional guidelines. The study, published in the journal Nutrients, analyzed 651 products aimed at children aged six months to three years from ten supermarkets across the country.
The findings are troubling, showing that 60 percent of these foods are not up to standard in terms of essential nutrients. Almost none of the products met all of the WHO's criteria for accurate labelling and health claims. For instance, 70 percent of the products failed to provide adequate protein, and 25 percent did not meet the required calorie content. Additionally, 20 percent of the foods had salt levels exceeding WHO recommendations and 25 percent contained added sweeteners, with 44 percent having too much sugar.
Dr. Elizabeth Dunford, a senior author of the study and adjunct assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, highlighted the issue with baby food pouches. These pouches have seen a massive rise in sales, increasing by 900 percent over the past 13 years. “Research shows 50 percent of the sugar consumed from infant foods comes from pouches, and we found those were some of the worst offenders,” said Dunford.
Dr. Mark Corkins, a pediatric gastroenterologist, expressed concern over the widespread use of these pouches. “Children need to learn to chew, and they should be eating regular fruits, not pureed, sweetened things in a pouch,” he said. Corkins also noted that these pouches often contain sweeter blends than real fruit, which may lead children to develop a preference for overly sweet foods. He stressed the importance of exposing children to a variety of textures during their early years to prevent developing aversions of different food types.
The study examined products from 2023 and found that the majority of items carried misleading marketing claims. Nearly all products had at least one health claim that did not align with WHO recommendations. Claims such as “non-genetically modified,” “organic,” and “no artificial colours or flavours” were common, but these labels do not necessarily reflect the nutritional quality of the product. According to Dr. Dunford, this practice can mislead parents into believing that a product is healthier than it actually is.
Dr. Daisy Coyle, another co-author of the study, pointed out that many products are marketed as containing fruits or vegetables but are largely made of flour or other starches. This lack of regulation allows manufacturers to highlight selective aspects of their products while downplaying less favourable attributes.
Overall, the study underscores the need for better regulation and transparency in the baby food industry to ensure that products meet. nutritional standards and provide accurate information to consumers.
