A disturbing new study has found that the vast majority of foods sold in the United States for infants and toddlers do not meet international nutritional standards.
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of New South Wales, Australia.
They looked at 651 infant and toddler foods for sale in the top eight American supermarket chains.
Around 60% of the food products studied did not meet nutritional guidelines, according to the new study.
70% did not meet protein guidelines.
44% had more sugar than is recommended.
While 25% did not meet calorie requirements.
The researchers singled out infant and toddler foods in squeezable pouches.
The punches are designed to allow infants to be fed without the use of a spoon.
However, only 7% of the pouch products tested met sugar recommendations.
In addition, the researchers warn that almost all of the products were deceptively labeled in some way.
99.4% of the products tested contained at least one false claim on their packaging.
Some products had as many as 11 false claims on the labeling.
The researchers conclude their study by noting:
“These findings highlight that urgent work is needed to improve the nutritional quality of commercially produced infant and toddler foods in the United States.
“The high use of prohibited claims also suggests the need to regulate the type and number of claims allowed on-pack.”
The news comes amid growing concerns about the safety of foods for infants.
A study from last year found alarming levels of microplastic in baby foods.
The researchers found that microwaveable baby food pouches release millions or even billions of microplastic particles into the food when heated.
Childhood exposure to microplastics and harmful plastic chemicals like BPA and phthalates, including via food, has become a subject of increasing concern in recent years.
Microplastics and plastic chemicals have been linked to a wide array of negative health conditions.
Studies have found that microplastics cause reproductive issues, infertility, chronic digestive dysfunction, obesity and diabetes, and neurobehavioural issues, including autism.
