Most baby food sold in U.S. grocery stores is ultra-processed, a new study finds, raising fresh concerns about what many infants and toddlers are eating during a critical window of development.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0peer-reviewed study<\/a>, published in the journal\u00a0Nutrients<\/a>, found that 71% of baby food products sold in grocery stores are classified as\u00a0ultra-processed foods<\/a>, or UPF.<\/p>\n Researchers analyzed 651 infant and toddler food products available in the top 10 U.S. grocery retailers, using data from the Australia-based George Institute for Global Health\u2019s\u00a0FoodSwitch<\/a> database.\u00a0<\/p>\n The study used the\u00a0NOVA classification system<\/a>, the most common method used to identify UPF.<\/p>\n UPF are typically made in industrial settings and contain one or more artificial colors or flavors, non-sugar sweeteners, or additives like emulsifiers and thickeners. Food companies use these ingredients, often in combination with large amounts of fat, sugar or salt, to create UPF.<\/p>\n Additives dominate the baby food aisle<\/p>\n A top finding of the study is the widespread use of additives in foods marketed for consumption by babies and toddlers. Nearly three-quarters of all baby food products in the study contained additives, making them the most common ingredient category.<\/p>\n Researchers identified more than 105 unique additives, including flavor enhancers, thickeners, emulsifiers and colors. Flavor enhancers appeared in more than one-third of all products, while thickeners and emulsifiers were also common. Nearly one in five products contained added colors.<\/p>\n A growing body of scientific evidence links certain food additives to potential health concerns, including negative effects on gut function and\u00a0behavioral difficulties in sensitive children<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Other additives have been studied very little due to a regulatory loophole that allows companies to add new chemicals to foods without any Food and Drug Administration safety review. Nearly\u00a099% of new food chemicals<\/a> enter the market this way.\u00a0<\/p>\n More sugar, salt and calories<\/p>\n The study also found clear nutritional differences between ultra-processed baby foods and their less-processed counterparts.<\/p>\n On average, ultra-processed baby foods contained nearly twice as much sugar as products that were not ultra-processed. Added sugars were found exclusively in UPF. The disparity was especially pronounced in snack and finger foods, where ultra-processed products contained two and a half times more sugar per serving than similar non-ultra-processed options.<\/p>\n Sodium levels were also higher in ultra-processed baby foods, containing far more sodium per 100 grams than less processed products.\u00a0<\/p>\n High intake of sugary, calorie-dense foods early in life\u00a0has been linked<\/a> to heart and metabolic conditions in children. Early childhood is a particularly sensitive period, since food exposures during those years may\u00a0shape taste preferences<\/a> and eating habits that persist for years.<\/p>\n States stepping up<\/p>\n The findings raise questions about whether current regulations adequately protect infants and toddlers and give parents enough information.\u00a0<\/p>\n There are no federal labeling requirements for UPF. In the absence of robust federal regulation, states have started taking action. Last year, California signed a\u00a0historic new law<\/a> to legally define UPF and phase out the most harmful from public school meals. Lawmakers in\u00a0dozens of other states<\/a> have introduced or passed bills targeting harmful chemicals in the food supply.\u00a0<\/p>\n Without stronger federal oversight and clearer labeling requirements for baby foods, parents are largely left to navigate the marketplace on their own.<\/p>\n Finding less processed food for kids<\/p>\n It\u2019s often possible to find less-processed alternatives to common foods. Instead of yogurt with added flavors, artificial colors or zero-calorie sweeteners, you might look for a yogurt with just a few ingredients: cultured milk and fruit.<\/p>\n One way to identify these products is by reading\u00a0ingredient lists<\/a> and nutrition facts to look for more whole foods and fewer chemicals.\u00a0For now<\/a>, this information is usually found on the back of food packages.\u00a0<\/p>\n You may also need to look beyond marketing claims on the front of packages, which can include phrases, colors or pictures intended to appeal to kids.<\/p>\n