Packaged toddler foods often high in sugar, salt

By Kathryn Doyle Reuters Health - In the U.S., commercial foods for toddlers often have high amounts of sodium or added sugars, a new study shows. For younger babies, most commercial foods were low in sodium and the majority of infant meals, vegetables, fruits, and dry infant cereals did not contain added sugars, which is good news, said lead researcher Mary E. Cogswell of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. “It was surprising that more than seven of 10 packaged toddler meals contained too much sodium,” Cogswell told Reuters Health by email. Also, she said, “a substantial proportion of toddler foods and infant and toddler snacks, even those we don’t think of as sweet – like toddler meals and salty snacks – contained at least one added sugar.” “A healthy diet for the entire family, one that is limited in added salt and sugar and rich in fruits and vegetables, can help set taste preferences of the youngest family members eating from the table and ultimately prevent chronic diseases related to poor food choices,” Cogswell said.



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