Prepackaged Toddler Meals High in Salt and Sugar
Prepackaged toddler meals are high in salt and sugar, according to a new study. Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied over a 1,000 prepared foods for toddlers and infants that are available in the market and included meals, snacks, fruits, vegetables, cereals, juices and desserts.
Researchers found that complementary foods such as fruit and vegetable purees used to supplement breast milk or formula in children less than a year old were low in added salt and sugar, but more than 25% of the foods for toddlers had at least one type of added sugar, while 75% of dinners had high amounts of salt.
The American Heart Association recommends less than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day for children aged 1 to 3. According to Susan S. Baker, MD, of the University at Buffalo in New York, in an editorial about this study. “This could lead them to develop a desire for these tastes for the rest of their lives. The continued consumption of foods with high sodium and sugar content places children at risk for obesity and [heart disease], risks that they should not experience and risks that we, as pediatricians, have an obligation to mitigate.”
Study author Mary E. Cogswell points out the need for parents to limit such foods for their children and to check the ingredients carefully for hidden salt and sugar content before buying. She and her team suggests that the food industry should reduce salt and sugar in foods and find healthier alternatives to sodium for preserving and flavoring foods for kids.
Category: News
