Are you feeding your child adulterated baby food? Many samples failed, high sugar and low protein

Playing with the child's health! A case of adulteration in baby food has come to light. Excess sugar has been found in many samples. Is your child also in danger? Know the full news.

Cheating the innocent! Baby food companies are playing with the health of children. Many baby foods made by these companies have been found to contain high amounts of sugar. A new study has revealed that more than 60 percent of baby food sold in the United States does not meet the World Health Organization (WHO) nutrition standards and can affect children's health. Packaged baby food sold in the US, including ready-to-eat food, can promote nutritional deficiencies in children and put them at risk of obesity and a variety of lifestyle diseases when they grow up.

Researchers at the George Institute for Global Health, a medical research center in Australia, examined 651 commercial baby food products purchased from major US grocery chains between March and May 2023. They used the 2022 nutrient and promotion guidelines established by the WHO Regional Office Europe to evaluate these products.

Most of these products did not meet the protein requirements (70 percent) that are part of the WHO guidelines and almost half of them (44 percent) exceeded the total sugar limits. In the study, researchers found that 1 in 4 products did not meet calorie requirements while 1 in 5 exceeded sodium levels.

What are ultra-processed foods?

These are foods that contain more than one ingredient that you won't find in your kitchen. They contain food additives, preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colors and flavors, which help extend the shelf life of the product. According to a study published in The BMJ by researchers at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, high intake of ultra-processed foods such as processed meats, sweetened breakfast foods, and sugar may increase the risk of premature death.

Childhood is a critical period for inculcating good dietary habits and taste preferences in children. According to a study published in the journal Nutrition, mothers who consume healthy foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding and later feed these foods to their children during the complementary feeding period can promote healthy eating habits in their children and families.

What the experts say

Dr. Elizabeth Dunford, research fellow at The George Institute and assistant professor in the department of nutrition at the University of North Carolina, said early childhood is a critical period of rapid growth and when dietary habits are formed that can pave the way for the development of chronic diseases later in life, such as obesity, diabetes, and some cancers. 

Why is sugar so dangerous for babies?

Consuming too much sugar early in life can lead to hard-wiring for future diet habits. If children eat sugary foods throughout childhood, they may develop a preference for the sweet taste, which may later be linked to a higher risk of obesity and other metabolic issues such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.