Baby formula and food at the Bradley Food Pantry on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at St. James Episcopal Church in Bradley Beach, New Jersey.
© Olivia Liu/Asbury Park Press / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Australia) – A new study suggests the majority of baby and toddler food sold in the US at supermarkets is unhealthy. The George Institute for Global Health, based in Australia, commissioned a study — its results were published in the journal Nutrients. It found two-thirds of “baby good” is unhealthy.
The study looked at 651 food products, sold across 10 different grocery chains. Remarkably, the findings indicate all of the products included prohibited claims printed on the packaging. Nearly 7 in 10 failed to meet nutritional requirements — more than 4 in 10 had more sugar than recommended by nutritional experts. Among the products surveyed, some didn’t have the recommended number of calories overall. There were some that included too much sodium.
Health experts say sometimes parents are best off making their own baby food following a simple process. Pureed foods are a good start — using single ingredients like meats, poultry, beans, and iron-fortified cereals. Food processors and blenders help, but softer foods can just be mashed with a fork. Just be sure to check that the foods you use have no added sugar or salt. Also, it’s best to start with one food and stick with it for three to five days, before introducing something new.
When kids are between eight and 10 months old, parents can begin introducing small amounts of finely chopped foods — like veggies, fruits, pasta, cheese, and well-cooked meat.
