Sweet and salty: nutritional content and analysis of baby and toddler foods.
BACKGROUND
To critically examine baby and toddler food products sold in Canada for their sugar and sodium content, and to assess these in light of current recommendations.


METHODS
Baby and toddler foods (n = 186) were coded for various attributes, including 'Nutrition Facts' label data. Four 'categories' of baby/toddler foods were analyzed against their 'adult' counterparts for sugar and salt to reveal whether a 'halo effect' attributed to baby/toddler food is warranted.


RESULTS
63% of products have either high levels of sodium or an excessive proportion of calories coming from sugar. Over 12% of products had moderate or high levels of sodium; over 53% of products derive >20% of their calories from sugar. Baby and toddler foods were not found to be nutritionally superior-in terms of sodium or sugar-to their adult counterparts.


CONCLUSIONS
Baby and toddler foods are currently overlooked in the public, and public policy, discussions pertaining to dietary sodium and sugar. Yet these products are clearly of concern and should be closely monitored, since they promote a taste for 'sweet' and 'salty' in our youngest consumers.
Faculty of Communication and Culture, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada. charlene.elliott@ucalgary.ca
Charlene D
CD
Elliott
D002170:Canada; D053198:Child Nutrition Sciences; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019422:Dietary Sucrose / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000592:standards*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D009753:Nutritive Value; D011634:Public Health / Q000379:methods*; D012982:Sodium, Dietary / Q000032:analysis*
D019422:Dietary Sucrose; D012982:Sodium, Dietary