title: The Nutritional Profile of Baby and Toddler Food Products Sold in Australian Supermarkets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the nutritional profile of baby and toddler foods sold in Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nutrient information for baby and toddler foods available at Australian supermarkets was collected between Auguset and December 2013. Levels of declared energy, total fat, saturated fat, total sugar, sodium and estimated added sugar were examined, as well as the presence of additional micronutrients on the label. The Health Star Rating (HSR) system was used to determine nutritional quality. The range of products on offer was also examined by product type and by the age category for which the product was marketed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 309 products included, 29% were fortified. On a per 100 g basis, these 309 products provided a mean (±SD) of 476 ± 486 kJ, 1.6 ± 2.4 g total fat, 10.7 ± 12.2 g total sugar, 2.7 ± 7.4 g added sugar, and 33.5 ± 66.5 mg sodium. Fruit-based products or products with fruit listed as an ingredient (58%) were the predominant product type. On the nutrition label, 42% displayed at least one additional micronutrient while 37% did not display saturated fat. The most common HSR was four stars (45%) and 6+ months was the most commonly identified targeted age group (36%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of baby and toddler foods sold in Australian supermarkets are ready-made fruit-based products aimed at children under 12 months of age. Baby and toddler foods are overlooked in public policy discussions pertaining to population nutrient intake but their relatively high sugar content deriving from fruits requires close attention to ensure these foods do not replace other more nutrient dense foods, given children have an innate preference for sweet tastes.
authors.affiliation: The George Institute for Global Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. edunford@georgeinstitute.org.au.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dunford
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Science, School of Molecular Bioscience and Charles Perkins Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: J C Y
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Louie
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Byrne
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: K Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.|St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Flood
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis; D000068104:Infant Health; D009753:Nutritive Value; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
keywords: Children; Food and nutrition; Infant; Nutritional profile; Public health; Weaning foods