Differences in the nutritional content of baby and toddler foods with front-of-package nutrition claims issued by manufacturers v. governments/health organizations.
OBJECTIVE
Nutritional information panels are required on all packaged food products in the USA, yet are perceived as difficult to use by consumers. Nutritional symbols have been developed by various groups to assist consumers in making healthier food purchases. Different nutritional criteria are used depending on the authorizing body of these symbols. The present study assesses the nutrient profile of baby and toddler foods in light of their accompanying nutritional symbols.


METHODS
Kruskal-Wallis and χ 2 tests were used to assess differences in the nutritional content of products based on the presence and issuing body of nutritional symbols.


METHODS
Nine grocery, drug and department stores in Philadelphia, PA, USA.


METHODS
Two hundred and forty packaged baby and toddler foods.


RESULTS
Products whose nutritional symbol was issued by government/health professionals contained significantly more Ca (P = 0·002), fibre (P = 0·001), protein (P = 0·005), vitamin A (P = 0·011), vitamin C (P < 0·001) and Zn (P < 0·001) and less sugar (P = 0·004) per serving than products without a nutritional symbol and products whose nutritional symbol was issued by the manufacturer.


CONCLUSIONS
Products with a nutritional symbol issued by government/health professionals were healthier than foods with nutritional symbols issued by the manufacturer directly and foods with no nutritional symbols.
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology,University of British Columbia,BC Women's and Children's Hospital,4500 Oak Street,Vancouver,BC V6H 3N1,Canada.
Amy
A
Metcalfe
2Department of Communication and Culture,University of Calgary,Calgary,Alberta,Canada.
Charlene
C
Elliott
D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000592:standards; D057141:Food, Preserved / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D019648:Foods, Specialized / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food / Q000032:analysis* / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018673:Nutrition Policy; D009753:Nutritive Value; D015143:Philadelphia; D062410:Snacks; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014481:United States; D016885:United States Department of Agriculture; D014837:Voluntary Health Agencies
Childhood obesity; Children; Food and nutrition; Food marketing; Public health