We are all too aware that three-quarters of the food on our supermarket shelves is ultra-processed (UPF). But now, a new study has found that 71 percent of baby and toddler foods sold in major US grocery stores are also ultra-processed.
Will this mom be as happy after she reads this post?
What they did
Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health analyzed data on 651 foods from the Insti-tute’s FoodSwitch database, which includes, “infant and toddler food products sold in the top ten US grocery store chains.”
What they found
Their findings, published in the journal Nutrients, products say more than 7 intended for infants and toddlers often qualify as UPFs.
The takeaway
“Infancy is a critical time for shaping lifelong eating habits — introducing babies to foods that are overly sweet, salty, and packed with additives can set the stage for unhealthy preferences that last beyond childhood,” Dr. Elizabeth Dunford, a research fellow at The George Institute and an adjunct assistant professor at the University of North Carolina, said in a statement.
“We also know that high UPF consumption in children is linked to heart and metabolic conditions later in life, so it’s best to try and avoid introducing them in the first place,” Dunford added.
My take
My concern is… Will the current crop of new moms – largely Gen Xs and Zs – take the time and put in the effort to make their own baby food?
The consensus (at least on Reddit) is ‘Yes’! “Many modern parents are making their own baby food to save money, control ingredients, and customize flavours,” a Google AI scan of pertinent threads re-veals. “While convenient store-bought pouches are popular, homemade options allow parents to avoid added sugars/salts. Common methods include steaming and blending fruits/veggies or util-izing baby-led weaning (soft whole foods).
That’s a surprise, given the newer generations’ love of speed, convenience and instant gratification. But it’s definitely a happy surprise!
~ Maggie J.