Study: 70% of baby food does not meet WHO guidelines for protein
The study additionally found that 44% of food designed for babies and toddlers contain too much sugar.
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A study has found that nearly two-thirds of baby food sold in supermarkets does not meet the nutrition guidelines established by the World Health Organization.
For the study, published in the scientific journal Nutrients, researchers analyzed 651 foods meant for children 6 months to 3-years-old and discovered 70% of foods do not meet the agency's guidelines for protein content.
Dr. Brian Sheets of Stamford Health tells News 12 protein is especially important for young children.
"Because they're very quickly growing bone, hair, brain, the muscles and the ligaments are extremely protein-dependent," says Sheets.
The study additionally found that 44% of food designed for babies and toddlers contain too much sugar.
Doctors say if babies start eating foods with added sugar, it will lead them to crave sweet foods and drinks throughout their lives.
Sheets says because food labels are often hard to decipher, he recommends parents read them carefully.
He says the good news is that food manufacturers have started noticing similar data and are complying with demands from health watchdog groups.
As a result, they have begun cutting down on sugar in their products and are displaying that information on their packaging.
