Open AccessHigh sugar content of European commercial baby foods and proposed updates to existing recommendations
Author(s) -
Hutchinson Jayne,
Rippin Holly,
Threapleton Diane,
Jewell Jo,
Kanamäe Haidi,
Salupuu Kristin,
Caroli Margherita,
Antignani Angelo,
Pace Lucienne,
Vassallo Charlene,
Lande Britt,
Hildonen Christina,
Rito Ana Isabel,
Santos Mariana,
Gabrijelcic Blenkus Mojca,
SarkadiNagy Eszter,
Erdei Gergő,
Cade Janet E.,
Breda Joao
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
maternal and child nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.181
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1740-8709
pISSN - 1740-8695
DOI - 10.1111/mcn.13020
Subject(s) - sugar , added sugar , medicine , ingredient , european region , meal , food science , food products , food group , agricultural science , environmental health , geography , environmental science , biology , pathology , regional science
The aim was to determine whether commercial baby foods marketed within Europe (up to 36 months of age) have inappropriate formulation and high sugar content and to provide suggestions to update European regulations and recommendations as part of a nutrient profile model developed for this age group. The latter was produced following recommended World Health Organization (WHO) steps, including undertaking a rapid literature review. Packaging information from countries across the WHO European region was used to determine mean energy from total sugar by food category. The percentage of products containing added sugar and the percentage of savoury meal‐type products containing pureed fruit were also calculated. A total of 2,634 baby foods from 10 countries were summarised: 768 sold in the United Kingdom, over 200 each from Denmark (319), Spain (241), Italy (430) and Malta (243) and between 99–200 from Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Estonia and Slovenia. On average, approximately a third of energy in baby foods in these European countries came from total sugar, and for most food categories, energy from sugar was higher than 10%. Use of added sugars was widespread across product categories, with concentrated fruit juice most commonly used. Savoury meal‐type purees did not contain added sugars except in United Kingdom and Malta; however, fruit as an ingredient was found in 7% of savoury meals, most frequently seen in UK products. Clear proposals for reducing the high sugar content seen in commercial baby foods were produced. These suggestions, relating to both content and labelling, should be used to update regulations and promote product reformulation.