What’s Really in Your Baby’s Food?

Baby food is making headlines once again, as new research reveals that many popular infant and toddler food products fail to meet basic nutritional standards, raising concerns about false advertising and the health of our youngest consumers.

Research

A recent study published in the peer reviewed journal Nutrients, revealed that nearly 60% of baby food products tested fail to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) nutrition standards. Researchers from The George Institute for Global Health studied 651 infant and toddler foods from 10 grocery chains in the U.S. and revealed these products are not as nutritious as their advertising claims.

• 70% of products did not meet protein requirements
• 44% contained excessive sugar
• 25% did not meet calorie requirements
• 20% had sodium levels higher than the recommended

Brand names were not included in the published study, but the products that were most concerning were the products designed for convenience such as snack and finger foods, pouches, cereal bars, fruit bars and puffed snacks.

False Advertising

These baby food products are commonly advertised as “healthy” options, but 99% of the 651 products studied contained at least one, if not multiple, claims that are prohibited by the WHO recommendations. Manufacturers are able to choose which parts of their products they highlight which leads to claims such as:

• “non-genetically modified”
• “Organic”
• “No BPA”
• “No artificial colors or flavors”

“If their product is high in sugar, they’re just going to say, ‘no added colors or flavors’ on the label.” says senior study author Dr. Elizabeth Dunford, an adjunct assistant professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

 “Snack and finger foods often referred to fruit or vegetables in the product name, despite primarily being made of flour or other starches,” says Dr. Daisy Coyle, study coauthor and dietitian at the George Institute for Global Health.

“As a consumer environmental attorney, it comes as no surprise that makers of commercial baby foods are selling products with misleading labels. As a parent myself, I am once again disappointed and concerned,” says Vineet Dubey, founding partner of Custodio & Dubey.

Regulations on Baby Food

Baby food makers continue to sell foods that contaminated by lead and other heavy metals, and yet do not include labels warning about the health dangers of these contaminants.

“While the FDA’s ‘Closer To Zero’ campaign has been slow to implement necessary regulations, California has taken a proactive approach by requiring baby food manufacturers to test for lead, mercury, cadmium, and inorganic arsenic monthly and report their findings to the California Department of Public Health,” he said.

“This law, which mandates public disclosure of test results starting January 2025, is a crucial step toward transparency, helping parents nationwide to make informed decisions about their children’s food. The new regulations also hold companies accountable by prohibiting those who don’t meet the new requirements from advertising or selling their products.”

If your loved one has sustained harm due to contaminated baby food, reach out to our team to discuss your options for moving forward.