New research has revealed that more than 75% of ready-made toddler foods available in supermarkets fall short of the sugar guidelines set by the World Health Organisation’s European Office. The findings, which have raised concerns among health experts, show that toddler snacks are particularly problematic, with 88% failing to meet the recommended sugar standards.
The research, conducted by Cancer Council Victoria, examined 73 ready-made toddler products sold across three major supermarkets in the region. It highlights the urgent need for stricter regulations on the amount of sugar in these foods, which are often marketed as healthy but contain significant amounts of added sugars or sweeteners.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) European Office’s current guidelines include the following recommendations for toddler foods:
- No added sugars or sweetening agents should be included in toddler foods.
- Dried or pureed fruits used to sweeten foods should be limited.
- Toddler finger foods and snacks should contain less than 15% of total energy from sugars.
Despite these recommendations, the study found that the vast majority of products do not meet these standards, raising concerns about the long-term health effects of sugary foods on young children.
Jane Martin, Executive Manager of the Obesity Policy Coalition, emphasized the need for higher standards to reduce sugar content in ready-made toddler foods. She explained that many young children consume these processed foods as a major part of their daily diet, yet there are currently no regulations to limit the amount of sugar they contain.
“In Australia, a quarter of children are already above a healthy weight,” Martin said. “We need to act now to prevent future generations from facing preventable health problems. These foods should be promoting health, not contributing to the rise of obesity and related diseases.”
The report also highlights a common misconception: products marketed as containing fruit ingredients, such as fruit pastes, juices, and concentrates, may not be as healthy as they seem. While fresh fruit is a nutritious choice, processed fruit ingredients often contain more concentrated sugars and fewer beneficial nutrients.
To better protect young consumers, Martin calls on the Australian government to introduce stronger regulations on the amount of sugar, including processed fruit sugars, that can be added to ready-made toddler foods. A key step in this process would be establishing an accurate definition of “added sugar” that includes processed fruit sugars.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand, which develops food regulations, is currently considering whether to include added sugar labels on all packaged foods. Martin argues that for these labels to be truly useful, they must include all types of added sugars, particularly processed fruit sugars, which are commonly found in baby and toddler foods.
Recent data shows that 9 out of 10 Australian parents support laws to limit harmful sugars in baby and toddler foods, underlining the widespread concern among parents about the health implications of sugary foods.
Sherly Li, a dietitian with LiveLighter, warned that the frequent consumption of sugary, nutrient-poor foods can lead to unhealthy habits that persist into later life. “Regularly consuming sugar-laden products increases the risk of early tooth decay and unhealthy weight gain. Over time, higher body weight can lead to serious chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers in adulthood.”
This alarming research calls for urgent action to reduce sugar content in toddler foods, helping to protect the long-term health and wellbeing of Australia’s youngest citizens.
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