Baby Food at the Supermarket: A Look at Processing Levels and Nutritional Value

A study of the selection of infant food in 21 grocery stores in Texas shows that highly processed products make up a large portion of the available assortment. Four out of five products examined were classified as highly processed. In addition, nearly half of the products failed to meet at least one of the nutrient guidelines recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) for commercially produced foods intended for children aged 6 to 36 months.

The results highlight a problem that extends beyond the U.S. market examined: It is often difficult for parents to assess the actual nutritional value of industrially produced infant foods. Product packaging, health claims, and in-store placement can also give the impression that these products are generally suitable for a balanced diet for infants. However, the actual composition and degree of processing may differ significantly from this perception.

Early Dietary Choices Can Shape Long-term Habits

“Many parents may assume that products marketed specifically for infants and toddlers automatically meet certain nutritional standards. However, the results show that this is not the case for all products,” said Erin A. Hudson, JD, ASN Science Policy Fellow and doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. “Therefore, it is important to critically examine nutrition facts and ingredient lists and to consider both the nutrient content and the degree of processing of the products.”

Nutrition during the first years of life plays a crucial role in the development of taste preferences and eating habits. Consequently, the composition of commercially available foods for young children is of particular importance. High consumption of free or added sugars, as well as overall poor dietary quality, are considered key factors in the development of long-term eating habits.

For the study, the researchers photographed the baby and toddler food sections in 21 grocery stores in Austin, Texas. They then evaluated the nutritional information of products marketed to children aged 6 to 36 months. Infant formula, beverages, and purees—which are typically offered as the first solid foods—were not included. A total of 2,783 products were surveyed. Using the NOVA classification system, the researchers classified 81% of the products as ultra-processed.

Several Products Deviated from the Recommended Nutrient Profiles

The nutritional analysis revealed several areas where products deviated from the nutrient profiles recommended by the WHO. 17% of the products exceeded or failed to meet the recommendations for sugar, 25% exceeded the recommended sodium content, 11% fell below the recommended fat content, and 12% did not meet the recommendation regarding energy density.

Products with unfavorable nutritional profiles included, among others, fruit snacks with high sugar content, oat bars with high sugar and energy values, as well as savory snacks and ready-to-eat meals with comparatively high amounts of sodium and fat.

It is important to note that individual nutrient values should not be considered in isolation. A higher fat or energy content does not necessarily mean poorer nutritional quality. For example, foods may have a higher energy or fat content due to nutrient-rich ingredients such as nuts, seeds, or meat. Therefore, the overall composition of a food is decisive, not just the level of a single nutrient.

The Role of Highly Processed Foods

The relationship between the degree of processing and nutrient composition deserves special attention. In the study, highly processed products for toddlers more frequently contained larger amounts of sugar than less processed products. This is particularly relevant because highly processed foods cannot be evaluated solely on the basis of their nutrient profile. Factors such as ingredient composition, energy density, texture, taste, portion size, and marketing strategies can also influence dietary behavior.

Previous research has linked high consumption of ultra-processed foods to various adverse health outcomes. However, it is not yet fully understood which characteristics of these foods are responsible for the observed associations. Accordingly, the NOVA classification should not be viewed as the sole measure of a product’s nutritional quality.

Nevertheless, when it comes to the diet of young children, there is strong evidence in favor of not allowing highly processed foods—and especially those high in sugar or salt—to become a regular part of their diet, and instead promoting a diet that is as varied as possible and consists primarily of minimally processed or unprocessed foods.

Challenges for Parents and Food Labeling

For parents, this raises not only the question of which products are available, but also how easily their nutritional quality can be assessed. Attractive packaging or explicit marketing as a product for children or toddlers does not automatically mean that a food item meets the recommendations for a balanced diet.

Clearer and more understandable labeling could help parents better assess products in terms of their sugar, salt (or sodium), fat, and energy content, as well as their ingredients. At the same time, labeling should not lead to individual nutrients being evaluated in isolation. Especially for toddlers, the overall quality of the diet is crucial.

In Europe, the regulatory framework for this differs in some respects from that in the U.S. At the European Union level, there are common requirements for food labeling and certain health and nutrition claims; at the same time, national dietary recommendations, labeling systems, and measures regulating the marketing of food to children vary. A direct comparison between the U.S. and Europe is therefore only possible to a limited extent.

What the Results Might Mean for Europe

The study does not provide direct data on the products available in European supermarkets, as it examined only stores in Austin, Texas. However, the fundamental question is also relevant for Europe: Which products are offered to young children, how highly processed are they, and to what extent do they comply with recommendations for a balanced diet? A systematic study of various countries and retail markets would therefore be necessary for a European assessment. In addition to nutrient composition, factors such as the degree of processing, portion sizes, ingredients, packaging design, health claims, and marketing targeting parents and children could be taken into account.

The U.S. study should therefore not be interpreted as evidence that European infant foods are equally highly processed or exhibit the same nutritional problems. Rather, it can serve as an indication of an internationally relevant issue: How well do existing nutrition and labeling standards protect young children from a diet that contains a high proportion of highly processed, sugar- or salt-rich products, and how well can parents assess the quality of these products? It may therefore be helpful for parents not to rely solely on product packaging or specific labels such as “suitable for children” when purchasing infant and toddler products. A look at the ingredient list and the nutrition facts can reveal whether a product contains, for example, a lot of sugar or salt. The order of the ingredients is also relevant, as the ingredients present in the largest quantities are listed first. Products with a short, straightforward ingredient list and a high proportion of recognizable, minimally processed foods can serve as a useful guide. At the same time, not every processed food should be avoided outright: processing can make foods more shelf-stable, safer, or more convenient. What matters most is how heavily a product is processed, what ingredients it contains, and what role it plays in the child’s overall diet.