Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Analysis of the labelling of a sample of commercial foods for infants and young children in 13 countries

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Public Health Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The World Health Organisation (WHO), European Commission (EC) and Public Health England (PHE) published evidence of inappropriate content, marketing and labelling of commercial foods for infants and young children. Despite this, EC regulations are not yet established. To reduce rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) a better understanding of the food environment is needed. This study aimed to assess the labelling and listed macronutrient and sodium content of commercially available pureed foods marketed for infants and young children under 3 years of age (0–36 months) in 13 countries. A standardized protocol was developed to guide photograph collection and a sample of 155 products were obtained. All products were within current WHO and EC guidelines. However, 103 (67.7%) products were marketed for infants between 4 and 6 months, and many and contained added sugars. Action is needed to improve the nutrient composition, marketing and labelling of these products to reduce NCDs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. SACN. The influence of maternal, fetal and child nutrition on the development of chronic disease in later life. London: TSO; 2011. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/339325/SACN_Early_Life_Nutrition_Report.pdf (cited 19 March 2020).

  2. World Health Organization. Commercial foods for infants and young children in the WHO European Region. World Health Organization; 2019. http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/406452/CLEAN_Commercial-foods_03July_disclaimer_LV.pdf (cited 19 March 2020).

  3. World Health Organization, UNICEF, 1000 days. Global Nutrition Targets 2025 Breastfeeding Policy Brief. WHO; 2014. https://apps.who.int/iris/rest/bitstreams/665591/retrieve (cited 29 March 2020).

  4. Pérez-Escamilla R, Segura-Pérez S, Moran VH. Dietary guidelines for children under 2 years of age in the context of nurturing care. Matern Child Nutr. 2019;15(3):e12855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. European Commission. Commission Directive 2006/125/EC of 5 December 2006 on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children. European Commission; 2006. http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/125/oj (cited May 2021).

  6. Crawley H, Westland S. Baby foods in the UK: a review of commercially produced jars and pouches of baby foods marketed in the UK. London: First Steps Nutrition Trust; 2017.

    Google Scholar 

  7. World Health Organization, UNICEF. Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. Geneva: WHO; 2003. https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/42590/9241562218.pdf;jsessionid=EE8A42182B9A7A71C1ECE9391E58BC41?sequence=1 (cited May 2021).

  8. WHO Europe. Ending inappropriate promotion of commercially available complementary foods for infants and young children between 6 and 36 months in Europe. WHO; 2019. https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/406453/Ending_Final_3June2019.pdf (cited May 2021).

  9. Hutchinson J, Rippin H, Threapleton D, Jewell J, Kanamäe H, Salupuu K, et al. High sugar content of European commercial baby foods and proposed updates to existing recommendations. Matern Child Nutr. 2020;17(1):e13020.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Čížková H, Ševčík R, Rajchl A, Voldřich M. Nutritional quality of commercial fruit baby food. Czech J Food Sci. 2009;27:S134–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Cogswell ME, Gunn JP, Yuan K, Park S, Merritt R. Sodium and sugar in complementary infant and toddler foods sold in the United States. Pediatrics. 2015;135(3):416–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Maalouf J, Cogswell ME, Bates M, Yuan K, Scanlon KS, Pehrsson P, et al. Sodium, sugar, and fat content of complementary infant and toddler foods sold in the United States, 2015. Am J Clin Nutr. 2017;105(6):1443–52.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Zand N, Chowdhry BZ, Pollard LV, Pullen FS, Snowden MJ, Zotor FB. Commercial “ready-to-feed” infant foods in the UK: macro-nutrient content and composition. Matern Child Nutr. 2015;11(2):202–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. United Nations. Report of the Standing Committee on Nutrition at its Thirty-Third Session. United Nations; 2006. http://www.unscn.org/files/Annual_Sessions/33rd_SCN_Session/33rd_session_REPORT.pdf (cited 29 March 2020).

  15. Golay A, Bobbioni E. The role of dietary fat in obesity. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1997;21(Suppl 3):S2-11.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Prentice AM, Poppitt SD. Importance of energy density and macronutrients in the regulation of energy intake. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 1996;20(Suppl 2):S18-23.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Rolls BJ. The role of energy density in the overconsumption of fat. J Nutr. 2000;130(2S Suppl):268S-271S.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Hales CN, Barker DJ. The thrifty phenotype hypothesis. Br Med Bull. 2001;60:5–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Hoffman DJ, Sawaya AL, Verreschi I, Tucker KL, Roberts SB. Why are nutritionally stunted children at increased risk of obesity? Studies of metabolic rate and fat oxidation in shantytown children from São Paulo, Brazil. Am J Clin Nutr. 2000;72(3):702–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Rolland-Cachera MF, Maillot M, Deheeger M, Souberbielle JC, Péneau S, Hercberg S. Association of nutrition in early life with body fat and serum leptin at adult age. Int J Obes (Lond). 2013;37(8):1116–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. European Commission. Feeding infants and young children. Report No. JRC115583. European Commission; 2019. https://ec.europa.eu/jrc/sites/jrcsh/files/processed_cereal_baby_food_online.pdf (cited May 2021).

  22. Herbst A, Diethelm K, Cheng G, Alexy U, Icks A, Buyken A. Direction of associations between added sugar intake in early childhood and body mass index at age 7 years may depend on intake levels. J Nutr. 2011;141(7):1348–54.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  23. Pan L, Li R, Park S, Galuska DA, Sherry B, Freedman DS. A longitudinal analysis of sugar-sweetened beverage intake in infancy and obesity at 6 years. Pediatrics. 2014;134(Suppl 1):S29-35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Clifford R, Head J, Kinyanjui J, Talbott M. Quantification of natural sugars in baby food. Food Qual Saf. 2014. https://www.foodqualityandsafety.com/article/quantification-of-natural-sugars-in-baby-food/ (cited 29 March 2020).

  25. Watson R. European Parliament rejects high sugar content in baby foods. BMJ. 2016;352:i553.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Buttriss J. Why 5%: an explanation of the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition’s recommendations about sugars and health, in the context of current intakes of free sugars, other dietary recommendations and the changes in dietary habits needed to reduce consumption of free sugars to 5% of dietary energy. Public Health England; 2015. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/769482/Why_5__-_The_Science_Behind_SACN.pdf (cited 27 Oct 2020).

  27. SACN. SACN Carbohydrates and Health Report: The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition recommendations on carbohydrates, including sugars and fibre. SACN; 2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/sacn-carbohydrates-and-health-report (cited May 2021).

  28. FidlerMis N, Braegger C, Bronsky J, Campoy C, Domellöf M, Embleton ND, et al. Sugar in infants, children and adolescents: a Position Paper of the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Committee on Nutrition. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017;65(6):681–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Tzioumis E, Kay M, Wright M, Adair L. Health effects of commercially-available complementary foods: a systematic review. Report. WHO; 2016; p. 84 (cited May 2021).

  30. García AL, Raza S, Parrett A, Wright CM. Nutritional content of infant commercial weaning foods in the UK. Arch Dis Child. 2013;98(10):793–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. World Health Organization. Complementary feeding. World Health Organization; 2018. https://www.who.int/westernpacific/health-topics/complementary-feeding (cited 29 March 2020).

  32. McAndrew F, Thompson J, Fellows L, Large A, Speed M, Renfrew MJ. Infant Feeding Survey 2010. 2010; p. 186. https://sp.ukdataservice.ac.uk/doc/7281/mrdoc/pdf/7281_ifs-uk-2010_report.pdf (cited May 2021).

  33. Caroli M, Vania A. Weaning practices and later obesity. The Free Obesity eBook. 2011. https://ebook.ecog-obesity.eu/chapter-nutrition-food-choices-eating-behavior/weaning-practices-later-obesity/ (cited 30 March 2020).

  34. Pearce J, Taylor MA, Langley-Evans SC. Timing of the introduction of complementary feeding and risk of childhood obesity: a systematic review. Int J Obes. 2013;37(10):1295–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Weng SF, Redsell SA, Swift JA, Yang M, Glazebrook CP. Systematic review and meta-analyses of risk factors for childhood overweight identifiable during infancy. Arch Dis Child. 2012;97(12):1019–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Huh S, Rifas-Shiman S, Taveras E, Oken E, Gillman M. Timing of solid food introduction and risk of obesity in preschool-aged children. Pediatrics. 2011;127(3):544–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the WFPHA Oral Health Working Group and their networks for collecting the data included in this paper.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Queen Mary University, Turner Street, Whitechapel, London, E1 2AD, UK

    Gemma Bridge

  2. University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland

    Marta Lomazzi

  3. World Federation of Public Health Associations, Geneva, Switzerland

    Marta Lomazzi

  4. Faculty of Public Health, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary

    Cornelia Melinda Adi Santoso

  5. Kings College London, London, UK

    Raman Bedi

Authors
  1. Gemma Bridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Marta Lomazzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Cornelia Melinda Adi Santoso
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Raman Bedi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gemma Bridge.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

On behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 26 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Bridge, G., Lomazzi, M., Santoso, C.M.A. et al. Analysis of the labelling of a sample of commercial foods for infants and young children in 13 countries. J Public Health Pol 42, 390–401 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-021-00290-1

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41271-021-00290-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation