What Parents Should Know
Don’t have time to read the whole story? Here’s what nutrition experts want parents to know
Experts recommend:
- Choose foods with little or no added sugar.
- Read ingredient lists instead of relying on package marketing.
- Skip products with long lists of artificial additives.
- Serve whole fruits instead of fruit pouches when possible.
- Offer toddlers the same healthy foods the family eats, chopped or mashed as needed.
Four out of five foods marketed for toddlers contain high levels of processing, and nearly half fail to meet international nutrition standards for young children, according to new research that is raising concerns about what many parents are putting in their shopping carts.
Nutrition experts say the findings are a reminder that parents should rely as much as possible on simple, minimally processed foods and carefully read nutrition labels rather than assuming products marketed for toddlers are healthy.
The study, presented at the 2026 annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, analyzed 2,783 packaged foods marketed for children ages 6 to 36 months that were sold in the baby and toddler aisles of 21 grocery stores in Austin, Texas. Infant formula, beverages and first-food purees were not included.
Researchers found that 81% of the products qualified as ultra-processed under the internationally recognized NOVA food classification system, while 49% failed at least one nutrition standard established by the World Health Organization (WHO) for sugar, sodium, fat or calorie density.
By the Numbers
- 2,783 toddler food products analyzed.
- 21 grocery stores surveyed in Austin, Texas.
- 81% of toddler foods were classified as ultra-processed.
- 49% failed at least one World Health Organization nutrition standard.
- 25% exceeded recommended sodium levels.
- 17% exceeded recommended sugar levels.
- 11% exceeded recommended fat levels.
- 12% were too calorie-dense for young children.
“We wanted to know what parents were seeing when they went to the grocery store,” said lead researcher Erin Hudson, a doctoral candidate at the University of Texas at Austin. “The answer is over 80% of the products are ultra-processed.”
The toddler years are considered one of the most important stages of childhood nutrition. Health experts say eating habits formed during this period often shape food preferences later in life, making it especially important to introduce children to nutritious, minimally processed foods early.
The study found that ultra-processed foods were significantly more likely to contain excessive amounts of added sugar than less-processed alternatives. Overall, 17% of the products exceeded WHO recommendations for sugar, 25% exceeded sodium guidelines, 11% contained too much fat and 12% were considered overly calorie dense.
Examples included fruit pouches and oat bars that were high in sugar, ready-to-eat macaroni and cheese and turkey sticks that were high in sodium and fat, and peanut butter puffs and cheese puffs that combined high levels of calories, sodium and fat.
Researchers noted that not every food containing higher amounts of fat or calories is unhealthy. Foods made primarily from whole ingredients, such as peanuts or beef, naturally contain more fat while also providing important nutrients. Ultra-processed foods, however, often rely on refined ingredients, added sugars and artificial additives while offering fewer nutritional benefits.
Ultra-processed foods typically contain ingredients not commonly found in home kitchens, including preservatives, emulsifiers, artificial colors, flavor enhancers and concentrated sweeteners. Previous research has linked diets high in ultra-processed foods with obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases, although scientists continue to study exactly how these foods affect long-term health.
The findings come as federal officials consider new front-of-package nutrition labels that would identify packaged foods as low, medium or high in added sugar, sodium and saturated fat. Foods marketed specifically for children younger than 4, however, are currently exempt from the proposed labeling requirements.
Researchers say clearer nutrition standards and warning labels could make it easier for parents to identify healthier choices and encourage food manufacturers to improve the nutritional quality of products marketed to young children.