Abstract
Excess added sugar consumption is tied to poor health outcomes in children. The sugar content of beverages and foods children are exposed to is mostly unknown, yet this information is imperative for understanding potential risks from overconsumption of sugars in early life. We determined actual sugar content by conducting a blinded laboratory analysis in infant formulas, breakfast cereals, packaged baked goods and yogurts. One hundred samples were sent to an independent laboratory for analysis via gas chromatography. Sugar content and composition was determined and total sugar was compared against nutrition labels. Of the 100 samples analyzed, 74% contained ≥20% of total calories per serving from added sugars. Nutrient label data underestimated or overestimated actual sugars and ~25% of all samples had actual total sugar values that were either <10% or >10% of labeled total sugar. Many products that are frequently marketed to and consumed by infants and young children contain sugars in amounts that differ from nutrition labels and often in excess of recommended daily levels. These findings provide further support for adding more comprehensive sugar labeling to food and beverage products, specifically those marketed to, or commonly consumed by, children.
Highlights
15% of the United States population consumes upwards of 25% of their total daily calories from added sugars [1]
The effect of breastfeeding versus formula feeding on child health outcomes has been studied extensively and is it well established that human milk and infant formulas differ in terms of both nutrition and biological constituents [8,9]
Five formulas had of total calories from sugars (Figure 1)
Summary
15% of the United States population consumes upwards of 25% of their total daily calories from added sugars [1]. There is very limited data from laboratory-determined measures of sugar content and little is known about the actual sugar content of common processed foods that children may be exposed to very early in life. The effect of breastfeeding versus formula feeding on child health outcomes has been studied extensively and is it well established that human milk and infant formulas differ in terms of both nutrition and biological constituents [8,9]. Some formulas contain added sugars that are not present in breastmilk and the actual sugar content, in terms of both type and proportion, of infant formula is not widely known
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