A new study looked at toddler foods on the shelves of 21 grocery stores in Austin, Texas. It found that four out of five items are ultra‑processed. Almost half of the products did not meet at least one nutrient rule from the World Health Organization for children aged 6‑36 months.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is thinking about new rules for front‑of‑package labels, health claims, and marketing aimed at kids. Unlike many other countries, the United States does not require warning labels on foods that are high in sugar, salt, or calories.
"Many parents think that foods in the baby aisle are automatically healthy," said Erin A. Hudson, a science policy fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. "Our study shows that about half of the products do not meet basic nutrition standards. Parents need to read labels carefully to know what they are buying."
Early Food Choices Shape Later Habits
What toddlers eat can affect the flavors they like later in life. Too much sugar is especially worrisome because it can harm young children’s health.
The researchers found that ultra‑processed toddler foods are far more likely to contain high amounts of sugar compared with less‑processed options.
To do the study, the team photographed the baby‑food sections of the stores and recorded the nutrition facts for items meant for children 6‑36 months old. They did not count infant formula, drinks, or pureed first foods.
Most Products Were Ultra‑Processed
Out of 2,783 products examined, 81% were classified as ultra‑processed using the NOVA system.
The nutrition check revealed several problems:
- 17% had too much sugar.
- 25% were high in sodium.
- 11% fell short on healthy fat levels.
- 12% did not meet the recommended energy density.
Items that often broke the rules included fruit pouches, oat bars, macaroni‑and‑cheese, turkey sticks, cheese puffs, and peanut‑butter puffs.
Not All Fat and Calories Are Bad
Earlier research links ultra‑processed foods to poor health, even when basic nutrients look okay. Scientists still aren’t sure which exact features cause these problems.
More fat or calories do not always mean a food is low quality. Some less‑processed foods are higher in calories because they contain nutrient‑dense ingredients like peanuts or beef.
However, ultra‑processed toddler foods usually have a lot of sugar without the same nutritional benefits. This supports advice for parents to limit these products.
"Parents want to feed their kids well, but the foods on the shelves make it hard," Hudson said. "Clear warning labels could help families choose better and push manufacturers to improve their recipes."
Researchers Ask for Better Labels
The study only looked at packaged foods on store shelves, so it may not cover everything parents serve at home.
Hudson shared the findings at the Nutrition 2026 conference in National Harbor, Maryland, during a session on ultra‑processed foods.
Abstracts presented at the conference are reviewed by experts but are not yet peer‑reviewed research. The results should be considered preliminary until published in a scientific journal.