More than half the foods marketed to babies and toddlers in Canada have too many of their calories coming from sugar, researchers from the University of Calgary say.

While many foods aimed at babies, such as pureed and stewed fruit have healthy amounts of naturally occurring sugars, the new wave of processed baby foods, such as toddler cereal bars, teething cookies, and kid-sized fruit snacks and yogurt are filled with added sugars, the research found.

The Calgary researchers evaluated 186 food products marketed to babies and toddlers. They excluded juices and pure fruit and vegetable purees, as well as infant formulas.

 Using the yardstick that a product with more than 20 per cent of its calories derived from sugar is "nutritionally poor," the study found 53 per cent of the products were too high in sugar.

Among other findings:

  • 40 per cent of products listed sugar -- or some sugar variant such as corn syrup, cane syrup, brown sugar, or dextrose—in the first four ingredients on the label
  • 19 per cent listed added sugar (or some variant) as either the first or second ingredient
  • 63 per cent were found to have high levels of sodium

Among the examples the researchers listed was Gerber's Fruit Medley Dessert, which includes naturally occurring sugar as well as added sugar. The product derives 75 per cent of its calories from sugar.

Likewise, Gerber's Graduates for Toddlers Juice Treats Fruit Snacks derive about 70 per cent of their calories from sugar, including the corn syrup and sugar listed as the product's first two ingredients.

"It remains fair to ask why it is necessary to add sugar to these baby or toddler products in the first place," the authors note.

The study was funded by the Centre for Science in the Public Interest Canada and was led by University of Calgary's Charlene Elliott, an associate professor in the Communications & Culture department.

Elliott says many caregivers assume that foods marketed to small children are healthy and perhaps healthier than similar foods for adults.

"There is a presumed halo effect around baby and toddler foods because people expect these foods to be held to a higher standard. Yet this is not necessarily the case." Elliott said in a news release.

She added that assessing sugar levels in baby and toddler foods was challenging because there is currently no universally accepted standard for how much sugar children should get each day. She notes Health Canada offers no direct recommendations—or cautions—on sugar intake for young children or toddlers.

Elliott says her findings highlight the need for caregivers to carefully read through the ingredient list on foods for toddlers.

"While some products derive their sugar content from naturally occurring fruit sugars, many products also contain added sugars. It remains fair to ask why it is necessary to add sugar to these baby or toddler products in the first place," she said.

Elliott also wondered whether many of the products her team looked would promote a taste for sweet foods in toddlers, which could then pave the way for poor eating habits into childhood.

"…There is no nutritional reason that babies should complete their meals with Banana Coconut Cream Dessert puree or cookies, organic or otherwise. Equally significant is the way such products steer our youngest consumers down the wrong path in terms of reinforcing tastes for sweet foods," she said.

Baby and toddler foods studied with the highest percentage of calories from sugar:

  • Graduates for Toddlers Mini Fruit, Apple, by Gerber, 80 per cent
  • Little Fruit, Strawberry Banana, by Parent's Choice, 80 per cent
  • Organic Apple Banana Prune Blend for Toddlers, by President's Choice, 80 per cent
  • Organic Unsweetened Apple Apricot Blend for Toddlers, by President's Choice, 80 per cent
  • Toddlers 100% Real Fruit Snack, Banana Mango, by President's Choice, 80 per cent
  • Unsweetened Apple Pear Blend for Toddlers, by President's Choice, 80 per cent
  • Fruit Medley Dessert, by Gerber, 75 per cent
  • 100% Fruit Bites, Banana Strawberry, by Heinz, 69 per cent
  • 100% Fruit Bites, Tropical Blends, by Heinz, 69 per cent
  • Apple Plum and Raisins, by Heinz, 69 per cent