Commercially available foods for young children (<36 months) in Australia: An assessment of how they compare to a proposed nutrient profile model

Abstract Issue addressed To assess the nutritional composition of commercially available foods (CAFs) for infants and toddlers sold in Australia to determine whether they meet World Health Organization (WHO) Europe's proposed standards for nutritionally appropriate foods for children <36 months. Methods A cross‐sectional retail audit of infant (n = 177) and toddler (n = 73) foods found in‐store and online at three major Victorian supermarkets was conducted in August/September 2019. Products were grouped according to WHO Europe's food categories and their nutrient content assessed against specific composition standards applicable to their category. The presence of added sugar in each product was also recorded. Results Most infant products (71%) were soft‐wet spoon‐able, ready‐to‐eat foods whereas the most prevalent category for toddler products was dry finger foods and snacks (71%). Overall, just one‐third of CAFs met all the nutrient recommendations for their category, with infant foods more likely to be compliant than toddler foods (43% vs. 10%; P < .001). Around 9 in 10 infant (93%) and toddler (89%) CAFs contained added sugar according to the Public Health England definition of ‘free’ sugars. Conclusions There is considerable scope to improve the nutritional composition of Australian CAFs for both infants and toddlers, to reduce harmful sugars in these foods and to improve the energy density of them. For CAFs marketed as suitable for toddlers there is also considerable scope to reduce the sodium content. So what? These findings support the need for stronger regulation of CAFs for infants and toddlers to better promote healthy eating patterns and taste preferences in young children.