Audit finds most Texas toddler foods are ultra-processed, half fail WHO nutrient standards
Key takeaways
- A Texas grocery audit found that 81% of toddler foods were ultra-processed and 49% failed WHO nutrient standards for 6–36-month-olds.
- Many parents assume baby or toddler products meet health criteria, but the research finds that half do not, especially items like fruit pouches, oat bars, and cheese puffs.
- Researchers argue that mandatory warning labels plus reformulation could help parents spot high sugar, sodium, and calorie products and guide healthier choices.
An audit in 21 grocery stores in Texas, US, found that the majority of toddler foods were ultra-processed, with 49% failing to meet WHO nutrient standards for children between six and 36 months. It calls for making warning labels a requirement alongside reformulations to help parents make healthier choices for their toddlers.
The finding comes amid the US FDA considering new guidelines for front-of-pack nutrition labels, healthy claims, and food marketing to children. The researchers point out that the US does not yet require warning labels for foods high in sugar, sodium, or calories.
The study presented at the ongoing American Society for Nutrition’s (ASN) Nutrition 2026 meeting (July 25–28) shows that parents might mistakenly believe that toddler food products align with nutrient guidelines. This indicates a need for careful labeling.
Better labels needed
Products found to be ultra-processed were more likely to contain high sugar levels compared to less-processed options. The audit points to fruit pouches and oat bars as examples of such products, expressing concerns about long-term health impacts.
“Many parents may assume that products sold on the baby/toddler food aisles of their grocery stores have to meet certain nutrient standards. Our findings highlight that half of the toddler foods available in local grocery stores do not,” says Erin Hudson, J.D., ASN Science Policy Fellow and Ph.D. candidate at The University of Texas at Austin.
“As a result, parents have to be vigilant in checking labels and ingredients to determine the nutrient content and processing level of products for their toddlers.”
Classifying the products
The research points out that food consumed in children’s early years will shape their taste preferences and dietary habits into adulthood, which would influence long-term health.
During the audit, the researchers photographed the baby and toddler aisles and analyzed the nutritional content of products. They did not include infant formula, beverages, and purees, which are commonly introduced as first foods in the sample.
From 2,783 products analyzed, the researchers classified 81% as being ultra-processed based on the Nova classification system. Also, 17% failed to meet WHO nutrient recommendations for sugar, 25% failed for sodium, 11% failed for fat content, and 12% failed for energy density.
Industry professionals and nutritionists have previously critiqued the Nova system for broadly classifying foods as ultra-processed without considering their specific nutritional profiles or metabolic impacts.
The research details that fruit pouches were flagged for being high in sugar, oat bars for having high sugar and calories, and cheese puffs were high in calories. Mac and cheese and turkey sticks had high levels of sodium and fat, while peanut butter puffs were high in sodium, fat, and calories.
Critical lens on grocery store products
The researchers highlight previous studies linking ultra-processed foods to health harms, regardless of their nutrient content, yet it is not clear which aspects of these foods could contribute to the outcome.
Furthermore, the researchers largely linked less-processed baby or toddler products with higher fat and calorie content to fatty and nutrient-dense whole-food ingredients, such as peanuts or beef. However, the ultra-processed counterparts were often high in sugar and lacked further nutritional benefits.
The researchers call for limiting the products that toddlers consume from this category.
“During these critical early years of development, most parents are trying to feed their children healthfully but may be challenged to do so by the toddler food products available in their grocery stores,” said Hudson.
“Warning labels on products exceeding nutrient thresholds could help parents navigate the toddler food environment and might encourage manufacturers to reformulate these products.”
This year, another study found that 71% of US baby and toddler foods are ultra-processed, often containing more sugar and additives than minimally processed alternatives. Additives such as emulsifiers, thickeners, and synthetic colors were widespread, raising concerns about gut health and long-term metabolic risk.
