Overview
- Researchers analyzed 651 products for babies and toddlers sold across the ten largest U.S. supermarket chains and classified processing using the NOVA system.
- About 71% of items were categorized as ultra-processed, with investigators cataloging 105 distinct additives across labels.
- Flavor enhancers appeared in 36% of products, thickeners in 29%, and colorings or emulsifiers in 19%, with additives listed as primary ingredients in many items.
- Ultra-processed options carried substantially more added sugar—about 2.5 times higher in snack formats—with roughly 94% of packaged snacks classified as ultra-processed; prior analysis flagged pouches as a leading sugar source.
- Public-health groups cite limited FDA oversight and the GRAS pathway in urging reform, while an industry association disputes the ultraprocessed definition and maintains current safety and nutrition standards; coverage also notes studies linking higher UPF intake to elevated cardiometabolic risks later in life.