Which Baby Food Fails Nutrition Standards? | Deceptive Marketing
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set forth a comprehensive set of nutritional guidelines for infants and toddlers aged 6 to 23 months. But a recent study concluded the majority of baby food products on the market fail to meet the basic nutrition guidelines.
Lawyers at the Lyon Firm are investigating claims of deceptive marketing. If you have purchased a baby food that does not meet the company’s promises regarding health and nutrition, contact our legal team to review.
Which Baby Foods Fail WHO Nutrition Requirements?
Experts say children form dietary habits at a very young age, and consuming bad food as a toddler can potentially pave the way for developing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Any company that produces unhealthy food products for babies and infants, marketing them as wholesome and nutritional, can be held accountable.
A recent study published in the journal Nutrients analyzed 651 infant and toddler foods that were widely sold at 10 different grocery chains in the U.S., including Kroger, Sam’s Club, Publix, Walmart and Costco. Amazingly, almost 60 percent of the foods failed to meet World Health Organization nutritional standards. Among the concerning results, researchers found the following:
- Only 30 percent of products met WHO protein requirements
- 44percent of the foods exceeded sugar recommendations
- A quarter of products failed to meet calorie requirements
- Around 20 percent exceeded recommended sodium limits
The study found that WHO nutritional compliance was especially low for snacks, and many products made reference to fruit or vegetables in the product name but actually contained a very low quantity of fruits and vegetables. These foods contained little protein, and more sodium and sugar.
Brand names were not released in the report, however, due to their findings, the researchers encourage parents to put more time into researching the foods they feed their child. You can also contact a product liability and consumer protection lawyer to discuss potential legal action.
Widespread False Advertising in Baby Food Industry
Deceptive marketing schemes are not limited to the food industry. Unfortunately, companies in almost every industry have been held accountable for making unfounded claims about unproven benefits of their products. The onus is on the company to provide evidence to back up their claims.
It may seem obvious to consumers that heavily processed baby foods, much like any other processed foods on the grocery shelves, contain high levels of salt, sugar and fat, and lack nutritional value. But who can blame most shoppers for assuming baby food would be produced in a controlled, calculated, healthy manner?
Equally as concerning, the companies that manufacture many of the foods tested by the George Institute lab are making questionable claims about the health benefits of their products.
Labeling can be very convincing, and these claims are highly influential on the buying behavior of consumers. The recent study of baby food failing nutrition standards also analyzed deceptive baby food labels. They note “misleading” product names, and claim that many of the infant and toddler foods on the market “not only boost a product’s appeal but also influence parental perceptions, often increasing the perceived healthiness of a product.”
Food companies continue to entice consumers with various claims, many of which have been disputed or proved misleading. Baby food manufacturers make allergen-related claims, cooking method claims, nutrition content claims, general health and nutrition claims, religious claims, safety and environment claims, serving-based claims, texture-based claims, vegetarian/vegan claims, and other unproven dietary claims.
It is not illegal to market baby foods with these claims in the U.S., but the WHO prohibits much of this labeling. Over 99 percent of the products studied made at least one prohibited claim. Over 50 percent were labeled as organic.
The Lyon Firm handles a wide range of deceptive marketing complaints for plaintiffs nationwide. Contact our attorneys to learn more about your legal options, and to review your false advertising claims.