Nutritional Content and Ingredients of Commercial Infant and Toddler Food Pouches Compared With Other Packages Available in the United States

• Published in: Nutrition today (Annapolis) Vol. 54; no. 6; p. 305
• Main Authors: Moding, Kameron J, Ferrante, Mackenzie J, Bellows, Laura L, Bakke, Alyssa J, Hayes, John E, Johnson, Susan L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.11.2019
• ISSN: 0029-666X
• DOI: 10.1097/NT.0000000000000385

The ingredients and nutrients of infant and toddler foods (ITFs) sold in pouches were compared with products available in other packages, such as jars/packs and other containers. Company websites (n = 21) and in-store shelf inventory (n = 3) were used to create a database of commercial ITFs containing vegetables (n = 548) sold in the United States. Results indicated that ITFs containing vegetables were most commonly packaged in pouches (50%), followed by "other" packages (25%) and jars/packs (25%). Infant and toddler food pouches contained significantly more sugars per serving and per Reference Amount Customarily Consumed, as well as a greater percentage of calories from sugars, compared with both jars/packs and "other" packages. Pouches were also more likely to contain vegetable/fruit blends, whereas jars/packs were more likely to contain single-vegetable or multivegetable blends, and "other" packages were more likely to contain vegetable/other ingredient combinations (eg, grains and/or dairy). Pouches are popular, widely available, and convenient but may not represent the vegetable profiles and nutritional qualities that parents believe they are buying for their children.