Seven of ten toddler meals contained too much salt, and most pastries and snacks designed for the age group contained added sugars. That's according to a study by researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in three toddler foods also contained added sugar.
The study looked at 1,074 infant and toddler food products from 2012.
With one-quarter of children ages 2 to 5 overweight or obese, high salt and sugar levels in foods are alarming health professionals. Children ages 1 to 3 should have no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day.
Industry advocates are concerned the study is unnecessarily alerting consumers, arguing it does not take into account changes in packaged foods since then, including reducing sodium.
Researchers encourage parents to read labels on children's foods to ensure excess salt and sugar aren't sneaking into their children's diets.
The study was released in the journal Pediatrics.