Pre-packaged foods for toddlers too high in sodium, says study

Limiting salt intake is an oft-repeated piece of health advice for adults, because too much sodium over time may increase risk for heart attack and strokes.

U.S. dietary guidelines suggest people should take in no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium each day, while the American Heart Association recommends an even lower amount of 1,500 milligrams. Surveys, however, show most Americans are averaging 3,400 milligrams each day.

Now, a new study suggests toddlers also may be getting far too much salt if they're eating pre-packaged foods. Researchers tested random products and found 75 percent of pre-packaged meals and savory snacks for toddlers were high in sodium. The authors fear taking in too much salt at such an early age can lead to unhealthy habits that last a lifetime.

"Our concern is the possible long-term health risks of introducing high levels of sodium in a child's diet, because high blood pressure, as well as a preference for salty foods may develop early in life," lead researcher Joyce Maalouf, a fellow at the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said in a statement. "The less sodium in an infant's or toddler's diet, the less he or she may want it when older."

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For the study, which is considered preliminary since it was presented at a medical conference and is not yet published in a peer-reviewed journal, Maalouf and her team looked at 1,115 food products for babies and toddlers, which included pre-packaged meals and snacks. A product was considered high in sodium by researchers if it contained more than 210 milligrams per serving.

They found toddler meals on average had significantly more sodium than baby meals, with some as high as 630 milligrams per serving. That means one toddler meal contains 40 percent of the AHA's daily recommended allotment of sodium, according to the AHA.

The study echoes previous research that pre-packaged foods are major culprits for dietary sodium. It was presented March 21 at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in New Orleans.

"I'm not too surprised," Andrea Rumschlag, a pediatric dietician at the Cleveland Clinic told CBSNews.com of the study's findings. She was not involved in the research.

"It's good information for parents to see that packaged food in any way, shape or form is always going to be high in sodium."

Rumschlag equates some of these pre-packaged toddler meals to frozen TV dinners for adults, which can be high in salt. While the AHA recommends a daily limit of 1,500 milligrams of sodium, she said that toddlers ages 1 to 3 should have even less -- no more than 1,000 milligrams per day. Toddlers have more sensitive taste buds, she added, so if they're used to salty foods from the get go, they're more likely to reach for a salt shaker as they get older to compensate. That could contribute to their risk of high blood pressure and cardiac problems later in life.

"You're setting them up to have that salty taste," she said.

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Rumschlag recommends that if parents are going to buy pre-packaged foods, check the label and skip items that contain more than 100 milligrams of sodium. Fresh, canned or frozen fruits are a better snack option than a child-sized pack of crackers, she said.

"They can still be nutritious, still be quick, but won't have as many of these additives," she said.

[LuanneBannon]

Thought you might be interested in the new FoodFacts.com Baby & Toddler Nutrition Guide, designed to help parents make the healthiest food choices for their little ones. You'll find the sodium content for hundreds of baby and toddler food products. http://www.foodfacts.com/baby

[hhandyman]

Most packaged food quickie type toss in microwave has too much sodium for anyone that is on any form of blood pressure medication. End Stage Renal disease patients can not deal with high sodium, Phosphorus preservatives or heavy potassium content like Potatoes Bananas, Kiwi fruit. Check with your dietician.

[lami987]

Food mnufacturers don't care if you die of high blood pressure or anything else. All they care about is find ways to sell their products like lying in their commercials.

[foo8259]

And how much sugar and starch is in those same processed foods? Salt is not the proven problem in our food supply, and neither is fat.

[davisjimmyzzzzz]

Stop feeding children this stuff.

[nfission235]

Food and Drug Administration should be separate; however, they work in unison to make us sick to keep the drug companies, hospitals, and doctors in business. Nothing like starting with the babies to insure high blood pressure and diabetes will soon engulf them at the ripe old age of 10.

[raymailhot]

Good article to start with. America needs to get back into their kitchens and prepare food of quality. Restaurant and packaged/engineered foods are high in salt, fat and sugar the three basic food flavors for the simple minded palate!

[democracy8]

I usually spend part of Sunday cooking for the week from scratch and freezing it for the rest of the week. Once it becomes a habit, it's not terribly difficult.

[raymailhot]

It increases your natural health too. More complex carbs and fruits and vegs and better meats and more deserts.

[Xthes]

No $h.i-t ... these guys are freakin' geniuses I tell you! They should be given a medal for stating the obvious. Clearly - I've done something terribly wrong in my life because I'm not as smart as they ...

[ReasonableVoicesAmongUs]

You shouldn't be feeding your kids pre-packaged foods in the first place.

[raymailhot]

And yet this is what is happening. So the article is spot-on!

[1history]

Everyone with a lick of sense has known all of this for many years. Fact is nobody cares. Too many other more important things to worry about than whether or not you're slowly killing your kids. They may die young, but it will probably be after they've grown and moved out, so why worry about it now? First things first. The Jonses have a newer car than we do.

[democracy8]

"There is really no solid evidence to suggest that excess salt intake leads to health problems."

Really, tell that to your kidneys, I'm sure they'll listen...

[hhandyman]

As an End Stage Renal disease patient surviving since oct of 2009 i can tell you excessive salt causes water retention and sever cramping when you go to dialysis clinic to be drained.
If you have high blood pressure excessive sodium be it a preservative or simple salts can lead to Congestive heart failure and possible death from Stroke