A new analysis reveals that nearly half of the calories consumed by toddlers in the United Kingdom come from ultra-processed foods, which are linked to poor health outcomes later in life. According to the study conducted by researchers at University College London (UCL), 47% of the calories in the diets of two-year-olds come from ultra-processed foods, a figure that rises to 59% by the time children reach the age of seven.
Ultra-processed foods are industrially produced items typically high in fat, sugar, and salt. Common examples include ready-to-eat meals, breakfast cereals, yoghurts, biscuits, sausages, chips, and pre-sliced bread. These foods are associated with increased risks of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues, and cancer in adulthood.
The study, which tracked the diets of nearly 2,600 children, was published in the European Journal of Nutrition. Parents were asked to document their children’s food intake over several days, which researchers then classified into categories ranging from unprocessed foods, such as milk or vegetables, to ultra-processed items containing multiple additives.
The study found that toddlers most commonly consumed ultra-processed items such as flavoured yoghurts, high-fibre cereals, and whole grain breads. By age seven, their intake shifted towards puddings, sweet cereals, and white bread.
While not all ultra-processed foods are inherently unhealthy, many products marketed as healthy options contain high levels of added sugars and salts, the researchers warned. Dr. Rana Conway, the study’s lead author and a nutritionist at UCL, highlighted the challenges parents face when trying to provide healthy diets for their children in today’s food environment.
“It’s not easy to feed children healthily in our current food environment,” Conway said. “Highly processed foods are often cheaper than the foods parents would like to give their children, such as fresh fruit and vegetables.”
The study divided toddlers into five groups based on their ultra-processed food consumption. At the lowest level, 28% of their calories came from these foods, while at the highest level, 69% of their calories were derived from ultra-processed products. Children across all groups consumed more added sugar than the 5% recommended by the UK government.
The researchers called for policy changes to address the issue, such as adding warning labels on food packaging and introducing subsidies for healthier food options to support parents.
The study also noted that white and higher-income individuals were overrepresented, limiting the generalizability of the findings across the UK population.
