Report Raises Concerns Over Ultra-Processed Foods Marketed to Toddlers

Nearly half of children’s diets in first-world countries come from ultra-processed foods, researchers warn.

According to a new investigative report, the effects of toddler milk are a top concern among health experts worried about the increasing amount of ultra-processed foods consumed by young children.

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are highly refined products made with artificial additives, emulsifiers, sweeteners and preservatives to mimic the flavor, appearance and texture of natural foods. These products, which include sugary breakfast cereals, frozen meals, soft drinks and snack foods like chips, are engineered for taste and extended shelf life but offer little to no nutritional value.

Increasing evidence has suggested that the food industry has been aware of the metabolic and developmental health risks associated with ultra-processed foods for decades, yet has failed to disclose these risks to consumers.

As a result, ultra-processed food lawsuits are now being filed by individuals and parents of children who have developed type 2 diabetes or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease caused by the consumption of these food products.

Studies estimate that about half of the calories consumed by children in modern countries are ultra-processed foods. However, according to a new report published by Stat on February 26, when it comes to children’s consumption of these products, health experts are most concerned about the increasing use of toddler milk.

Toddler Milk Concerns

Infant formula aimed at older toddlers first began to reach U.S. markets in the 1990s, primarily targeting children between 1 and 3 years old. However, pediatricians now say that these products, which were marketed as a transition step to weaning children off of formula or breast milk, not only provide few actual benefits, but also often lack the nutrition toddlers need to thrive.

The Stat report warns that toddler milk, sometimes referred to as toddler drink or growing-up milk, is ultra-processed, containing high levels of added sugar. In addition, the products are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), resulting in unverified claims on toddler milk labels as to their nutritional value.

Even when babies are started on traditional baby food and formula from major retailers, like Gerber and Abbott, they are then guided by those same manufacturers to toddler milk products, which some studies have indicated carry little to no nutritional value for young children, the report warns.

The report indicates the high levels of sugar, industrial preservatives and sodium increase children’s risk of obesity, could set them on a course of bad eating habits, and increase their risk of metabolic diseases like type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Health experts interviewed by Stat called for more stringent policies around the marketing and labeling of toddler milk and other ultra-processed foods aimed at young children. In addition, they urged parents and caregivers to educate themselves about the products they are feeding to their children.

Toddler Milk and Other Ultra-Processed Foods Lawsuits

Several toddler milk lawsuits have been filed over the past year, following a warning by pediatricians published in October 2023, when the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) issued new clinical guidelines indicating toddler milk was being deceptively marketed, despite being nutritionally unnecessary.

The litigation is not limited to toddler milk products. Ultra-processed food injury lawyers are also investigating potential claims for individuals and families of children who were diagnosed with chronic health conditions caused by consumption of these foods.

Companies targeted by ultra-processed food childhood diabetes and fatty liver disease lawsuits include major industry players, such as:

• Kraft Heinz Company, Inc.
• Mondelēz International, Inc.
• The Coca-Cola Company
• PepsiCo, Inc.
• General Mills, Inc.
• Nestlé USA, Inc.
• Kellogg’s (Kellanova and WK Kellogg Co.)
• Mars Incorporated, Inc.
• Conagra Brands, Inc.
• Post Holdings, Inc.

Free consultations and claim evaluations are being offered to individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease before the age of 18 after regularly consuming ultra-processed foods.

To learn more about ultra-processed foods lawsuits, or to see if your child qualifies for a childhood diabetes lawsuit settlement, fill out the form below to have your potential claim reviewed by a lawyer. Attorneys handle all ultra-processed food lawsuits on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no fees or expenses paid unless a settlement or lawsuit payout is received.