Among 209 Infant and Toddler Food Products, Only 2 Provide 'Food Labeling and Nutrition Information'

Health and Environment Research Institute Investigates Labeling Practices of Infant and Toddler Foods Including Terms Like 'Agi, Kids'
Only 3 Out of 209 Cases Display 'Foods Intended for Infant and Toddler Consumption', Indicating Insufficient Labeling
Nutrition Information Suitable for Infants and Toddlers Provided in 2 Cases

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Among 209 infant and toddler food products, only 2 provide labeling as 'Foods Intended for Infant and Toddler Consumption' along with nutritional information. Notably, 41 of the surveyed products exceeded the sodium standards for infant and toddler foods.

On the 24th, the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment announced that, as the popularity of convenient ready-to-eat baby foods rises, their investigation into the labeling status of 209 infant and toddler food products found that only 2 beverage products provide nutritional information suitable for Korean infants and toddlers. From January to February, the institute surveyed 209 products across 14 food categories such as snacks, sold in large supermarkets, eco-friendly marts, and department stores in Seoul, which use terms like ‘agi’ (baby), ‘baby’, ‘ai’ (child), and ‘kids’ in their product names or detailed descriptions to be recognized by consumers as infant and toddler foods. The investigation focused on whether the products were labeled as 'Foods Intended for Infant and Toddler Consumption,' the status of nutritional information labeling, and sodium content labeling.

Among products recognized as infant and toddler foods, only 3 beverage products (1%) were labeled as foods intended for infant and toddler consumption, indicating a very low labeling rate. Since January last year, standards and regulations for sodium, hygiene indicators, and foodborne pathogens have been newly established and enforced for foods labeled as intended for infants and toddlers (0 to under 36 months). However, labeling as 'Foods Intended for Infant and Toddler Consumption' is not mandatory under food labeling standards.

Moreover, among the 179 products that displayed nutritional information according to labeling standards, the daily reference values were mostly based on the nutritional intake standards for the general population aged 3 years and older, not for infants and toddlers (0 to under 36 months). Only 2 domestically produced fruit and vegetable juices and mixed beverages provided both the 'Foods Intended for Infant and Toddler Consumption' label and nutritional information suitable for infants and toddlers (0 to under 36 months).

The institute also pointed out that when applying the sodium standards for foods labeled as intended for infant and toddler consumption to the 179 products with nutritional information, 41 products (23%) exceeded these standards. Excessive sodium intake can cause hypertension, kidney disease, heart disease, and osteoporosis, and in infancy, it may negatively affect skeletal development due to increased calcium excretion in urine. Additionally, dietary habits accustomed to salty tastes in childhood tend to continue into adulthood, so sodium intake during infancy and toddlerhood requires special attention.

Shin Yong-seung, director of the Seoul Institute of Health and Environment, stated, “The lack of appropriate nutritional information for infants and toddlers makes it difficult for consumers to choose products, which can negatively impact lifelong dietary habits and health.” He urged, “Manufacturers should actively provide nutritional information tailored to the characteristics of the intended consumers for infant and toddler foods, and consumers should check nutritional information when purchasing and consuming products.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.