The most recent edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025) recommended that children < 2 years of age avoid added sugars. Further, a 2016 regulation, effective in 2020, mandates manufacturers to disclose added sugars information on a product’s Nutrition Facts Label. However, no recent studies on the added sugar content in baby and toddler food exist, as this information was previously unavailable. Two chapters present cross-sectional data on the added sugar content and presence in baby and toddler foods. The first chapter assess added sugars in baby and toddler foods sold in 2023. The second chapter compares baby and toddler foods from 2015 (n=1,015) to 2023 (n=946). Foods from 2015 came from a database used for a previous study. A 2023 baby and toddler food database was developed to answer the research objectives. Foods were categorized by type and baby stage. For each comparison, median serving size, total sugar per serving, and total sugar per 100 grams, as well as the proportion of products with one or more added sugar ingredient was calculated. The hypothesis is there are no added sugars in packaged baby foods and few in packaged toddler foods. In 2023, most baby food (stages 1-3) categories contain few products (<15%) with added sugar ingredients, except for the dairy-based, dry cereals and baby snack categories. Almost half (48%) of the dairy-based category contained an added sugar and more than 75% of baby snack products contained an added sugar ingredient. Most toddler (stage 4) foods also did not have added sugars, though 65% of grain-based snacks and desserts contained at least one added sugar. Many baby and toddler foods in 2023 did not contain added sugars, overall, about 2 in 10 down from 3 in 10 in 2015. However, most baby and toddler food snacks contained an added sugar. Public health efforts could implement additional policy actions and educate parents and caregivers on products with and without added sugars.

INDEX WORDS: sugars, infant nutrition, toddler nutrition