US consumer attitudes toward sodium in baby and toddler foods

Abstract

Dietary data from a nationally representative survey indicate about 80% of US toddlers aged 1–3 years consume too much dietary sodium, which can influence their preference for salty foods in later life. Information on consumer attitudes can inform strategies to reduce sodium in baby and toddler foods. Data were obtained from a 2012 online survey sent to a sample of 11636 US adults aged ≥18 years enrolled in a national probability-based consumer panel; 6378 completed the survey and had nonmissing responses to the question of interest, “It is important for baby and toddler foods to be low in sodium.” Prevalence of agreement was estimated. Logistic regression was used to describe associations of respondent characteristics with agreement. The majority of respondents were non-Hispanic white and had a household income ≥$60,000. About 7 in 10 (68%, 95% CI: 66%–70%) respondents agreed it is important for baby or toddler foods to be low in sodium. More than 6 of 10 respondents in most subgroups agreed. Among parents with a child currently aged <2 years (N = 390), 82% agreed (95% CI: 77% –87%); the highest agreement included parents who thought sodium was very harmful to their own health (92%, 95% CI: 85%–99%) or who were watching/reducing their own sodium intake (95%, 95% CI: 90%–100%). After adjusting for sex, age, race-ethnicity, agreement was most strongly associated with being a parent of a child <2 years, thinking sodium was harmful, and watching/reducing sodium intake (adjusted odds ratios ≥ 2.5, 95% CI’s ≠ 1.0). The majority of respondents including most parents agreed it is important for baby and toddler foods to be low in sodium, suggesting wide consumer support for strategies to lower sodium in these foods.

Less Salt, Same Taste: Food Marketing Strategies via Healthier Products

“…Similarly, Reference [23] analyzed 30,073 menu items in 237 restaurant chains, revealing a high sodium density, 2.196 g/1000 Kcal on average (1.865 g when including children's menus), exceeding the limits recommended by U.S. Department of Agriculture (1.5 g/day). Reference [24] highlighted that in the US, 80% of toddlers (aged 1 to 3) consume an excessive quantity of sodium and this could be doubly harmful considering the odds of protracting this negative food habit for their lifetime. Reference [25] presented data on Korea which revealed that, on average, Korean adults consume 42,934 g sodium per day, twice the WHO recommendations.…”

Sampling effects on the quantification of sodium content in infant formula using laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS)

“…Although a minimum intake is indispensable for healthy functioning, an excessive consumption of sodium in the human diet is related to higher blood pressure and an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases (Masotti, Erba, De Noni, & Pellegrino, 2012;Tamm, Bolumar, Bajovic, & Toepfl, 2016). With regard to infancy, studies have also associated an excessive sodium intake with increased blood pressure in the later stages of life, indicating that blood pressure may track with age (Campbell et al, 2014;John et al, 2016).…”