Ultra-Processed Food Consumption Among Infants at 12 Months of Age: Prevalence and Contributions to Energy, Sodium, Added Sugars, and Saturated Fats

Abstract

Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have increased substantially in early childhood diets, yet limited research has examined the extent to which UPFs contribute to energy and nutrient intake among infants during the complementary feeding period. This study aimed to characterize consumption of ultra-processed foods among infants at 12 months of age and to quantify the contribution of UPFs to total daily intake of energy, sodium, added sugars, and saturated fats.Dietary intake data were obtained from a sample of 237 infants at 12 months of age. Infant dietary intake was assessed using a single 24-hour dietary recall and analyzed with the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR). Foods and beverages were classified according to the NOVA food classification system. Descriptive analyses were conducted to estimate the prevalence of UPF consumption and to calculate the mean daily intake of energy and selected nutrients from infant formula, other ultra-processed foods, and non-ultra-processed foods. All infants in the sample consumed at least one ultra-processed food when infant formula was included in the UPF classification, and 94.1% consumed ultra-processed foods excluding formula. Ultra-processed foods contributed 61.4% of total daily energy intake, 52.1% of total sodium intake, 98.5% of total added sugars intake, and 56.6% of total saturated fats intake. Infant formula was a major contributor to total energy, added sugars, and saturated fats intake, while other ultra-processed foods contributed substantially to sodium intake. These findings indicate that ultra-processed foods constitute a substantial proportion of infants' dietary intake at 12 months of age. The results highlight early exposure to ultra-processed foods and their contribution to key nutrient concerns during a critical period of dietary development.