Patterns of Sugar Intake in Infants and Toddlers: 5 Country Analysis

Guidelines on the type and amount of recommended daily sugar intake for infants and toddlers vary considerably by country/Government and indeed bodies such as the World Health Organization. Globally, we know that sugar consumption is high, but little is known about the patterns of sugar intake across geographies. In this presentation, Regan Bailey details a five-country comparison of sugar intake among thousands of infants aged between six to 48 months. 

The study compares total sugar intake via sweetened beverages, sweetened baked goods and sweets and candies in Brazil, China, Mexico, Russia and the USA.  The study reviews the sources of sugar intake and the age at which they appear in the diet. 

In all countries, children over the age of 12 months are exceeding the 10 per cent maximum energy intake from sugars, although the source of the sugars varies from country to country.  Given that food choices and sources of sugars are culturally specific, no one single strategy will help us reduce intake on a global scale, therefore culturally-specific initiatives will be needed to tackle the issue.