Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand?
One of the current drivers of the infant food market is the rising demand for vegan products, and thus accurate knowledge of their nutritional composition is required to guide parents and health professionals. Thus, this study aimed to assess the nutritional composition of commercial plant-based inf...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2531 |
| _version_ | 1827653450495688704 |
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| author | Nicola Gasparre Marina Mefleh Fatma Boukid |
| author_facet | Nicola Gasparre Marina Mefleh Fatma Boukid |
| author_sort | Nicola Gasparre |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | One of the current drivers of the infant food market is the rising demand for vegan products, and thus accurate knowledge of their nutritional composition is required to guide parents and health professionals. Thus, this study aimed to assess the nutritional composition of commercial plant-based infant foods, in addition to analyzing their health/nutrition claims. A selection of infant products launched in the global market (2017–2021) were classified into eight types and each type was divided into vegan and vegetarian products. Based on the ingredients list, cereals, seeds, pseudocereals and/or pulses were the most used ingredients in the retrieved products. The nutritional composition of six out eight types varied significantly among vegan and vegetarian products. When protein, calcium and iron contents differed significantly, vegan products had the highest protein content in all categories, compared to those that were vegetarian. When significant differences were found in sugar content, vegan products have lower amounts in all categories, compared to vegetarian products. Health and nutrition claims were found mostly used in vegetarian products. Strategies to reduce added sodium and sugar, and saturated fatty acids is required to ensure a healthy diet for infants. This study also implies the importance of a complete labelling of infants’ foods, especially vegan products to help parents making a reasonable choice. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:18:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f474eda85394aedb3ee4b98b9277491 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T21:18:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f474eda85394aedb3ee4b98b92774912023-11-23T21:29:00ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472022-09-011119253110.3390/plants11192531Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand?Nicola Gasparre0Marina Mefleh1Fatma Boukid2Department of Food and Human Nutritional Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, CanadaDepartment of Soil, Plant and Food Science (DISSPA), University of Bari Aldo Moro, I-70126 Bari, ItalyClonBio Group Ltd., 6 Fitzwilliam Pl, D02 XE61 Dublin, IrelandOne of the current drivers of the infant food market is the rising demand for vegan products, and thus accurate knowledge of their nutritional composition is required to guide parents and health professionals. Thus, this study aimed to assess the nutritional composition of commercial plant-based infant foods, in addition to analyzing their health/nutrition claims. A selection of infant products launched in the global market (2017–2021) were classified into eight types and each type was divided into vegan and vegetarian products. Based on the ingredients list, cereals, seeds, pseudocereals and/or pulses were the most used ingredients in the retrieved products. The nutritional composition of six out eight types varied significantly among vegan and vegetarian products. When protein, calcium and iron contents differed significantly, vegan products had the highest protein content in all categories, compared to those that were vegetarian. When significant differences were found in sugar content, vegan products have lower amounts in all categories, compared to vegetarian products. Health and nutrition claims were found mostly used in vegetarian products. Strategies to reduce added sodium and sugar, and saturated fatty acids is required to ensure a healthy diet for infants. This study also implies the importance of a complete labelling of infants’ foods, especially vegan products to help parents making a reasonable choice.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2531veganvegetariandairycomplementary feedingcerealsfood labelling |
| spellingShingle | Nicola Gasparre Marina Mefleh Fatma Boukid Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand? Plants vegan vegetarian dairy complementary feeding cereals food labelling |
| title | Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand? |
| title_full | Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand? |
| title_fullStr | Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand? |
| title_short | Nutritional Facts and Health/Nutrition Claims of Commercial Plant-Based Infant Foods: Where Do We Stand? |
| title_sort | nutritional facts and health nutrition claims of commercial plant based infant foods where do we stand |
| topic | vegan vegetarian dairy complementary feeding cereals food labelling |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/11/19/2531 |
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