WASHINGTON — Parent advocacy organisations and paediatric nutrition specialists on Tuesday amplified calls for stricter oversight of toddler foods, days after a study found that 81% of products marketed for young children in the United States qualified as ultra-processed. The research examined packaged foods aimed at children aged roughly one to three.

The study, published in a peer-reviewed nutrition journal, applied the NOVA classification system to hundreds of commercial products. Researchers reported that most items exceeded recommended thresholds for added sugar or sodium, and that many carried marketing claims such as "organic" or "no artificial ingredients" despite heavy processing.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest and allied groups pointed to the toddler window as a formative period for taste preferences and eating habits. Early exposure to ultra-processed foods is linked in observational studies to later dietary patterns and higher risks of obesity, according to nutritionists cited in the research.

Industry representatives, including members of the Consumer Brands Association, defended their products as safe and convenient for busy families, while some manufacturers signalled openness to reformulation. Advocates urged the Food and Drug Administration to clarify front-of-pack labelling and to scrutinise marketing directed at parents of infants and toddlers.

The renewed attention aligns with broader federal interest in ultra-processed foods, which have featured in recent dietary guidance debates. Public health researchers said sustained pressure would be needed to translate the findings into policy or product changes.