CDC: Toddler food has too much salt, sugar

A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, published in the journal Pediatrics on Monday, found that many packaged snacks and meals for toddlers contain too much salt and sugar, which could create an early appetite for foods that lead to obesity.

The study found at labels of more than 1,000 foods for infants and toddlers and found that seven in 10 meals contained extra salt. Snacks like cereal bars and breakfast pastries, meanwhile, often contained additional sugar.

According to the CDC, almost one in four U.S. children ages two to five are either overweight or obese. The CDC encouraged parents to read food labels and look for healthy alternatives with less salt and sugar. The study notes that nearly 80 percent of children ages one to three exceed the maximum daily salt level.

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