World News for Students of English

07-11-2024 07:00

People in Southeast Asia are getting wealthier, and more parents are choosing convenience foods for their babies. These foods are advertised as healthy but often contain added sugars, while similar products in Western countries don’t.

A UNICEF study of 1,600 baby foods in Southeast Asia found that nearly half had added sugars. In the Philippines, where rates of obesity and diabetes are increasing, this is particularly concerning. Nutritionists worry that starting babies on sweet foods could make them prefer sugary tastes as they grow up. For example, the popular baby food Cerelac contains about 17.5 grams of sugar per serving; however, labels don’t distinguish between natural and added sugars, making it hard for parents to know how much sugar is added. Nestlé makes Cerelac and says it adds sugar to mask the taste of nutrients like iron and DHA, which babies need for healthy growth.

Although Nestlé plans to remove added sugar from their products in the next few years, nutritionists and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend reducing added sugars in baby foods now, especially for children under three. Parents want to provide the best for their children, but it is difficult when convenience foods often contain high levels of sugar.

Difficult words: convenience food (a pre-prepared meal that requires minimum further preparation), distinguish (to see or show a difference).

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