Salt and added sugar: spotting the hidden sources

The rule for the early years

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises no added sugar for children under 2. The current US Dietary Guidelines (2025-2030) advise avoiding added sugar in infancy and early childhood. The guidelines define this period as birth to age 4. The NHS also advises avoiding food and drinks with sugar or sweeteners for children aged 4 and under. The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that children aged 6 to 23 months should not eat foods high in sugar, salt or trans fats at all.

Why not add salt?

Too much salt is not good for your baby's kidneys. Do not add salt to your baby's food or cooking water. Stock cubes and ready-made gravy are often very salty. If your baby will share the family meal, set their portion aside before you add salt. The US guidelines advise keeping sodium below 1,200 mg a day for ages 1 to 3.

Where is the hidden salt?

Salt often comes inside the food without you adding any. Processed meats such as deli meats, sausages and ham are examples. Crisps, crackers, salted chips, ready meals, takeaways and some frozen meals are salty too. Some canned foods and some packaged snacks for toddlers can also be high in salt. When you buy canned food, choose no-salt-added or low-salt options.

How does added sugar look on a label?

Added sugar can appear on a label under many names. Look for the words 'sugar' and 'syrup' in the ingredient list. Names ending in '-ose', such as glucose, fructose, dextrose, sucrose and maltose, are sugars too. Corn syrup, fruit juice concentrate, honey and molasses also count as added sugar. The natural sugar in fruit and plain milk is not added sugar.

Which products need a closer look?

Muffins, cookies and flavored yogurts can contain added sugar. Check the nutrition label to find options without added sugar. Using sweeteners instead of sugar is not advised either. The WHO advises against non-sugar sweeteners at this age and notes that they may build a later liking for sugary foods. According to the NHS, eating fruit is fine.

If you are not sure whether a ready-made product suits your baby, go over its label with your child's doctor.