Commercial Complementary Food in Germany: A 2020 Market Survey

Abstract

As consumption of commercial complementary food (CCF) during infancy and toddlerhood is common, the aim of the present study was to describe the current (2020) German market of CCF products targeted at infants and toddlers with a special focus on ingredients, macronutrients, and the practice of nutrient fortification. Information on age declarations, ingredients, energy and nutrient contents, and nutrient fortification was obtained in a market survey by contacting the producers and searching manufacturers’ websites. Each product was assigned to 1 of 13 product categories (menus, milk−cereal−meal, fruit−cereal−meal, oil, vegetables, meat, fish, fruits, cereals, snack foods, pouches, desserts, beverages). Descriptive statistics were used. We identified 1057 CF products on the German market (infants’ CCF (<12 months): n = 829; toddlers’ CCF (>12 months): n = 228)). The highest protein content (% of energy content, %E) was found in meat products. In pouches, beverages, cereal fruit meals, and fruits, more than 50% of energy came from total sugar. The highest median salt content was found in toddlers’ menus and desserts. Around one-third of infants’ CCF products and one quarter of toddlers’ products were fortified with nutrients. Vitamin B1 (thiamin) was the most frequently fortified nutrient, followed by vitamin C, iron, calcium, and vitamin D. Apple was the type of fruit listed most often in products with fruits, whereas carrot was the most frequent vegetable among CCF with vegetables. In particular, the high total sugar content of most CCFs currently available on the German market may promote unhealthy dietary habits. Parents need to be advised about the optimal selection of products.

Keywords: beverages; commercial complementary food; fortification; infants; salt; sugar; toddlers.

Figure 1

Declared macronutrient content (% of energy content) of commercial complementary food products (means of product category), results of a 2020 market survey in Germany.

Figure 2

The most frequent ingredients (fruits, vegetable, meat, fish, and fat/oil, listed in at least ≥5% of products) in commercial complementary foods for infants and toddlers, results of a 2020 market survey in Germany (values are % of products containing fruits (i.e., fruit–cereal–meals, fruit products, fruit pouches, milk–cereal–meals in jars; n = 398), vegetables (i.e., menus, vegetables, and vegetable pouches; n = 308), meat (menus and meat products; n = 142), fish (fish menus and fish jars; n = 23), and added fat/oil (in menus and vegetable products; n = 283)).