Are young children consuming non-nutritive sweeteners?
Are young children consuming non-nutritive sweeteners?
This study examined how often preschool-aged children consumed foods and beverages containing non-nutritive sweeteners and identified the common sources of these sweeteners in young children’s diets.
What We Did and Why We Did It
We analyzed dietary data from 112 preschool-aged children (1.5–5 years old) participating in the Guelph Family Health Study pilot studies. Parents completed 3-day food records that documented all foods and beverages their children consumed. Researchers reviewed these records to identify foods and drinks containing non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS), including the types of sweeteners and how frequently they were consumed.
Non-nutritive sweeteners are low- or no-calorie alternatives to sugar that are increasingly found in foods and beverages. While Canada’s Food Guide recommends limiting intake of NNS and Health Canada recommends avoiding NNS-containing beverages for children under 2 years old, there is limited research on how much NNS young children consume. Understanding children’s intake patterns can help inform nutrition recommendations and support healthy eating habits during early childhood.
What We Found
What We Can Learn From This
Most preschool-aged children in the study did not consume foods or beverages containing non-nutritive sweeteners. However, 19 children (17%) consumed at least one product containing NNS during the 3-day food recording period. Foods and beverages containing NNS included freezies, oral nutritional supplements, flavoured water, carbonated drinks, sugar-free jam, and protein powder. The most commonly identified sweeteners were stevia leaf extract, acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K), sucralose, monk fruit extract, and aspartame. Children who consumed NNS-containing products typically had them 1–3 times over the 3-day period.
Although non-nutritive sweetener intake was low among preschool-aged children in this study, some young children are already being exposed to these ingredients through commonly available foods and beverages. Continued monitoring of NNS intake can help researchers better understand how consumption patterns change over time and whether intake is associated with diet quality and health outcomes. Clearer information about NNS on food labels may also help families make informed choices.
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