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Nearly one in five infants’ diets fall short on iron

toddler eating

Nearly 20 percent of US infants (6 to 12 months old) are falling short of iron in their diet, putting them at risk for sub optimal cognitive development, according to the latest Nestlé Feeding Infants and Toddlers Study (FITS).

The study also shows that many young children do not consume a single discrete serving of either fruits, vegetables, whole grains, or dairy on a given day and miss the mark on nutrients that are important for development and overall health, including vitamin D, fiber and potassium.

Started in 2002 by Gerber and now conducted by the Nestlé Research Center in Lausanne, Switzerland, FITS is the largest dietary intake study in the United States focused on infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

As part of the company’s Nestlé for Healthier Kids initiative to help 50 million children lead healthier lives by 2030, FITS helps to build, share and apply nutritional knowledge.

Nearly 10,000 parents and caregivers of infants, toddlers and preschoolers have now been surveyed over three FITS studies.

A team of pediatric experts and nutrition scientists from leading academic, medical, government and research institutions collaborated with Nestlé and Gerber on the most recent FITS study.

Read the full press release