[Commercially available complementary foods in Argentina and Mexico: An analysis of their nutritional composition, labeling, and promotionAlimentos complementares comercializados na Argentina e no México: análise da composição nutricional, rotulagem e promoção].
Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine
To characterize commercially available complementary foods (CACFs) sold in Argentina and Mexico and analyze their alignment with a nutrient and promotion profile model (NPPM) designed and adapted for Latin America and the Caribbean. This was a descriptive study of all CACFs available in Argentina and Mexico in 2025. Data were collected from product labels and evaluated for compliance with the NPPM, which defines criteria for nutritional composition, presence of non-nutritive additives, and processing level, as well as requirements for promotional practices. Overall, 17 CACFs were found in Argentina and 234 in Mexico. None of the CACFs marketed in Argentina and only 5% of those marketed in Mexico met all of the nutritional criteria of the NPPM. The results showed that added sugars were frequently present and that, given their high total sugar content, these products should carry a front-of-package warning label. None of the purée-style baby foods specified a maximum age recommendation. In addition, 65% of CACFs marketed in Argentina and 47% of those marketed in Mexico were classified as ultraprocessed. None of the products met the NPPM requirements regarding promotion, primarily due to the absence of warnings against sucking directly from the spout of pouch-type containers, the omission of messages promoting and protecting breastfeeding, and the presence of health, nutrition, or marketing claims and other commercial statements. These findings underscore the need to streng
Abstract
To characterize commercially available complementary foods (CACFs) sold in Argentina and Mexico and analyze their alignment with a nutrient and promotion profile model (NPPM) designed and adapted for Latin America and the Caribbean. This was a descriptive study of all CACFs available in Argentina and Mexico in 2025. Data were collected from product labels and evaluated for compliance with the NPPM, which defines criteria for nutritional composition, presence of non-nutritive additives, and processing level, as well as requirements for promotional practices. Overall, 17 CACFs were found in Argentina and 234 in Mexico. None of the CACFs marketed in Argentina and only 5% of those marketed in Mexico met all of the nutritional criteria of the NPPM. The results showed that added sugars were frequently present and that, given their high total sugar content, these products should carry a front-of-package warning label. None of the purée-style baby foods specified a maximum age recommendation. In addition, 65% of CACFs marketed in Argentina and 47% of those marketed in Mexico were classified as ultraprocessed. None of the products met the NPPM requirements regarding promotion, primarily due to the absence of warnings against sucking directly from the spout of pouch-type containers, the omission of messages promoting and protecting breastfeeding, and the presence of health, nutrition, or marketing claims and other commercial statements. These findings underscore the need to strengthen public policies - particularly from a regulatory standpoint - aimed at improving the nutritional composition of processed foods and preventing misleading promotional and labeling practices.