Food claims guide · Children and food · Marketing claims
How to check food claims aimed at children
A parent’s checklist for comparing a food claim with its label, without using product scores to plan a child’s treatment.
A bright pack can promise more than its label explains. Write down the specific claim before deciding whether the evidence supports it.
Ask what is actually being promised
“Contains calcium” is a different claim from “improves growth”. One describes a nutrient. The other suggests an outcome. A nutrient quantity alone cannot establish that a particular child will get that outcome.
Ask the brand which product and amount its evidence concerns. A general article about an ingredient is not automatically evidence for the finished food.
Compare the same food, in the same amount
Put two current labels side by side. Match the product category and the amount being compared. Note the declared serving and the amount your child would actually have. Keep the full ingredients and allergen information beside the nutrition table.
This is a way to organise questions. It is not a calorie target, a list of forbidden foods or a plan for changing a child’s weight.
Sources: ICMR-NIN: Dietary Guidelines for Indians 2024, label-reading chapter (PDF)
Keep product reviews within their limits
WHO’s October 2026 guidance puts obesity care within structured, age-appropriate support. It is not a recommendation to treat a child using a snack, supplement or shopping score.
Heal’s scores are editorial comparisons for supported categories. They do not account for a child’s growth or clinical needs. Take personal concerns to a qualified clinician who can assess the whole picture.
Sources: WHO: child and adolescent obesity guidelines, 7 October 2026 · Heal.Abhi: our evidence and scoring method
Sources and further reading
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