Prepackaged snacks for young children often contain alarming amounts of salt, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
An analysis of more than 1,000 food products found that nearly 75 percent of commercial prepackaged meals and snacks for toddlers were high in sodium.
"Our concern is the possible long-term health risks of introducing high levels of sodium in a child's diet, because high blood pressure, as well as a preference for salty foods, may develop early in life," said Joyce Maalouf, of the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.
The analysis found that some of the toddler meals contained as much as 630 milligrams (mg) per serving. The AHA recommends limiting sodium intake to less than 1,500 mg per day.
