But now, for many such foods, the information is required and more pertinent to today's health concerns. Importance of Fat Concerns about excessive fat and cholesterol intake for most of the population don't apply to children under 2, however. Fat is one of six nutrient categories essential for proper growth and development. At no other age does fat play such an important role as in infancy and early childhood, a period of rapid growth and development. Fat also gives taste, consistency, stability, and palatability to foods and converts to body fat, which is necessary to hold organs in place, absorb shock, and insulate the body from temperature changes.
Some parents fail to realize fat's importance for young children.
According to a Gerber Products Co.'s telephone survey of 1,076 adults, nearly one in five respondents said they reduce the amount of fat in their baby's diet. Parents should be aware of this and avoid reducing fat in their young children's diets. Restrictions For foods for children under 2, the amount of saturated fat, polyunsaturated fat, monounsaturated fat, cholesterol, calories from fat, and calories from saturated fat in the food cannot be listed on the label. The following is a list of dietary components about which information is allowed on the Nutrition Facts panel on the labels of foods for children under 2. Information usually appears on the side or back of the package and is mandatory for underlined components.