Mothers care for their babies as they attend a Department of Health program launch in Taguig City on November 7, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File

MANILA — A senator has filed a bill seeking to ban the adding of sugar to baby food, citing its detrimental effects on the health of infants and toddlers.

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Under Senate Bill 2518, Sen. Imee Marcos specifically targets the banning of sugar on food that will be served to children aged zero to three years old.

"Baby food refers to all consumed food other than breastmilk that is made especially for older infants and young children aged beyond six months to thirty-six months old,” the bill stated.

This, according to the senator, is to protect babies from getting obese.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) is seeking a ban on added sugars in baby foods for children aging from 0 to 36 months old due to its detrimental impact on the child's oral health. In addition, added sugar on baby foods put children at risk of developing a preference for sweet foods, which may lead to overweight and obesity related diseases in adulthood,” Marcos said.

The WHO data is backed by the Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute's 2022 survey that underscored around 27 million overweight and obese Filipinos.

“The proposed bill seeks to ensure good nutrition, optimal child growth and development, and better health outcomes for children. To this end, the government, and agencies concerned shall implement a ban on added sugar in baby food. The producers/manufacturers shali take responsibility to remove added sugar and look for healthier alternatives in their baby food products,” Marcos said.

Once it becomes a law, violators will be fined from P300,000 to P500,000 and/or imprisonment from one to five years.

Products that will be found with added sugar will be immediately recalled, prohibited and seized by the Department of Health.

If the offender is a foreigner, an immediate deportation order will be observed after serving the given sentence.