Study: Parents underestimate added sugar in kids' food

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Yogurt might seem like a healthy option for your child, but health experts are warning that one serving could fulfill a child’s daily sugar intake.

The American Heart Association recommends kids ages 2 to 18 have less than 25 grams -- or six teaspoons -- of added sugars daily for a healthy heart.

In a recent study, nearly three-quarters of parents underestimated the total amount of sugar in their child’s foods. The biggest underestimations happened around foods that are commonly seen as “healthful.”

More than 90 percent of another German study’s participants underestimated the sugar in yogurt, by an average of seven cubes, or about 60 percent of the total sugar in each serving.

Eating too many added sugars has been linked to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease and tooth decay.