Why parents are being warned about baby food pouches sold in UK supermarkets
- A study by the University of Glasgow and the First Steps Nutrition Trust has warned that many baby food pouches sold in UK supermarkets are equivalent to fruit smoothies and should not be given to children under a year old.
- Researchers analysed 298 wet commercial baby food products and found that spouted pouches contained lower levels of protein and energy, but higher concentrations of sugar compared to breast milk.
- Around 60 per cent of products evaluated were sold in pouches, with 70 per cent of these targeted at infants under six months old, despite NHS guidelines recommending weaning starts from around six months.
- The authors highlighted that packaging often uses misleading claims such as “no added sugar”, despite the products containing high amounts of free sugars from pureed fruit content.
- Experts have called on regulators to introduce mandatory standards and review the labelling and marketing of spouted pouches to better protect infant health.
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