As a profession, dietitians spend a lot of time advising parents about how to nourish their little ones. We provide advice, work through challenges and often have to come up with creative ways to help you implement our recommendations!
One food which is easy and accessible for parents to feed their children is using pre-made baby food pouches, jars or purees. I’m sure you’ve seen them in the supermarket; covered in pictures of fruits and vegetables, plastered with claims such as “nutritious,” “expert-approved,” or “perfect for your baby”. But what if I told you that these very foods could be setting them up for poor health?
A damning report from the University of Leeds (Commercial Baby Foods in Crisis) has exposed the shocking truth: the baby food aisle is failing our children.
What’s really in your baby’s food?
The findings are alarming:
- Over half of baby foods contain excessive sugar. Some products are up to 79% sugar; often disguised as “fruit purees” or “no junk promise” snacks.
- 20% of foods are too low in energy because they’re packed with unnecessary water, meaning babies aren’t getting enough calories for healthy growth. This means they have to eat larger portion sizes than necessary to sustain their weight.
- Portion sizes are too large in 60% of cases, encouraging overeating from an early age. This may lead to a marked change in hunger and satiety, and may encourage larger portion sizes as the child grows up.
And yet, parents are being misled. Phrases like “nutritionist-approved” and “fruit made fun” create a false sense of security. Many assume that if it’s sold as baby food, it must be safe. It must be regulated. It must have strict requirements to be sold. But the reality is far from it.
Why is this happening?
The answer is simple: weak regulation. Unlike foods for older children and adults, baby food has no legal limits on sugar. Manufacturers exploit this loophole by:
- Adding unnecessary sugars (even in savoury foods!), or prioritising high sugar fruits in puree’s as they are tastier for the baby (leading to an increased consumption in the food) and often cheaper than the lower sugar counterparts (like berries.
- Promoting early weaning with snacks marketed for babies under 6 months: against NHS guidance. This causes confusion amongst parents, often encouraging them to wean early which has been associated with poorer health outcomes in the future.
- Using vague claims (“no artificial nasties”) to distract from high sugar and poor nutrition.
A ticking time bomb for children’s health
The consequences are already visible:
- Rising childhood obesity, with many kids overweight before they start school. This may be contributed to by the large portion sizes from weaning age; as kid’s are used to larger portion sizes, they feel more hungry when appropriate portion sizes are given, leading to further overeating.
- Tooth decay in toddlers, leading to painful extractions. This may be contributed to by the high sugar content of foods they eat from weaning age, such as the purees, juices and bars given as baby food.
- Poor eating habits that set children up for a lifetime of struggling with sugar consumption and weight issues.
What needs to change?
The government must tighten baby food regulations immediately, ensuring:
- Strict sugar limits: no more “healthy” pouches packed with sugar; instead, foods with no added sugar that prioritise low sugar fruits, rather than more sugary varieties.
- Honest labelling: no misleading claims, no vague statements. Only regulated, policy driven claims should be allowed on packaging.
- Appropriate portion sizes: avoid filling foods with water to bloat the portion sizes and save money; instead, provide adequate nutrition in appropriate portion sizes so we aren’t teaching kids to overeat from a young age.
- Removal of recommendations for below 6 months: parents should not be confused or encouraged by recommendations of feeding baby food to children below the age of 6 months.
What Can Parents Do Now?
I first want to reiterate to you that, if you have fallen prey of this scandal, this is not your fault. Claims on packaging is very misleading, and as a busy parent, it is understandable that you were unaware of these issues. However, there are things you can do now whilst we wait for policy changes:
✔ Read labels carefully: look beyond marketing claims and check the sugar content.
✔ Opt for whole foods: homemade purees (with no added sugar) are often healthier.
✔ Delay weaning until 6 months (unless advised otherwise by a healthcare professional).
✔ Choose savoury over sweet: babies don’t need fruit-based snacks at every meal.
Final Thoughts
Parents, you’re doing an incredible job; but don’t let big food companies exploit your trust. The baby food industry is in crisis, and until regulations catch up, we must be vigilant.
Your child’s health is worth it.
(Source: University of Leeds, Commercial Baby Foods in Crisis)
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