I'm a nanny & the NHS advice is right – I would NEVER feed a kid an Aldi pouch & here's the exact reason why…
The NHS Start for Life website has updated its advice for parents using baby pouches
FOOD FOR THOUGHT I'm a nanny & the NHS advice is right – I would NEVER feed a kid an Aldi pouch & here's the exact reason why…
A PROFESSIONAL nanny has revealed the Aldi kids' food she would never give her clients' children.
Emily, who works with families all over the world, claimed that she would personally avoid 'pouches and meal trays' that you can pick up in supermarkets.
Advertisement
4
A nanny has claimed that kids' food pouches should be avoided on a daily basis
Credit: tiktok/@thenosugarcoatnanny
4
She claimed the packs don't provide nutrition you should rely on for your kids
Credit: tiktok/@thenosugarcoatnanny
Over recent years, numerous companies have found success in convincing parents that feeding a baby with a quick and convenient processed pouch is easier and also nutritious.
However, there have been growing concerns over whether they are nutritionally sufficient and if they hinder a varied diet.
On her @thenosugarcoatnanny account, Emily, who is trained as a prestigious Norland nanny, held up two items from Aldi's Organia Mamia range, which are designed for children.
Speaking of their 'super cheap' 65p apples, parsnips and carrots pouch (intended for ages four months and above) and their 95p chicken and vegetable cous cous (designed for 12 months and older), she said: 'These are products that I do not recommend to parents."
Advertisement
PANORAMA INVESTIGATION
Emily cited an investigation by BBC Panorama, which found that six leading UK brands did not meet their key nutritional needs for baby food pouches.
The NHS website has published advice on commercial baby food, and said parents should not rely on shop-bought pouches as everyday meals.
Some popular baby food pouches are labelled as being "perfectly balanced for growing babies" or "packed with goodness".
Emily added: 'Lots of you know about the Panorama documentary that came out about pouches and food.
Advertisement
'I think if you haven't watched it as a parent, definitely go and watch it.'
The study followed the World Health Organisation stating that it is "critical" that infants and toddlers get good nutrition in the first three years of life.
Disgusted mom shares warning after finding mold inside her baby's food pouch and it was still in date
Babies need food that is "pure, varied, minimally seasoned and nutrient-dense."
Despite this, by the age of two to five, the average UK toddler has been found to get 61 per cent of their energy from ultra-processed foods, according to a 2022 study.
Advertisement
IRON LEVELS
Emily's next gripe was with the iron levels in baby meals, and claimed that 'a baby needs 7.8 mg a day.'
In the Panorama documentary, Ella's Kitchen spag bol had just 0.7mg of iron, while Aldi's Bangers and Mash contained 0.5mg of iron and a Lidl meal had about 0.4mg.
4
The NHS Start For Life website states that parents should wait until their baby is around six months old before feeding them solid foods
Credit: Getty
Emily claimed: 'Aldi's products were tested, and their iron levels in them were around 0.5 mg.
Advertisement
'So, if you give your child, let's say, this for breakfast, this for lunch, and a similar one for dinner, your child's, getting 1.5 milligrams of iron a day?
'That's so incredibly low.
'And obviously, children need iron to grow their blood cells.
'It's obviously to help with their oxygen and the flow around their body.
Advertisement
'So, that's something to really, really consider when thinking of these.'
4
The World Health Organisation stating that it is "critical" that infants and toddlers get good nutrition in the first three years of life
Credit: Getty
Emily shared how she wasn't advising parents to avoid them completely, and said they are 'absolutely fine' for days out if you've not made anything or forgotten a snack.
She explained: 'But what I don't want parents to be doing is stocking their cupboards full of these sorts of things, and then that's your go-to.'
Advertisement
A spokesperson for Aldi said: 'Our range of products can help parents and carers to support a child's weaning journey by introducing a wide variety of food and flavours as part of a varied diet.
"Any sugar in them is naturally occurring and would be the same in a fruit puree made at home.'
Can I use shop-bought jars and pouches to feed my baby and toddlers?
ACCORDING to the NHS website: "If you are using food pouches, jars, trays and pots, they should only by used occasionally. They should not be used as an everyday food." Wait until your baby is around 6 months old before feeding them solid foods – even if labels say it's suitable from 4 months
Check food labels and choose the food with the least amount of sugar
Always squeeze the contents from pouches onto a spoon to feed your baby
Do not rely on food pouches, jars, pots and trays as everyday food
Do not let your baby suck food from the pouch – this can increase their risk of tooth decay
Do not feed your baby snacks until they are 12 months old
Source: NHS: Start for Life
NHS GUIDANCE
The NHS Start For Life website states that parents should wait until their baby is around six months old before feeding them solid foods, even if labels on pouches say the products are suitable from four months.
Experts say the products should only be used sparingly, and not as replacements for homemade meals.
Advertisement
They also advised they can cause children health problems if used as their main source of nutrition.
The six brands involved in the investigation were Ella's Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl, who all said their products were intended to be used as a complementary part of a child's varied weaning diet.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South Wales Argus
20 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Reeves announces £6 billion to provide millions of NHS tests and procedures
New scanners, ambulances and urgent treatment centres are among the things which the additional cash will pay for, with the aim of providing up to four million more tests and procedures over the next five years. The announcement comes after the Chancellor put NHS funding at the heart of her spending review on Wednesday, raising its budget in a move worth £29 billion a year. This comes, however, at the expense of other areas of public spending. The new £6 billion funding will help to meet the Government's target of reducing NHS waiting lists in England, the Chancellor claimed. 'Over a decade of underinvestment from the previous government put the NHS on its knees, with people across the country unable to get the care they need. We are investing in Britain's renewal, and we will turn that around,' Ms Reeves said. She added: 'Part of our record investment will deliver four million tests, scans and procedures, so hard-working people can get the healthcare they and their families need. 'There is no strong economy without a strong NHS, and we'll deliver on our Plan for Change to end the hospital backlog, improve living standards and get more money in people's pockets.' The latest spending commitment will help patients get access to diagnostic scans and treatment in places such as shopping centres and high streets, speeding up their diagnoses. The Government hopes this will help to cut NHS waiting lists, meeting Labour's goal of ensuring the health service carries out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Since taking office we have been relentless in our drive to cut waiting times for patients, delivering over 3.6 million extra elective care appointments and reducing the overall waiting list by over 200,000. 'The £6 billion investment we are announcing today will generate millions more vital diagnostic tests, scans and procedures for patients across the country.' On Wednesday evening, Ms Reeves said the Government was 'confident' it could meet its pledge to reduce waiting lists after giving the NHS a 3% annual increase in funding at the spending review. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a visit to St Thomas' Hospital in London, following the spending review (Carl Court/PA) Some health leaders are, however, sceptical that the Government will meet its target, despite the funding boost provided at the spending review. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, warned 'difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29 billion won't be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it'. He added: 'So, on its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund charity, said: 'The Chancellor said she wants the public to have an NHS there when they need it. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions: faster ambulance times, more GP appointments, and adequate mental health services and more can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this additional funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines, which are currently being negotiated, and covering staff pay deals.'
Glasgow Times
21 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Reeves announces £6 billion to provide millions of NHS tests and procedures
New scanners, ambulances and urgent treatment centres are among the things which the additional cash will pay for, with the aim of providing up to four million more tests and procedures over the next five years. The announcement comes after the Chancellor put NHS funding at the heart of her spending review on Wednesday, raising its budget in a move worth £29 billion a year. This comes, however, at the expense of other areas of public spending. The new £6 billion funding will help to meet the Government's target of reducing NHS waiting lists in England, the Chancellor claimed. 'Over a decade of underinvestment from the previous government put the NHS on its knees, with people across the country unable to get the care they need. We are investing in Britain's renewal, and we will turn that around,' Ms Reeves said. She added: 'Part of our record investment will deliver four million tests, scans and procedures, so hard-working people can get the healthcare they and their families need. 'There is no strong economy without a strong NHS, and we'll deliver on our Plan for Change to end the hospital backlog, improve living standards and get more money in people's pockets.' The latest spending commitment will help patients get access to diagnostic scans and treatment in places such as shopping centres and high streets, speeding up their diagnoses. The Government hopes this will help to cut NHS waiting lists, meeting Labour's goal of ensuring the health service carries out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Since taking office we have been relentless in our drive to cut waiting times for patients, delivering over 3.6 million extra elective care appointments and reducing the overall waiting list by over 200,000. 'The £6 billion investment we are announcing today will generate millions more vital diagnostic tests, scans and procedures for patients across the country.' On Wednesday evening, Ms Reeves said the Government was 'confident' it could meet its pledge to reduce waiting lists after giving the NHS a 3% annual increase in funding at the spending review. Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves during a visit to St Thomas' Hospital in London, following the spending review (Carl Court/PA) Some health leaders are, however, sceptical that the Government will meet its target, despite the funding boost provided at the spending review. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, warned 'difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29 billion won't be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it'. He added: 'So, on its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund charity, said: 'The Chancellor said she wants the public to have an NHS there when they need it. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions: faster ambulance times, more GP appointments, and adequate mental health services and more can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this additional funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines, which are currently being negotiated, and covering staff pay deals.'
The Independent
23 minutes ago
- The Independent
Reeves announces £6 billion to provide millions of NHS tests and procedures
Rachel Reeves has announced a £6 billion investment to speed up tests and treatment within the NHS, after setting out huge year-on-year rises in the health service's budget. New scanners, ambulances and urgent treatment centres are among the things which the additional cash will pay for, with the aim of providing up to four million more tests and procedures over the next five years. The announcement comes after the Chancellor put NHS funding at the heart of her spending review on Wednesday, raising its budget in a move worth £29 billion a year. This comes, however, at the expense of other areas of public spending. The new £6 billion funding will help to meet the Government's target of reducing NHS waiting lists in England, the Chancellor claimed. 'Over a decade of underinvestment from the previous government put the NHS on its knees, with people across the country unable to get the care they need. We are investing in Britain's renewal, and we will turn that around,' Ms Reeves said. She added: 'Part of our record investment will deliver four million tests, scans and procedures, so hard-working people can get the healthcare they and their families need. 'There is no strong economy without a strong NHS, and we'll deliver on our Plan for Change to end the hospital backlog, improve living standards and get more money in people's pockets.' The latest spending commitment will help patients get access to diagnostic scans and treatment in places such as shopping centres and high streets, speeding up their diagnoses. The Government hopes this will help to cut NHS waiting lists, meeting Labour's goal of ensuring the health service carries out 92% of routine operations within 18 weeks. Health Secretary Wes Streeting said: 'Since taking office we have been relentless in our drive to cut waiting times for patients, delivering over 3.6 million extra elective care appointments and reducing the overall waiting list by over 200,000. 'The £6 billion investment we are announcing today will generate millions more vital diagnostic tests, scans and procedures for patients across the country.' On Wednesday evening, Ms Reeves said the Government was 'confident' it could meet its pledge to reduce waiting lists after giving the NHS a 3% annual increase in funding at the spending review. Some health leaders are, however, sceptical that the Government will meet its target, despite the funding boost provided at the spending review. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents all health organisations, warned 'difficult decisions will still need to be made as this additional £29 billion won't be enough to cover the increasing cost of new treatments, with staff pay likely to account for a large proportion of it'. He added: 'So, on its own, this won't guarantee that waiting time targets are met.' Sarah Woolnough, chief executive of the King's Fund charity, said: 'The Chancellor said she wants the public to have an NHS there when they need it. 'It is hard to see how all the things she mentions: faster ambulance times, more GP appointments, and adequate mental health services and more can be met on this settlement alone. 'Particularly when large parts of this additional funding will be absorbed by existing rising costs, such as the higher cost of medicines, which are currently being negotiated, and covering staff pay deals.'
