Baby food pouches fail to give infants the nutrients they need, experts reveal
Brightly packaged products made by Ella's Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl were tested for their nutritional value and found to be lacking.
As well as being low in iron, which is vital for an infant's development, some contained more sugar than a one-year-old should consume in a day – despite being marked as containing 'no added sugar'.
The BBC Panorama investigation also found that nearly all the vitamin C in one fruit pouch had been lost during the manufacturing process.
Dr Alison Tedstone, a former government chief nutritionist, said the nutritional claims of baby food pouches were 'misleading', adding: 'You think as a parent it is a healthy product, and it just isn't.'
Dental experts also warned against feeding babies through the plastic spout on pouches, as this may cause tooth decay.
Eddie Crouch, of the British Dental Association, said: 'Parents of infants are still being marketed products more sugary than Coke. Voluntary action has failed. We need government to step up and force industry to do the right thing.'
Children who were 'barely out of weaning' were going to hospital for multiple tooth extractions, Mr Crouch told the BBC.
'It's obviously not all down to these pouches,' he added. 'But clearly, regular use and feeding with these pouches with such high levels of sugar cause serious problems to the general health of children as they're growing up.'
Pouches that do not contain added sugar may contain up to four teaspoons of 'free sugars' created when fruit is blended.
Last year, an international study found more than 200 branded food products aimed at UK babies and toddlers failed to meet World Health Organisation nutrition and marketing standards, with excessive sugar, salt or calories.
Experts say big brands surround their products with healthy-sounding words and phrases – known as 'halo marketing' – to trick parents.
Ella's Kitchen, for example, describes savoury products as 'perfectly balanced for growing babies', while Piccolo claims many pouches are 'packed with goodness'.
Some Little Freddie pouches are branded as 'Good for Brains' and Heinz claims some of its fruit products are 'as nutritionally good as homemade'.
Market leader Ella's Kitchen agreed its products should be used sparingly, were not replacements for homemade meals and could cause health problems if used as children's main source of nutrition.
The firm added that it would 'never, ever' put profit above the health of children.
Lidl said it welcomed clear government guidelines, Little Freddie said it actively participated in policy consultations and Piccolo said it developed 'recipes that combine fruits with vegetables' to reduce sugar levels.
Aldi said it would relabel its fruit pouches to reflect NHS guidance that babies should not be given solid food until the age of six months.
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