What's really in the baby food pouches you're giving your child?
But a new investigation by BBC Panorama has found pouches from six of the UK's leading brands are failing to meet key nutritional needs of babies and toddlers.
One single pouch by brand leader Ella's Kitchen contained more sugar than a one-year-old should have in a day, while products by Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl also failed to meet nutritional recommendations.
The episode makes for sobering viewing as the mother of a one-year-old, who used pouches several times a week in the early days of weaning.
Like hundreds of thousands of households in the UK, the open-and-it's-ready convenience appealed to us in the depths of sleep deprivation, when cooking and blending separate meals (that would inevitably end up on the floor) felt futile. I was also nervous about choking, and pouches seemed like a great way to introduce new flavours to my little one before he developed teeth.
Sure, I felt a little guilty, but as a fellow first-time mum said to me: 'They make them for babies, they can't be that bad…right?'
The BBC commissioned a lab accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to test a fruit, yoghurt and savoury pouch from each of the big brands.
The testing of 18 pouches found many to be low in vitamin C and iron, while some contained concerning amounts of sugar close to those in adult fizzy drinks.
Savoury pouches are often used by parents as a main meal, but none of those tested came close to providing the 7.8mg of iron an infant requires in a day for a healthy immune system, growth and brain development
Of the four pouches tested that contained meat – known to be a good source of iron – Heinz's Sweet Potato, Chicken and Veggies contained the lowest, with just over 0.3mg of iron. Piccolo's Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese contained just 0.1mg.
Those at the top of the pack still failed to meet the requirements dramatically (Little Freddie Butternut Squash, Red Lentil and Coconut contained just 1mg of iron, while Ella's Kitchen Spag Bol had 0.7mg and Aldi's Banger's and Mash had 0.5mg).
Sugar was a big concern across the board, with Ella's Kitchen's Bananas and Apples found to be the worst offender, with 19.6g of sugar – equivalent to more than four teaspoons.
The NHS says an infant should have as little sugar as possible, and that a one-year-old child should have no more than 10g of free sugars a day. Free sugars occur when fruit is pureed, as is the case with the pouches. Unlike eating fresh fruit – which is much better for a child – pureeing releases sugar from inside fruit cell walls and can be absorbed much more quickly.
The researchers also found that almost all beneficial vitamin C (important for the immune system) had been lost during the manufacturing process of fruit pouches.
The Pure Mango pouch from Piccolo had, in effect, no vitamin C left – less than 0.1mg. This is despite the same amount of fresh mango (70g) containing 18.2mg of vitamin C.
Let's be real, most parents would love to make their little ones homecooked food every day, but weaning is an intimidating prospect when your child reaches six months old, with very little official guidance available beyond a few NHS recipes.
Historically, health visitors would have been on hand to walk first-time parents through the minefield of homemade purees, baby-led weaning and everything in between. But data from the Care Quality Commission shows the number of full-time health visitors in England has decreased by approximately 45% since 2015, the equivalent of 4,500 employees.
The result is fewer, rushed appointments where – in my experience – you queue up to weigh your baby at the local community centre once a month and have a quick five-minute conversation about any concerns (if you're lucky).
It can be hard to know which books are worth buying (and spending the time reading) when you're feeling up against it. I've personally found Joe Wick's Wean in 15 helpful and know it's also a hit with several NCT friends.
Another pal also recommended following Solid Starts when I was nervous about choking. The account and app details how to portion different foods safely for the age and ability of your child.
For quick recipes and no-nonsense weaning advice, follow child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed.
Social media can be so valuable – just ensure the accounts you follow are created by reputable, qualified practitioners!
For specific concerns, book a GP appointment if you're struggling to access support via your health visitor.
At the same time, parents are working far more than they were in previous generations. In 2000, 66.2% of mothers with dependent children were employed, according to ONS Data. By 2021, this figure had risen to 75.6%, the highest level in 20 years.
It's no wonder then, that baby food has morphed into a multimillion pound industry, carefully marketed to time-poor parents who want to do their best, but don't know where to start.
Panorama found many of the biggest brands use 'halo-marketing', surrounding products with healthy words or phrases, which could potentially 'mislead' 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 come branded as 'Good for Brains' and Heinz claims some of its fruit products are 'as nutritionally good as homemade'.
Health experts have now called for updated mandatory legislation around baby food labelling and nutritional content, with several of the brands saying they would welcome government guidance.
When the BBC put their research to the brands, all said their products were intended as a complementary part of a child's varied weaning diet. The brands also told the BBC they were committed to infant health, and they provided quality nutritional products that meet UK regulations. More Trending
On the subject of sugar, Piccolo said it develops 'recipes that combine fruits with vegetables' to reduce sugar levels, while Ella's Kitchen said that, 'the sugar content would be the same if you pureed the ingredients yourself at home' and that it has 'a dedicated sugar reduction pathway for 2025'. Heinz, Aldi, Little Freddie and Lidl all said their products contained 'no added sugars'.
When it comes to marketing, Piccolo and Little Freddie told the BBC their packaging accurately represented the key ingredients and flavours contained in their products, while Ella's Kitchen said it 'would never use' misleading claims. Heinz did not address the BBC's questions on marketing.
Regarding iron (or lack of it), Little Freddie added that its products were not intended to be meal replacements for one-year-olds and Ella's Kitchen said that its pouches should be used sparingly.
BBC Panorama: The Truth about Baby Food Pouches is available on iPlayer now and airs Monday 28 April at 8pm.
MORE: Prescription charges frozen to keep them under a tenner
MORE: What ultra-processed food does to your body after days, weeks and months
MORE: Thousands of UK deaths could be linked to ultra-processed foods
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Daily Mail
FDA issues recall of cheese products sold nationwide over fears of contamination from bacteria and RODENTS
Five cheese products have been urgently recalled due to being potentially contaminated with deadly bacteria and rodents. Wegmans Food Markets has voluntarily recalled four of its cheese products containing camembert and brie cheese after they were found to be at risk of containing listeria, a type of bacteria that causes severe diarrhea and muscle aches. The recall included the following products: Wegmans Medium Camembert Soft Ripened Cheese, 8.8 oz; Wegmans Assorted Cheese Flight, 1 lb; Wegmans Grilling Camembert with Tapenade & Roasted Tomatoes, 10 oz; and Wegmans Caramel Apple Pecan Topped Brie Cheese, 13 oz. Affected products, supplied by Georgia-based Estancia Holdings, were pulled from stores after the company was notified by their French supplier that three shipments they received may be contaminated with listeria. Recalled items were sold in the cheese department at all Wegmans stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington DC. They were sold between July 1 and August 12, 2025. Additionally, New Hampshire-based Quesito El Establo recalled its Spanish Cheese (Quesito Colombiano) because they were manufactured at a facility with rodents, rodent activity and other unsanitary conditions, according to an FDA investigation. The FDA warned this raised the risk of the products being contaminated with salmonella, which causes bloody diarrhea and stomach cramps. The cheese was distributed to stores in Massachusetts targeting Hispanic and Latino customers. They all had the product code August 22, 2025, or earlier. No illnesses have been reported for either recall. Quesito El Establo has stopped production and distribution of affected products while the FDA and the company continue investigating. Listeria, also called Listeriosis, is a serious infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. It can be found in moist environments, soil, water, decaying vegetation and animals, and can survive refrigeration and other food preservation measures. Many foods can harbor the bug, but it is usually found in unpasteurized milk, soft cheeses and ready-to-eat foods, such as prepacked sandwiches. Cooked shellfish, cured meats and fish, including sushi and pre-cut fruit, are also a risk. Most people who eat food contaminated with Listeria will not become seriously ill. But in some cases, it can cause confusion and seizures, miscarriages among pregnant women, and even death. This can happen when the infection spreads beyond the gut and affects the central nervous system, which can lead to numbness and seizures. The CDC estimates 1,600 Americans become infected with listeria every year, and about 260 die. Salmonella typically causes diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps that begin six hours to six days after initial infection, according to the CDC. Unlike most bacteria, once consumed some strains of salmonella can survive the stomach acid and travel into the intestines. Once there, they burrow into the cells lining the organ, causing inflammation, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. The bacteria may also enter the bloodstream and travel to other organs. Most people recover within days, though the illness is responsible for more than 1.3million infections, 26,000 hospitalizations and 400 deaths a year. Customers who consumed any of the affected products should return them to the place of purchase for a full refund, the FDA said.
Scottish Sun
01-08-2025
- Scottish Sun
Five sneaky tricks supermarkets and brands use to get YOU to spend more as fat jabs hit sales
Supermarkets are finding new creative ways to cash in on the weight-loss trend JAB ATTACK Five sneaky tricks supermarkets and brands use to get YOU to spend more as fat jabs hit sales Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WAISTLINES are not the only things shrinking with the use of weight-loss jabs – supermarket bottom lines are too. Food sales are falling, and data-analyst Kantar blames hunger-repressing injections like Mounjaro for a 0.4 per cent drop in the four weeks to June 24. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 8 Supermarkets are doing their best to keep profits high despite the success of weight-loss drugs Credit: Getty 8 Hunger-repressing injections like Mounjaro have been blamed for a fall in food sales Credit: Alamy A 4 per cent rise in food prices in the past year is also reducing spending. Now the big stores and brands are fighting back. Rosie Taylor reveals the sneaky ways they try to make us part with our cash. TEMPTING YOUR TASTEBUDS BRANDS are launching new flavour combinations for staple products they think will be a big hit with shoppers. Heinz has released a Sweet Sriracha tomato ketchup (£2.68 at Asda), and Bird's Eye has launched fish fillets coated in a Mexican tortilla crumb (£1.98 from Asda). Brands are also releasing new products with trimmer waistlines in mind. These include Tango Sugar Free Strawberry Smash (eight cans cost £3.34 at Asda) and Pepsi's zero sugar Cream Soda flavour (eight cans costs £3.75 from Waitrose). Dr Jenna Vyas-Lee from Kove Minds clinic in Southwark, London, says: 'We get a hit of dopamine — the feel-good hormone — from trying new things. 'So, a new flavour of Coke speaks to that curious part of our brain. Feeding your curiosity by buying that item makes you feel good.' TIP: Tempted by an intriguing new flavour? Take a picture of it and add it to your shopping list for next week. Take time to think about whether you really want it, or if it's just an impulse buy. Nutritionist reveals which stars could be suffering from 'Ozempic face' & why some like Kelly Clarkson get away without 8 Heinz's new Tomato Ketchup Sweet Sriracha sauce is one of the flavour combinations being used to keep shoppers interested Credit: supplied 8 Tango is also creating new flavours, including their fresh Strawberry Smash drinks Credit: supplied SELLING FAT JABS SUPERMARKETS are finding new ways to cash in on the weight-loss trend. Asda and Morrisons are both selling fat jabs through online clinics. Asda is selling Wegovy injection doses from £118.98, while Morrisons is selling Mounjaro self-injectable pens from £129 a month. An investigation by Which? found buying from a registered pharmacy, like Asda, was safer than buying from unregulated online clinics where some fake versions of the drugs have been found for sale. TIP: Always speak to your GP before starting any new medication and only ever buy from registered pharmacies. 8 Asda and Morrisons are both selling fat jabs through online clinics. Credit: Alamy 8 Asda has even launched a new sportswear brand to try and tap into fitness-conscious customers Credit: supplied LAUNCHING FITNESS RANGES ASDA launched a new sportswear brand, Gym Locker, in January, to target fitness-conscious shoppers. Women's wear such as a sports bra and shorts start at £14. Men's wear starts at £12. While Aldi launched a budget Specialbuy fitness range in May, including a reformer pilates machine for £149.99, an £11.99 smart watch to track your steps and heart rate, and yoga mats for £5.99. Lidl launched a high protein product range on TikTok shop in February. The £5 bundles on offer included 500g packs of protein powder and protein pancake mixes. CREATING SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUPERMARKETS launch huge product promotions for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Now, they're finding new ways to encourage us to buy all year round. Asda is advertising a Summer Vibes promotion for picnics, barbecues and 'summer breakfast' products. Top picks include Birds Eye 12 Chicken Dippers for £2.48. But not on the list is its own-brand Just Essentials 20 breaded chicken nuggets at £1.10, a saving of £1.38. Tesco is pushing a Summer Essentials range, including a bistro set of two chairs and a table for £112.99 (pictured). The same set is available at Robert Dyas for £87.99, a saving of £25. Presenting products as a theme encourages us to buy more, said Patrick Young from research consultancy PRS In Vivo: 'It makes shoppers want to buy all the things they need to create that sense of occasion.' TIP: Always go shopping armed with a list so you are less likely to be swayed by marketing. PLAYING LAYOUT MIND GAMES WE'RE all guilty from time to time of walking away with goodies that weren't on our shopping list. But did you know supermarkets are constantly trying to get us to overspend using secret tactics? Shops invest heavily in 'space planning', where the store layouts are designed to get customers spending more. Techniques to catch our eye include putting stickers on the floor or signs around the shelves to highlight a new product or special offers. Brands in particular are jostling to get store customers' eyeballs on their goods — research shows shoppers ignore 80 per cent of products within two seconds of looking. Brands will therefore do deals with supermarkets to position their items in the best places along aisles. 'There is a lot of competition between brands on the supermarket shelf, it's an arms race,' said Young, adding: 'People tend to look in the middle and slightly down, so products at the top of the shelves could be better value.' Another super-sneaky tactic brands are using is to super-size packaging so products stand out more on shelves. TIP: Look at the top and bottom shelves to check for cheaper options. Always compare the price per gram on the label, instead of just looking at the item's price. This is the best way of seeing which products offer the best value for money. 8 Time limited deals are being used to try and create a sense of urgency for supermarket customers Credit: Morrisons RUNNING FOMO DEALS ANOTHER effective tactic stores use is putting time-limits on deals, for example Morrisons' When It's Gone It's Gone deals. 'This creates a sense of scarcity [the fear something could run out] and people also don't want to miss a chance to get value for money,' said Young. Shoppers may feel like they need to rush into buying deals, even when they are not actually great value. Nearly nine out of ten UK adults spend on non-essential little luxuries every month, including takeaway coffees or buying a drink or meal for a friend, according to research by Chase Bank. TIP: 'A good deal is only a good deal if you need it,' said Dr Vyas-Lee. If the product is something you buy regularly, such as toilet roll, it makes sense to pick up a two-for-one deal. But if it is a one-off purchase, you could be wasting your money. All prices correct at time of publication Gas boost for needy BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund. It offers up to £1,700 to those struggling with energy debt, regardless of their supplier. Last year it helped 1,800 households, writing off £839,000 in debt. Boss Jessica Taplin said: 'This fund will help those who need it most get on stable ground and keep their homes and families warm and safe.' Grit-ish airways BRITISH AIRWAYS has reported a bumper 48 per cent rise in operating profits to £824million for the first half of the year. It comes despite a £40million hit from Heathrow's temporary closure in March due to a substation fire. 8 British Airways reported a bumper 48 per cent rise in operating profits for the first half of the year Credit: Getty The buoyant airline ramped up its flight programme, increasing capacity by 2.1 per cent and boosting revenues. Parent company International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Vueling, saw earnings jump 43.5 per cent to £1.88billion, with pre-tax profits climbing to £1.75billion. Meanwhile, the debate over Heathrow's third runway intensified yesterday as IAG backed rival proposals from hotel tycoon Surinder Arora and Heathrow's owners, calling both 'credible.' However, IAG boss Luis Gallego said: 'We only want to build something affordable that'll allow everybody to have more passengers, but they don't have to pay the level they are paying today.' Arora's £25billion plan for a shorter, 2,800-metre runway aims to avoid costly diversions of the M25 but does not include redevelopment of the central terminal area. Heathrow favours a full-length, 3,500-metre runway to maximise operational flexibility. It would cost £21billion, with its full expansion plan — including terminals and infrastructure — estimated at £49billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will assess the competing plans this summer. Homes rise HOUSE prices rose by 0.6 per cent in July, reversing a 0.9 per cent drop in June, according to Nationwide. Annual growth climbed to 2.4 per cent, with the average home now priced at £272,664. With the Bank of England expected to cut interest rates next week, the housing market could see a fresh boost in activity in the months ahead. Mark Harris, boss of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: 'We could be in for a busy autumn. Lenders continue to trim mortgage rates.' Fall slows THE downturn in UK factory production eased slightly again last month as the sector posted its strongest performance for half a year. The S&P GLOBAL UK manufacturing PMI rose to 48.0 from 47.7, signalling a slower decline — but it was still below the growth threshold of 50. Manufacturers blamed weak domestic and export demand, higher labour costs, and geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, rising staff costs resulted in July being the ninth consecutive month of falling employment. Phone scams do a number on you By Lucy Andrews BEING targeted by a scammer can be a worrying experience. But has a fraudster ever pretended to be YOU to trick people out of their cash? That's exactly what happened to me, when I discovered my phone number had been 'spoofed'. It's a horrible form of identity fraud and a cunning way for con artists to attempt to steal money from unsuspecting victims, as the number appears to be from a trusted source. It all began six months ago, when I started getting mysterious phone calls from strangers claiming they had received missed calls from me. But when I checked my call log each time, I could see that I never phoned them. I would tell the caller that they made a mistake, and hang up. I was suspicious that these were scammers trying to lure me into handing over money in some way, so I made sure to block the numbers after I ended the phone calls. That was until last week, when I received a WhatsApp from a lady I didn't know. 'Hello, did you call me?' the text read. She sent a screenshot of her call log – and surprisingly, my phone number was at the top of the list. I asked my phone company, ID Mobile, what had happened. It said my phone number appears to have been spoofed. I paid £25 to change my number, as it made me feel sick thinking scammers were pretending to be me. Spoofing is becoming a big problem. The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, is so concerned about the growing threat that it launched a consultation last year on how to address the issue. It said a call from a spoofed number could appear more trustworthy, and 'victims are more likely to share personal information'. Worryingly, phone companies can't do a lot about spoofing, but you can take steps to prevent it happening. Be wary of who you share your number with. Most website forms will ask for it, but you don't always need to give your number away.
The Sun
01-08-2025
- The Sun
Five sneaky tricks supermarkets and brands use to get YOU to spend more as fat jabs hit sales
WAISTLINES are not the only things shrinking with the use of weight-loss jabs – supermarket bottom lines are too. Food sales are falling, and data-analyst Kantar blames hunger-repressing injections like Mounjaro for a 0.4 per cent drop in the four weeks to June 24. 8 A 4 per cent rise in food prices in the past year is also reducing spending. Now the big stores and brands are fighting back. Rosie Taylor reveals the sneaky ways they try to make us part with our cash. TEMPTING YOUR TASTEBUDS BRANDS are launching new flavour combinations for staple products they think will be a big hit with shoppers. Heinz has released a Sweet Sriracha tomato ketchup (£2.68 at Asda), and Bird's Eye has launched fish fillets coated in a Mexican tortilla crumb (£1.98 from Asda). Brands are also releasing new products with trimmer waistlines in mind. These include Tango Sugar Free Strawberry Smash (eight cans cost £3.34 at Asda) and Pepsi's zero sugar Cream Soda flavour (eight cans costs £3.75 from Waitrose). Dr Jenna Vyas-Lee from Kove Minds clinic in Southwark, London, says: 'We get a hit of dopamine — the feel-good hormone — from trying new things. 'So, a new flavour of Coke speaks to that curious part of our brain. Feeding your curiosity by buying that item makes you feel good.' TIP: Tempted by an intriguing new flavour? Take a picture of it and add it to your shopping list for next week. Take time to think about whether you really want it, or if it's just an impulse buy. Nutritionist reveals which stars could be suffering from 'Ozempic face' & why some like Kelly Clarkson get away without 8 8 SELLING FAT JABS SUPERMARKETS are finding new ways to cash in on the weight-loss trend. Asda and Morrisons are both selling fat jabs through online clinics. Asda is selling Wegovy injection doses from £118.98, while Morrisons is selling Mounjaro self-injectable pens from £129 a month. An investigation by Which? found buying from a registered pharmacy, like Asda, was safer than buying from unregulated online clinics where some fake versions of the drugs have been found for sale. TIP: Always speak to your GP before starting any new medication and only ever buy from registered pharmacies. 8 LAUNCHING FITNESS RANGES ASDA launched a new sportswear brand, Gym Locker, in January, to target fitness-conscious shoppers. Women's wear such as a sports bra and shorts start at £14. Men's wear starts at £12. While Aldi launched a budget Specialbuy fitness range in May, including a reformer pilates machine for £149.99, an £11.99 smart watch to track your steps and heart rate, and yoga mats for £5.99. Lidl launched a high protein product range on TikTok shop in February. The £5 bundles on offer included 500g packs of protein powder and protein pancake mixes. CREATING SPECIAL OCCASIONS SUPERMARKETS launch huge product promotions for Christmas, Valentine's Day and Easter. Now, they're finding new ways to encourage us to buy all year round. Asda is advertising a Summer Vibes promotion for picnics, barbecues and 'summer breakfast' products. Top picks include Birds Eye 12 Chicken Dippers for £2.48. But not on the list is its own-brand Just Essentials 20 breaded chicken nuggets at £1.10, a saving of £1.38. Tesco is pushing a Summer Essentials range, including a bistro set of two chairs and a table for £112.99 (pictured). The same set is available at Robert Dyas for £87.99, a saving of £25. Presenting products as a theme encourages us to buy more, said Patrick Young from research consultancy PRS In Vivo: 'It makes shoppers want to buy all the things they need to create that sense of occasion.' TIP: Always go shopping armed with a list so you are less likely to be swayed by marketing. PLAYING LAYOUT MIND GAMES WE'RE all guilty from time to time of walking away with goodies that weren't on our shopping list. But did you know supermarkets are constantly trying to get us to overspend using secret tactics? Shops invest heavily in 'space planning', where the store layouts are designed to get customers spending more. Techniques to catch our eye include putting stickers on the floor or signs around the shelves to highlight a new product or special offers. Brands in particular are jostling to get store customers' eyeballs on their goods — research shows shoppers ignore 80 per cent of products within two seconds of looking. Brands will therefore do deals with supermarkets to position their items in the best places along aisles. 'There is a lot of competition between brands on the supermarket shelf, it's an arms race,' said Young, adding: 'People tend to look in the middle and slightly down, so products at the top of the shelves could be better value.' Another super-sneaky tactic brands are using is to super-size packaging so products stand out more on shelves. TIP: Look at the top and bottom shelves to check for cheaper options. Always compare the price per gram on the label, instead of just looking at the item's price. This is the best way of seeing which products offer the best value for money. RUNNING FOMO DEALS ANOTHER effective tactic stores use is putting time-limits on deals, for example Morrisons' When It's Gone It's Gone deals. 'This creates a sense of scarcity [the fear something could run out] and people also don't want to miss a chance to get value for money,' said Young. Shoppers may feel like they need to rush into buying deals, even when they are not actually great value. Nearly nine out of ten UK adults spend on non-essential little luxuries every month, including takeaway coffees or buying a drink or meal for a friend, according to research by Chase Bank. TIP: 'A good deal is only a good deal if you need it,' said Dr Vyas-Lee. If the product is something you buy regularly, such as toilet roll, it makes sense to pick up a two-for-one deal. But if it is a one-off purchase, you could be wasting your money. Gas boost for needy BRITISH GAS ENERGY TRUST has reopened its Individuals and Families Fund. It offers up to £1,700 to those struggling with energy debt, regardless of their supplier. Last year it helped 1,800 households, writing off £839,000 in debt. Boss Jessica Taplin said: 'This fund will help those who need it most get on stable ground and keep their homes and families warm and safe.' Grit-ish airways BRITISH AIRWAYS has reported a bumper 48 per cent rise in operating profits to £824million for the first half of the year. It comes despite a £40million hit from Heathrow's temporary closure in March due to a substation fire. 8 The buoyant airline ramped up its flight programme, increasing capacity by 2.1 per cent and boosting revenues. Parent company International Airlines Group (IAG), which also owns Aer Lingus, Iberia, and Vueling, saw earnings jump 43.5 per cent to £1.88billion, with pre-tax profits climbing to £1.75billion. Meanwhile, the debate over Heathrow's third runway intensified yesterday as IAG backed rival proposals from hotel tycoon Surinder Arora and Heathrow's owners, calling both 'credible.' However, IAG boss Luis Gallego said: 'We only want to build something affordable that'll allow everybody to have more passengers, but they don't have to pay the level they are paying today.' Arora's £25billion plan for a shorter, 2,800-metre runway aims to avoid costly diversions of the M25 but does not include redevelopment of the central terminal area. Heathrow favours a full-length, 3,500-metre runway to maximise operational flexibility. It would cost £21billion, with its full expansion plan — including terminals and infrastructure — estimated at £49billion. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will assess the competing plans this summer. Homes rise HOUSE prices rose by 0.6 per cent in July, reversing a 0.9 per cent drop in June, according to Nationwide. Annual growth climbed to 2.4 per cent, with the average home now priced at £272,664. With the Bank of England expected to cut interest rates next week, the housing market could see a fresh boost in activity in the months ahead. Mark Harris, boss of mortgage broker SPF Private Clients, said: 'We could be in for a busy autumn. Lenders continue to trim mortgage rates.' Fall slows THE downturn in UK factory production eased slightly again last month as the sector posted its strongest performance for half a year. The S&P GLOBAL UK manufacturing PMI rose to 48.0 from 47.7, signalling a slower decline — but it was still below the growth threshold of 50. Manufacturers blamed weak domestic and export demand, higher labour costs, and geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, rising staff costs resulted in July being the ninth consecutive month of falling employment. Phone scams do a number on you By Lucy Andrews BEING targeted by a scammer can be a worrying experience. But has a fraudster ever pretended to be YOU to trick people out of their cash? That's exactly what happened to me, when I discovered my phone number had been 'spoofed'. It's a horrible form of identity fraud and a cunning way for con artists to attempt to steal money from unsuspecting victims, as the number appears to be from a trusted source. It all began six months ago, when I started getting mysterious phone calls from strangers claiming they had received missed calls from me. But when I checked my call log each time, I could see that I never phoned them. I would tell the caller that they made a mistake, and hang up. I was suspicious that these were scammers trying to lure me into handing over money in some way, so I made sure to block the numbers after I ended the phone calls. That was until last week, when I received a WhatsApp from a lady I didn't know. 'Hello, did you call me?' the text read. She sent a screenshot of her call log – and surprisingly, my phone number was at the top of the list. I asked my phone company, ID Mobile, what had happened. It said my phone number appears to have been spoofed. I paid £25 to change my number, as it made me feel sick thinking scammers were pretending to be me. Spoofing is becoming a big problem. The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, is so concerned about the growing threat that it launched a consultation last year on how to address the issue. It said a call from a spoofed number could appear more trustworthy, and 'victims are more likely to share personal information'. Worryingly, phone companies can't do a lot about spoofing, but you can take steps to prevent it happening. Be wary of who you share your number with. Most website forms will ask for it, but you don't always need to give your number away.
