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Daily Mail
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
Health warning over baby food after probe reveals shocking level of harmful ingredient
Britain's most sugar-laden baby foods were today named and shamed. Some products — including ones sold by Ella's Kitchen — contained more sugar than a one-year-old should have in a day. Government guidance states infants 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. But laboratory testing of more than a dozen baby food pouches sold in UK supermarkets found some contained higher levels than those found in fizzy drinks, with one reporting over 19g — more than four teaspoons. The alarming investigation also discovered most failed to even provide sufficient vitamin C or iron, essential nutrients infants need every day. Experts today labelled the BBC probe 'really concerning', arguing that 'no added sugar' statements on packaging may make parents think the products are healthier than they are. Doctors, dentists and other experts want ministers to ban products being sold with 'intentionally misleading' health claims. There are currently more than 250 baby food pouch products available in the UK — their convenience and long shelf lives have seen them become a staple for many households with young children. As part of the investigation, BBC Panorama commissioned a lab to independently test the nutritional value of a fruit, yoghurt and savoury pouch from each of the four leading brands and two supermarkets. These included Ella's Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl. The highest 'free sugar' level found by the BBC was Ella's Kitchen's Bananas and Apples, which has 19.6g of sugar — equivalent to more than four teaspoons. Free sugars — those added to products — are released from fruit when it is pureed. 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. Yet Ella's Kitchen, as well as Lidl, Aldi, Piccolo and Heinz, label their products as containing 'no added sugar' despite the tests showing otherwise. Eating too much sugar over time can lead to weight gain and tooth decay. Eddie Crouch, chairman of the British Dental Association (BDA), said hospitals had seen young children 'barely out of weaning' needing multiple tooth extractions because of tooth decay caused by their diets. The highest 'free sugar' level found by the BBC was Ella's Kitchen's Bananas and Apples, which has 19.6g of sugar — equivalent to more than four teaspoons. Of the four pouches tested containing meat — known to be a good source of iron — Piccolo's Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese contained the lowest level at 0.1mg He said: 'It's obviously not all down to these pouches. '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.' Panorama also found many of the biggest brands use 'halo-marketing', surrounding products with healthy words or phrases, which could potentially 'mislead' parents. 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'. Some Little Freddie pouches come branded as 'Good for Brains' and Heinz claims some of its fruit products are 'as nutritionally good as homemade'. According to the BBC, Piccolo and Little Freddie said 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. Savoury pouches, meanwhile, are often used by parents as a main meal. Yet, none of those tested came close to providing the 7.8mg of iron an infant requires in a day, the probe found — crucial for healthy growth, development, and brain function. If a child does not have enough iron in their diet they will become iron-deficient and may even develop anaemia requiring treatment. A lack of iron may cause a child to look pale, become tired more easily, become irritable and have a poor appetite. Of the four pouches tested containing meat — known to be a good source of iron — Piccolo's Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese contained the lowest level at 0.1mg. This was followed by Heinz's Sweet Potato, Chicken and Veggies, with just over 0.3mg of iron and Lidl's Chicken Casserole with 0.4mg. Even those with the most, still failed to meet the requirements dramatically. Little Freddie Butternut Squash, Red Lentil and Coconut contained 1mg of iron, while Ella's Kitchen Spag Bol had 0.7mg. The BBC also found that nearly all the vitamin C in one of the fruit pouches tested had been lost during the manufacturing process. Vitamin C is important for immune systems and an infant needs 25mg a day, the government says. But 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. Voluntary guidelines for manufacturers aimed at improving standards were drawn up for the government by Public Health England in 2020. However, none have been published by either the current Labour or former Conservative Government. Existing laws already ensure that the safety and quality of baby foods and the claims made on packaging are clear and accurate, the Department of Health and Social Care said. It also added that it was 'committed to tackling the childhood obesity crisis and improving children's health through our Plan for Change, external'.
Daily Mirror
28-04-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Parents who buy Ella's Kitchen, Heinz, Aldi, and Lidl baby food pouches issued major warning
The BBC commissioned a lab accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to test a fruit, yoghurt and savoury pouch from some of the major players in the multi-million pound baby pouch market Parents across the UK who buy food pouches have been issued a major warning after an investigation found they are failing to meet the key nutritional needs of babies and toddlers. BBC's Panorama says that parents are being "misled" by marketing, as some of these products are dangerously high in sugar and low in vital vitimins and nutrients – in some cases exceeding the daily sugar recommendation for a child in just one pouch. The BBC commissioned a lab accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS) to test a fruit, yoghurt and savoury pouch from some of the major players in the multi-million pound baby pouch market, such as Ella's Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl Laboratory testing of 18 pouches found that many were low in vitamin C and iron, and a quarter of all products were so high in sugar they would trigger a front-of-pack warning label under World Health Organisation guidelines. Children need 7.8mg of iron a day to help build a healthy immune system, growth and brain development The research found that savoury pouches contained less than 5% of iron, that an infant needs each day. Of the four pouches tested that contained meat, 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. Sign up to Mirror Money's newsletter for the latest advice and news Some of the UK's leading food pouch brands also failed to meet the requirements, with Little Freddie Butternut Squash, Red Lentil and Coconut containing just 1mg of iron, while Ella's Kitchen Spag Bol had 0.7mg and Aldi's Bangers and Mash had 0.5mg. BBC's Panorama noted that the sugar levels across these products were a major concern, with over 40% of main meals having high sugar levels, and over half of snacks containing added sugars. In fruit pouches, 71% of the calories came from sugar. Ella's Kitchen's Bananas and Apples found to be the worst offender, with 19.6g of sugar – equivalent to more than four teaspoons. According to the NHS, a one-year-old child should have no more than 10g of "free sugars" a day. Free sugars occur when fruit is pureed, as the sugar is released from inside the fruit cell walls and can be absorbed much more quickly. A recent British Dental Association (BDA) report, shared exclusively with the BBC, indicated that 37 of 60 fruit pouches found on supermarket shelves contained more free sugar than the 10g guideline. Ella's Kitchen - as well as Lidl, Aldi, Piccolo and Heinz - all label their products as containing "no added sugar". The investigation also found that almost all vitamin C nutrients in the pouches had been lost during the manufacturing process. The Pure Mango pouch from Piccolo had less than 0.1mg. This is despite the same amount of fresh mango (70g) containing 18.2mg of vitamin C. However, not all the pouches had low results. The investigation found that Heinz's Apple pouch - which has vitamin C added - and Ella's Kitchen's Bananas pouch tested high in vitamin C. Experts have come forward to say that the nutritional claims of baby food pouches are misleading. According to Dr Alison Tedstone - who spent nine years as chief nutritionist to the UK government - many of the biggest brands use "halo-marketing" which is when brands use health-coded words and phrases to market the product. Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. Ella's Kitchen describes its savoury products as "perfectly balanced for growing babies", while Piccolo claims many pouches are "packed with goodness". Some Little Freddie pouches feature the tad line "Good for Brains" and Heinz claims some of its fruit products are "as nutritionally good as homemade". The BBC also found that the six companies had failed to implement some NHS, Public Health England and World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Piccolo, Aldi and Ella's Kitchen currently promote their fruit pouches to babies as young as four months, despite the NHS and WHO saying babies should not be given solid food until six months. Dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe from the WHO told the BBC that companies promoting foods to parents of four-month-olds were acting "against the best interest of the babies." Since the BBC started its investigation, some of the major food pouch companies are changing the age recommendations on their products to align with UK guidance. When approached by the BBC, all brands 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 provided quality, nutritional products that meet UK regulations. 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'. Regarding 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. On the low levels of iron, 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. Public health experts who contributed to the investigation told the BBC that no parent should feel guilty for using the products. BBC Panorama: The Truth about Baby Food Pouches is available on iPlayer now and airs Monday 28 April at 8pm.
Metro
28-04-2025
- Health
- Metro
What's really in the baby food pouches you're giving your child?
Baby food pouches have become ubiquitous with weaning, the colourful packages and promises of 'no nasties' luring in parents, like me, who need fast, healthy high chair dinners. 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
