(NewsNation) — Baby food pouches are a quick and easy option, especially for busy families, but researchers warn they may not be as healthy as advertised.
A BBC Panorama investigation tested 18 fruit, yogurt and savory baby food pouches from six leading brands: Ella’s Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl.
Researchers found that many of the products were surprisingly high in sugar and severely lacked key nutrients, such as vitamin C and iron.
Others reportedly contained more sugar than a 1-year-old should consume in a day, even when labeled as having “no added sugar.”
Critics: Labels on baby food pouches mislead caregivers
Baby food pouches are marketed to caregivers of children as young as four months, against World Health Organization guidelines.
Health experts have criticized the products’ misleading labels, attributing the tactics to “halo marketing” — a technique companies use to describe a product using healthy words or phrases.
A study by the George Institute for Global Health found that more than half of baby food products sold in U.S. grocery stores don’t meet WHO nutrition standards.
Doctors warn not to give baby food pouches daily
While convenient and shelf-stable, health experts caution against making baby food pouches a daily staple and advise against using them as a meal replacement.
They warn that over-reliance on baby food pouches could lead to nutritional gaps and other health issues in children.
Experts also advise against letting babies eat food directly from the plastic spout, which they say could lead to overeating and tooth decay.
A spokesperson for Ella’s Kitchen told the BBC the company’s products are designed to complement a child’s diet, not replace meals.