A study has revealed that leading baby food brands, including Ella’s Kitchen and Heinz, are producing products with excessive sugar and poor nutritional value. The findings have raised concerns about the impact on infant health and prompted calls for stricter government regulation.
Researchers from the University of Leeds found that some products, such as Ella’s Kitchen pear and peach baby rice, contained just 3% rice, with 60% of calories coming from sugar. Heinz’s fruity banana custard was found to derive 71% of its calories from sugar, and its baby oat porridge was 29% sugar.
The study, funded by the Which? Fund, analyzed 632 baby products and found that 41% of meals had too much sugar, and 21% of ready-to-eat fruit products were too watery. The study also found that many early weaning foods were marketed for babies as young as four months, contrary to NHS and World Health Organization guidelines.
A survey of 1,000 parents revealed that 70% supported warning labels on high-sugar baby foods. Dr. Diane Threapleton, the study’s lead author, stressed the need for stronger regulation to prevent poor-quality products from affecting child development.
Ella’s Kitchen defended its products, stating they meet legal standards and contain no added sugar. Kraft Heinz also emphasized that its products meet nutritional standards for infants.
The Department of Health and Social Care noted that existing laws already set nutrition standards for baby food and support enforcement against non-compliant products.
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