Spouted baby food pouches are more like sugary drinks/smoothies than nutritious food
Commercial baby foods in spouted pouches—intended to boost nutritional intake from the age of 6 months onward—are often more like sugary drinks and smoothies than nutritious food, finds an analysis of U.K. products, published online in Archives of Disease in Childhood.
A recent study published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood reveals that commercial baby foods in spouted pouches may be more similar to sugary drinks than nutritious food. Researchers analyzed 298 products from six major supermarkets in Glasgow, Scotland, finding that 60% of these products came in spouted pouches. These pouches are intended for children under 12 months old but were often higher in sugar and lower in nutrient density compared to breast milk or formula, raising concerns about their labeling as complementary foods.
The texture of the food inside the pouches also posed challenges, with only 10% of the spouted pouches being soft foods, while 49% were described as thin liquids, making it difficult for babies to develop the necessary oromotor skills for eating solid foods. Only 8.5% of the spouted pouches met all the criteria for suitable complementary foods, while the majority did not meet any of the desired criteria.
The researchers argue that regulators should consider changing the product categorization and labeling to make it clear which products are drinks and which are foods, in order to encourage parents to make informed choices in line with public health recommendations.
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