The British Dental Association (BDA) has this week urged the government to take action on baby food companies after analysis found high levels of sugar content.
As published in The Probe, a wide-ranging analysis of the UK baby food pouch market found that there has been no improvement in their sugar content.
The analysis of 209 products aimed at children under 12 months found:
- Top brands are actively undermining the government’s guidance on weaning from around six months – with some targeting products at four month olds.
- Offering lower sugar levels is straightforward – although manufacturers describe the presence of ‘natural’ levels of sugar as inevitable with fruit-based baby food pouches, similar products from different brands contain a fraction of the sugar content.
- Over a quarter of baby food pouches included contained more sugar by volume that Coca Cola. The fruit based pouches are aimed at infants as young as four months.
- Boutique brands have higher levels of sugar than traditional brands or own-brands.
- Almost a quarter of products examined contained up to two thirds of the recommended maximum daily free sugars for an adult.
- The sector uses disingenuous language including “natural occurring sugars”, “no added sugars”, and “nutritionist approved”. Additionally, halo labelling principles are applied in high-sugar products, including “organic”, “high in fibre”, or “containing one of your five a day”.
- Almost 75% of the products analysed contained more than the 5g of sugar per 100ml threshold set for the soft drinks levy.
- Eating straight from the pouch is not an approach ruled out by all brands. This approach can add to the risk of dental disease.
The BDA has created a petition, encouraging dental professionals to join the call for the government to take action.
> Since you’re here, why not read about Number of registered dental care professionals increases by 6%?
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