BBC News
Getty imagesBaby food manufacturers should cut salt and sugar levels in their products and stop promoting snacks for infants under one year, the government has said.
The new guidance will also restrict the use of marketing claims that suggest health benefits without scientific evidence.
Firms that do not health their products within 18 months may face action.
It comes after four months A BBC panorama investigation found that the top-brand baby food pouch was lacking in major nutrients And parents were often being misled by marketing.
The manufacturers told the BBC that they were committed to providing high quality and nutritious foods, and were committed to marketing and labeled them in a responsible manner.
There has been a significant increase in the baby food and drink market in recent years.
Food in pouches makes more than one third of this market and has increased sales of fruits and vegetable-based straws, puffs and wafers.
Former Chief Nutritionist of Government, Dr. Alison Tedestone says, “Companies are preparing these products as a healthy, when they are actually a crisp or sweetie. They are putting benefits before health,” the former chief nutritionist of the government, Dr., Dr. Alison says Tedestone.
“I hope a moral business will stand back and think about our children’s health.”
In June, NHS advice was updated to the parents to tell that they should not rely on baby food pouches as everyday food, experts believe that they can cause health problems for children if they are used as the main source of nutrition.
These new government guidelines now turn to the manufacturers – asking them to improve their products and boundaries.
It has been an important demand for health preachers who say that these are companies that need to be improved, so not all pressure is on the parents.
Family photoA mother Crystal of two from Leeds has used commercial baby food to feed her son Austin, which is now two.
“Like most of the parents, I take my children’s health and nutrition very seriously,” she told the BBC.
,[But] Marketing messages have been misleading about the nutritional value of baby food and some baby snack foods for a very long time.
Companies have been able to bring products to the market for infants at the age of the first four months, even though government guidelines have stated that infants under six months of age should not be given solid foods.
The firms have marketed snacks to infants under 12 months of age, when NHS guidance for parents says that less than one children need snacks.
The new guidelines say that both these practices should now be phased, which can have significant effects for manufacturers.
Under the guidelines, sugar levels will be restricted in finger foods, snacks, desserts and non-composed yogahrts, but the maximum level of sugar in fruit pouches is no maximum level. It should be in a day despite many products containing more sugar in the same bag than one-year in a day.
Companies have also been asked to restrict the use of marketing claims on their products that are not based on scientific evidence.
Experts argue that these claims often see products healthy as they are actually, and sometimes a better option than homemade food.
Some major baby food pouches take labels such as “Just Good Stuff” or “Packed with Goodness”, despite the BBC panorama, some products are low in major nutrients and much higher in sugar.
But concerns are not clear the guidelines are not clear what is and not allowed.
A public health nutritionist and Director of Charity First Steps Nutrition Trust, Dr. Vicky Sibson described him as “open to exploitation” by companies.
A version of these guidelines was prepared by Public Health England for the then conservative government, five years ago.
However, the guidelines were never published as the Prime Minister changed and new priorities came during the Kovid -19 epidemic.
Dr. Alison Tedestone led the team that wrote the guidelines and told the BBC that he hoped that “this is the line in the sand”.
The guidelines are voluntary, and the government hopes they will be followed.
But no company contacted by the BBC responded when they were asked if they would fully follow the guidelines.
A public relations firm representing Ella’s kitchen, a market leader, is disputed whether some of its products fell under guidelines related to advertising of snacks.
It explained the BBC to their carrots and Parsnip Melty Puffs and Tomato and Basil Melty Stick – which was clearly advertised as snacks on supermarket websites, and in the “Snacks and Finger Foods” section on their website – in fact – in the form of a meal or “pick plate”.
Dr. Vicky Sibson said “dissatisfied”, saying that parents regularly use products such as snacks. He said that puff and melted rods were completely inappropriate for use within the main meal as infants require food which is more in nutrients.
Dr. Tedestone said that she heard time and time on such arguments from baby food companies and it was “unavoidable” that some companies would not follow the guidelines.
The government says that “additional or alternative measures” will be considered if the business fails to implement these guidelines by February 2027.
Preachers hope that it will take the form of a better compulsory law. The government refused to specify whether it was an option.
The guidelines apply only in England, but it is expected that the manufacturers will sell any updated range or products across the UK.
The British expert Nutrition Association (BSNA), an industry body, who represents the largest baby food companies including Ella’s kitchen, organics, Kidilius and Hipp Organic, stated that the BBC said that its members have made significant improvements in dishes in recent years, including reviewing sugar and growing vegetative materials, and frequent on-packs.
“We will continue working towards the published guidelines,” said this. “Baby foods can play an important role with home prepared food and provide options for parents.”
Hanz and Kidilius did not respond to the BBC. Organics and Ella’s kitchen did not make their own statements, mentioning us BSNA.
Picolo stated that they are “committed to developing with guidance to the best service families”.
Charlotte Sterling-Read, a child expert and writer, told the BBC that they hoped that the brands followed the brands “for the future health of the children”.
He said that families should not feel guilty of using products.
“It is about making changes in food products that are available to young children, not to embarrass us as parents.”
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