Baby food pouches should not be given to children under one year old because they contain excessive sugar and lack key nutrients, according to researchers at Glasgow University.
A study of 298 commercial baby food products sold at six major supermarket chains revealed that fewer than nine per cent met essential health criteria for infants.
The findings align with National Health Service advice, which states that newborns under 12 months do not need fruit juice or smoothies. Researchers warned that many popular pouch products are equivalent to fruit smoothies.
Nutritional content compared to breast milk
A team at the University of Glasgow examined wet commercial baby food available at six supermarkets, comparing sugar, protein, and energy levels to breast milk across 298 products. The majority, making up 60 per cent of the sample, were sold in spouted pouches or sPouches.
Researchers found that 70 per cent of these pouches were targeted at children under six months of age, despite health officials recommending that babies are only weaned after half a year has passed.
Compared with breast milk, food in pouches was more likely to have lower levels of protein, more sugar, and less energy. In total, only 14 products, or 8.5 per cent, were defined as completely suitable and met all desired health criteria.
Writing in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, the authors noted that many wet commercial baby foods delivered in sPouches have the texture and composition of sweet drinks, while very few meet the desired characteristics for complementary foods.
Misleading labels and sugar claims
The authors also pointed out that packaging frequently displays the misleading claim "no added sugar" despite containing high amounts of free sugars due to pureed fruit content. Free sugars are non-intact sugars released when fruit is pureed or juice is extracted.
The study called on regulators to review whether labelling spouted-pouch baby food products as complementary foods is appropriate, and to consider whether these delivery systems are inappropriate for complementary feeding.
Study co-author Dr Vicky Sibson said: "Parents are being misled into believing that these are healthy and appropriate choices for their babies."
Calls for mandatory regulation
The UK Government has given the baby food industry until February 2027 to comply with new voluntary baby food guidelines. However, experts say that voluntary compliance is insufficient to safeguard child health.
Dr Sibson said: "A quick glance at the shelves and online suggests slow progress and undoubtedly a mandatory approach would be preferable."
She added: "Stronger regulations on the composition, marketing and labelling of commercial baby and toddler foods and drinks should be based on the latest evidence, to ensure maximum protection for infant and young child health."
