Calls to remove 'ludicrous' and 'misleading' sugar claims on baby snacks
Some have the equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar in
Last updated 10th Nov 2021
Campaigners have said it's "ludicrous" that food companies are promoting high-sugar snacks for babies and toddlers.
According to a new report, "healthy" baby and toddler snacks can contain as much as two teaspoons of unneeded sugar. This is after 73 bars, cookies, and cakes with healthy-sounding claims on the pack were surveyed.
With more than a third (37%) could receive a red traffic light-style label for sugar content.
Also, just six products (8%) would have received a green (low) label for sugars- an outstandingly low figure.
But currently, baby and children's food and drink is not required to display front of pack traffic light labelling.
The most sugary types of baby food revealed:
The report highlights some of the snacks which are high in sugar:
Heinz Farley's Mini Rusks Original, with 8.7g of sugars per serving or the equivalent of two teaspoons of sugar.
Organix Banana Soft Oaty Bars, which are sweetened with apple juice concentrate, contained 8.1g of sugars per serving.
Also, five kiddylicious products scored the worst for sugars per 100g: Banana Crispy Tiddlers at 59g of sugar per 100g and Pineapple, Coconut and Mango Juicy Fruit Bars made up of 30.7g of sugar per 100g.
A 'deep concern'
A poll for Action on Sugar found 84% of parents of young children said they buy these sweet snacks for their children, and 60% said a "no added sugar" claim would be the reason for choosing a particular product.
Some 92% said they were more inclined to buy products containing "natural sources" of sugars, for example fruit.
An urgent appeal
It has called for the removal of "misleading" nutrition and health claims, especially around "no added sugar", when such ingredients are replaced by fruit concentrates which are still a type of free sugar and should be limited.
It is also urging the Government to finally publish its composition guidelines for baby and toddler products, which will guide manufacturers on how much sugar should be used.
Dr Kawther Hashem, campaign lead at Action on Sugar and Research Fellow at Queen Mary University of London, said:
"It's ludicrous that certain food companies are being allowed to promote their high sugar sweet snacks to parents with very young children, despite them being aware that babies and toddlers shouldn't be having any free sugars.
"Babies can have a preference for sweet foods, due to milk being ever so slightly sweet, but liking sugary foods is something they only learn by eating sugary foods.
"Some companies choose to encourage this preference further by providing lots of very sweet products from an early age. What we need is companies to make products with minimal amount of sugars, so young children can grow up enjoying less sweet foods."