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LACTATION,FORMULA AND TODDLER FOODS IMPACTS ON NURSING BOTTLE CARIES

THE SUGARS CONTENT OF BABY AND TODDLER SWEET SNACKS

Relevance :

Conclusion :

SHOCKING AND A MUST READ FOR ALL PARENTS WITH TODDLERS

Food companies can play a valuable role in providing parents with quick, easy, affordable foods that give their babies the opportunity to explore flavours, colours and textures, as well as the nutrients they need for their development, but as the research into baby foods grows, a number of problems are coming to light.

Baby and toddler foods are often high in free sugars, leading totooth decay, which is very painful, and setting the child up for a taste for sweet foods which could easily track through life. They’re often coupled with health messages that put the parents mind at rest, distracting them from seeing the high hidden sugars content.

Surprisingly, sugars from processed fruits are often added despite them still contributing to free sugars and have the same effect as any other added sugars. The result is that parents think the product is a low-sugar, safe and nutritious choice, without realising they are a sugary snack.

Baby foods have the potential to make life easier for stressed parents and support the needs of the growing baby. But they must do just that: support the growth of the baby, not put their future health at risk, and the parents must have the information to know what they’re buying.

At Action on Sugar, we surveyed the current nutrition content of baby and toddler sweet snacks. We talked with food companies about the progress they’re making and the problems they’re facing. We met with early years stakeholders about their concerns and, we ran an opinion poll of parents to see what their priorities are in choosing snacks for their babies and toddlers.

In this report you’ll find the lay of the land as it is now, and how products and labels can be improved to benefit parents and babies and toddlers without compromising on commercial viability.

1. Babies under 12 months old do not need snacks at all, but ‘mini meals’ to complement their milk-based diets. Yet there is a growing market of snack products aimed at babies aged 6 months and over.

2. Our survey of biscuits and other sweet snacks for babies and toddlers shows that these products are often high in sugars – some contain as much as two teaspoons – but carry messages that give them a ‘health halo’.

3. Snacks made with processed fruits are not clearly stated as sugars in ingredients despite contributing to total free sugars. Therefore, parents don’t realise they are buying sugary options.

4. Similar products vary hugely in their sugars content, showing it’s possible to reformulate existing products, or make new products, with less sugars.

5. The public opinion poll found that over 8 out of 10 (84%) said they buy ready-made sweet snacks for their children and 6 out of 10 (59%) say that a ‘no added sugar’ claim would be the reason for choosing a particular product.

6. We spoke to several experts in the early years nutrition field to discuss the development of the project.

7. There is a lack of clear guidance around food for young children, so companies must take responsibility in providing accurate messaging which does not distract or mislead parents.

8. Many food companies are willing to engage in sugar reduction and responsible labelling and would welcome the guidelines as they will help create a level playing field.

9. Clear direction from Government is needed, with the publication of its long-awaited
guidelines for toddler and baby products.

Keywords:

Sugars Content, Baby Snacks, Toddler Snacks

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