Panorama
Baby food in plastic pouches has revolutionised the way many parents feed their children. Quick, convenient and in a wide range of flavours, they are marketed as healthy alternatives to homemade food. But as reporter Catrin Nye discovers, some are worryingly low in essential vitamins and minerals, while others contain more sugar than the NHS recommends an infant consumes in an entire day. Six years ago, a report from Public Health England called for a tightening-up of baby food regulation as well as clearer labelling, but successive governments have failed to act. While the companies behind baby food pouches insist they put the well-being of children first, Panorama hears from dieticians, dentists and public health experts who all warn that parents should know the risks of regularly using pouches in place of homemade meals.
