Baby Food Pouches Mislead Parents and Fail Nutritional Tests, BBC Finds

A BBC Panorama investigation has revealed that baby food pouches from top UK brands — including Ella’s Kitchen, Heinz, and Piccolo — often fail to meet infants' nutritional needs and may mislead parents. Lab tests on 18 pouches found many were low in iron and vitamin C, while some contained more sugar than a one-year-old should consume in a day, despite “no added sugar” claims. Experts warn that these products, often marketed for babies as young as four months, undermine NHS and WHO guidelines, which recommend weaning from six months. Feeding directly from pouches — discouraged by health authorities — is also commonly promoted. Health professionals are calling for mandatory regulations to replace outdated laws from 2003 and curb misleading marketing. While some brands are adjusting age recommendations, campaigners argue that only legislation will truly protect children's health.

29-04-2025