Wubi News

Baby food firms told to cut sugar and salt

2025-08-22 08:00:05

There has been significant growth in the baby food and drink market in recent years.

Food in pouches makes up more than a third of this market and there's been a rise in sales of snacks like fruit and vegetable-based straws, puffs and wafers.

"Companies are dressing these products up as being healthy, when actually they're much like a crisp or a sweetie. They're putting profit before health," says former chief nutritionist to the government, Dr Alison Tedstone.

"I hope an ethical business will stand back and think about the health of our children."

In June, NHS advice was updated to tell parents they should not rely on baby food pouches as everyday meals, with experts believing they can cause health problems for children if used as their main source of nutrition.

These new government guidelines now turn to manufacturers - telling them to improve their products and ranges.

This has been a key demand of health campaigners who say it is companies that need to improve, so not all the pressure is on parents.

Kristal, whose son Austin is two, says health and nutrition is important

Do you have more information about this story? You can reach Catrin Nye by email at [email protected], or her Instagram account.