New parents are being warned to be mindful of ‘misleading’ marketing tactics used by baby food makers. Experts say promotional material on the packaging of products is confusing parents and fuelling childhood obesity.
The wording is largely unregulated and often implies some indirect health benefit, known as the ‘healthy halo effect’.
Some products described as having ‘vegetable tastes’ can actually contain a higher proportion of fruit which are naturally more sugary. Wording like ‘no added sugar’ could also lead parents to wrongly believe that items are completely free from sugar, it is feared.
University of Glasgow researchers analyzed 724 baby foods – intended for infants up to 12 months – sold by Aldi, Amazon, Asda, Lidl, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and Morrisons.
It comes as the baby food market in the UK booms, growing 2.5 percent a year, with the market predicted to reach £1billion by 2024.
But experts say the absence of any legally binding regulations for the composition and promotion of manufactured baby foods means the market is ‘something of a free-for-all’.
The survey, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood, revealed baby food products sold in the UK had a total of 6,265 promotional claims, with an average of nine per product. Some carried up to 17.
A survey of baby foods sold in the UK found a number of concerning trends on how they are promoted, leading the authors to say new parents face a free-for-all
The main composition claim was ‘organic’, nutrient claims were mainly around ‘no added’ or ‘less’ sugar, and the most common health claim was about the role of iron in supporting normal cognitive development. More than half of the items referenced nutritional benefits, with claims of ‘no added’ or ‘less’ sugar and/or salt present in nearly 60 percent.
Baby-led-weaning claims, where babies are given food to eat themselves rather than spoon-feeding, were found on 72 percent of baby snacks, like food bars, something the authors said was ‘questionable’.
The researchers said the promotion of snacking habits as a way to help babies eat for themselves had the potential to encourage overeating and obesity later in life.
As a whole, they argued the widespread use of unregulated claims on manufactured baby foods was of concern. They specifically highlighted the use of the term ‘vegetable taste’ on some products which in reality were composed of a combination of fruit and vegetables with a predominantly sweet taste.
The lead author of the study, Dr. Ada Garcia, said influencing eating preferences in early life could have long-term consequences for babies’ health. ‘Since food preferences are formed early in life and infants have an innate preference for sweet and salty foods, promoting sweet baby foods containing a high amount of sugar could be detrimental,’ she said.
She said that findings indicate more should be done to regulate the claims made on the packaging which could be misleading parents who are vulnerable to such suggestions as they seek to give their baby a good start in life.
‘Promotional claims on packaging are extensively used which could mislead parents’, she said.
‘The unrestricted use of messages and health halo statements on the packaging of calls for policymakers and stakeholders to update guidelines, legislation, and policies to protect this vulnerable demographic so that infant feeding recommendations are not undermined.’
The Government is planning new restrictions on the advertising of junk foods from April this year in an attempt to tackle childhood obesity. Part of these measures includes banning junk food advertisements online and before 9 pm on TV.
Obesity is a growing problem, in both the UK and the US up to a third of youngsters are considered overweight.
You can also find more baby nourishing tips in this article from Serenity Kids.
Meals should be based on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain, according to the NHS
- Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. All fresh, frozen, dried and canned fruit and vegetables count
- Base meals on potatoes, bread, rice, pasta or other starchy carbohydrates, ideally wholegrain
- 30 grams of fibre a day: This is the same as eating all of the following: 5 portions of fruit and vegetables, 2 whole-wheat cereal biscuits, 2 thick slices of wholemeal bread and large baked potato with the skin on
- Have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks) choosing lower fat and lower sugar options
- Eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat, and other proteins (including 2 portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily)
- Choose unsaturated oils and spreads and consume in small amounts
- Drink 6-8 cups/glasses of water a day
- Adults should have less than 6g of salt and 20g of saturated fat for women or 30g for men a day
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