Which? comments on new government guidelines to reduce salt and sugar in baby foods

Rocio Concha, Which? Director of Policy and Advocacy, said:

"While it's good to see the government focusing on tackling the lack of controls over commercial baby foods, it's disappointing that these guidelines are only voluntary given the poor nutritional value of many popular baby foods and snacks. 

"Recent research by the University of Leeds found that baby foods from well-known brands contain far more than the recommended sugar content and portion size for young children. To make matters worse, these products are often marketed as being made with real fruit and having no added sugar - making it difficult for parents to make informed choices about how healthy these snacks really are.

"The government should update the law to ensure there are tighter controls on the sugar and salt content of baby foods, ensure labelling is clear and upfront and clamp down on any misleading marketing claims that suggest products are healthier than they are."

-ENDS-

Notes to editors

The full research from the University of Leeds, which was funded by the Which? Fund, into baby foods and snacks is available here.