A recent shocking study reveals that some baby foods found off the shelves are worse than junk food in terms of sugar and saturated fat content (source):

LONDON (Reuters) – Some baby foods contain as much sugar and saturated fats as chocolate biscuits or cheeseburgers, a British food pressure group said on Monday.

Publishing results of a survey of more than 100 foods for babies and toddlers, the Children’s Food Campaign said Farley’s rusks were 29 percent sugar and some Cow & Gate toddler biscuits contained trans fats, which have been linked to heart disease.

“The results of this survey are staggering,” said Christine Haigh, spokeswoman for the CFC.

“Many foods marketed for babies and young children are advertised as healthy. In reality, in terms of sugar and saturated fat content, some are worse than junk food.”

The CFC survey found that 100g of Farley’s Original Rusks, made by Heinz, contained 29g of sugar, more than that contained in the same weight of some chocolate digestive biscuits.

Heinz Toddler’s Own Mini Cheese Biscuits contained 7.3g of saturated fat per 100g, more than the 6.7g in an equal weight piece of a McDonald’s quarter pounder burger with cheese.

I’m not sure about Heinz Toddler’s Own Mini Cheese Biscuits and the other Cow & Gate products mentioned, but I do know that Farley’s Original Rusks are sold and can be easily be found in Singapore (e.g. at FairPrice).

Fortunately for Darius, we have not fed him any of the above baby food (yet). Glad this report has surfaced before we are to give him excessive sugar and saturated fat from these ‘healthy’ baby foods without realising it.

Anyway, here’s Heinz’s response in defending its products:

“Farley’s Rusks have been enjoyed by generations of babies, and some adults too, for 120 years,” it said in a statement. “Enriched with vitamins and minerals, the unique Farley’s Rusk recipe has remained virtually unchanged.”

So, it’s up to us parents to decide if the above study is trustworthy and if the food bought off the shelves are suitable for our children.

In my opinion, home cooked food would still be safer and more nutritious for our children.

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