Snacks for babies and infants loaded with sugar, says health body

Public Health England finds some ‘healthy’ snacks contain as much sugar as confectionery

Sugar makes up almost half the content of fruit- and vegetable-based snacks for babies and infants, Public Health England has revealed in a hard-hitting exposé of the booming baby food market.

Food companies make so many nutritionally harmful products and breach official guidelines on children’s feeding so routinely that they are in danger of losing parents’ trust, the agency warned.

Eating too much sugar contributes to people having too many calories during the day, which can lead to weight gain. Being overweight increases the risk of health problems such as heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some forms of cancer. Sugar is also one of the main causes of tooth decay. 

Related: Sweet makers 'using cartoon characters to appeal to children'

Some of the foods marketed as healthy snacks have the highest sugar content.

Manufacturers are promoting snacking on sweet foods.

Many foods are being marketed as suitable for babies aged just four months even though official health guidelines say that weaning should not start until six months and that babies should be breastfed until then.

Improve their nutritional content.

Ensure they always use “clear, consistent and honest labelling and marketing of products”.

Label products that are high in sugar as unsuitable for eating in between meals.

And limit the use of “implied health claims” on baby food products.

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from Children | The Guardian https://ift.tt/2XcJL9l