UK Consumer Group Claims “Junk Food” Healthier Than Baby Food
A UK-based consumer group recently released the results of a survey finding that some baby foods allegedly contain more saturated fat, salt and sugar by weight than popular adult snacks. The Children’s Food Campaign (CFC) apparently analyzed 107 products for infants or toddlers, claiming that only one-half met the Food Standards Agency’s (FSA’s) requirements for low fat, salt and sugar. According to CFC, “Farley’s Original Rusks contained more sugar than McVities Dark Chocolate Digestives, that Heinz Toddler’s Own Mini Cheese Biscuits had more saturated fat per 100g than a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder with Cheese, and that Cow & Gate Baby Balance Bear Biscuits contained trans fat and were not labeled in the way required.” CFC also called on the government to (i) “Obtain a commitment from all companies that produce food marketed for babies and young children to reformulate products to remove trans fats and reduce the amount of saturated fat, salt and sugar”; and (ii)” develop labeling that enables parents to see at a glance whether the food they are buying for their baby is healthy.”
“Nearly a decade on, the new survey demonstrates that some companies have taken virtually no action to improve the healthiness of products marketed for babies and young children,” opined CFC Joint Coordinator Christine Haigh in a May 4, 2009, press release.
Cow & Gate has since voluntarily withdrawn its Balance Bear Biscuits from the market, but noted that its other products contain less sugar “than comparable adult varieties and other baby biscuits.” In addition, H. J. Heinz Co. pointed out that the serving size comparison was misleading as the company’s mini cheese biscuits have a serving size of 25g–not 100g as cited by CFC. FSA concurred that infants and young children “have different nutritional needs and do not generally need low-fat diets, as fats give them energy and provides some fat soluble vitamins.” The agency advised parents to check food labels, further cautioning that children require “foods that provide a high density of calories and nutrients in a small amount of foods as they only have small stomachs.” See Reuters, May 4, 2009; The London Times, May 5, 2009.
