The truth about baby food pouches.

My thoughts are it’s the only fruit our nearly 3yr old will eat and they are alongside a balanced diet so I will continue to use them. I was under no illusion that they should be used for every meal even when weaning. I am all for parents doing what they need to for their child 😊 for many many years it’s all babies were weaned on 🙁

Although I’ve never depended on food pouches - on days out/travelling abroad snacks & to make ice lollies they’ve been a go-to. My background is in research & I found the comparison of fizzy drinks & puréed baby foods a bit misleading… We’re lucky to have such strict food regulations in the UK, I just didn’t understand the purpose of scare mongering parents who are just trying their best for their little ones…

Started making my own baby food! Want the best for my bub 🤍

It’s so frustrating because I try and make healthy food for my baby and he won’t touch it. He will eat an entire Heinz jar and I was using it once a day so he at least had one full meal. So I feel like I’m back at square one as obviously won’t be using them anymore. He guzzles milk all day long but isn’t fussed with food (apart from fruit and yogurt) and he definitely needs it!

I have no problem whatsoever personally, because my girl only ever had them as a fruity snack.

We use them off and on and won’t change anything. This just reminds me of the formula vs breastfeeding cults, so what’s best for your child whether you stop using them or continue to use them. Half of these reporters that do have kids probably feed their kids McDonald’s so 🤷‍♀️

It was a classic case of the BBC stating that the food companies are misleading parents whilst actively misleading parents themselves. Not all food pouches are equal and they are all fine on occasions, the issue becomes when they’re replacing balanced diets rather than being a part of them. Other issues like parental mental health and resources also need to be considered. It’s all about risk vs benefit. If a busy or tired parent has to use a pouch to ensure their child eats some fruit or veg during the day then the benefits are clearly outweighing the risk. None of this info is new either, it’s just been repackaged into a scaremongering narrative when it could’ve been a supportive health-driving initiative instead.

I've barely used pouches as my baby has mostly done BLW, she won't even let me spoon feed her at this point! I'm shocked that parents still want to use them tbh, as the sugar content of ONE pouch was SO high! 😳 why would anyone want to give that much sugar to their baby! My girl prefers actual food/fruit, and it doesn't take as much time as people think to meal prep for your child.

i watched it and oh my gosh, the sugar intake?! and to lie about it? i might have to make my own food for her at home when she starts purées and stuff haha

Did you all get the follow up email from Ella’s kitchen? That annoyed me even more tbh 😂😂😂 Sadly for some mothers they only give pouches - I think that’s what who the documentary was targeting. I use them as emergency snacks for then travelling. Only the veggie ones or fruit. No meat or fish

We never did the pouches as I just never trusted them so I can't say I'm shocked at all. Obviously I can very much appreciate that some families may need to use them or have no other choice. We have twins and we wanted to try to avoid anything processed for as long as possible they are 16 months now and we still haven't had to give them anything like this and it has been hard! It's no surprise at all that many need to use pre-made food for their babies/ toddlers.

People that are “not shocked” or “would never use them” are not highlighting that these are marketed to make it look like they’re a balanced meal! I too thought I would never and then I looked at the ingredients (lots of veggies and no ultraprocessed) and they were all things you would find in your cupboard. They weren’t the only thing I used but I used them a lot as they were convenient and my child would actually eat them. I’m definitely not using them now but it’s hard to get him to eat my cooking (and I’m a great cook 😂)

I’ve just gone wild prepping all my babies food myself before/during watching this doco. Won’t be using them again that’s for sure. The thing that shocked me the most was A fruit pouch made for a 4 MONTH OLD BABY contained more sugar than a 1 year old is supposed to have in an entire day…. 4 MONTH OLD BABY….

@Francesca the fruit ones are the worst, loaded with sugar!