What's Really In Baby & Toddler Snacks? #FoodYouCanTrust

I'm delighted to be working with Organix this year as part of their Junk Buster Panel along with other bloggers & TV presenter Cherry Healey. We'll be investigating the real ingredients in baby & toddler snacks and the truth behind the claims on the front of packs.

Having worked with Organix for a number of years I know for sure they're a brand I can trust. All their baby & toddler foods come with their 'no junk promise' which means the ingredients are always organic, there's no unnecessary additives or preservatives, and the products are made to the very best standard for children's food.

Organix recently commissioned a survey to uncover parents’ attitudes towards baby and toddler snacks, and find out what they think needs to change. Personally, I was shocked by the findings, some of which are highlighted below:

Number of ingredients: 76% of parents shocked to discover that some baby and toddler snacks contain up to 30 separate ingredients.
Added salt: 85% of parents shocked to find some baby finger foods and toddler snacks contain almost the same level of salt as a regular bag of adult crisps. 82% shocked that extra salt is added to some baby and toddler snacks to boost the flavour.
Regulation: 88% shocked that some of the foods sold in the baby aisle are not protected by regulations.

It horrifies me to think about the unnecessary high levels of salt in some baby and toddler snacks and that some contain so many ingredients. I also find it worrying that current legislation is clearly not sufficient as not all foods are protected by regulations. It seems so wrong.

As a busy mum of three boys, who often have to come shopping with me, I cannot read the back of everything I put in the trolley. Pushed for time, I often trust the front of packs, drawn to claims such as ‘natural’ or ‘no artificial ingredients’ or ‘nutritionist approved’.

But what do these claims really mean and can we really trust them? Are we being duped because of loop holes in current labelling legislation? As part of my junk-busting mission I'll be carrying out my own investigations into these claims and will be reporting the findings in my next post.

For now, here's a few things to look out for on labels next time you're shopping:

Really long ingredient lists: go for fewer ingredients.
Added ingredients: there’s no need for anything unnecessary, so avoid foods with added salt, sugar or flavourings.
Unrecognisable ingredients: go for simple ingredients – look at the back of the packet and choose something with simple ingredients – things that you recognise.
The organic logo: If you see an organic logo on pack you can feel sure what you buy has been made to the highest standards.

Now over to you:

Have you found any baby foods or toddler snacks that have really shocked you? Did you think certain products were healthy until you took time to read the ingredients? Comment below, join the debate, share your views, take photos of foods and food labels and share them with the hashtag #FoodYouCanTrust.

You might also like