baby food worse than junk food?
- 05-05-2009, 06:55 AM #1
baby food worse than junk food?
just saw this:
LONDON, May 4 (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.
Cow & Gate, which makes a range of baby and toddler formula milks and foods, responded to the survey by halting production of its baby biscuits.
"In discussion with the Food Standards Agency we have already taken the decision to discontinue our baby biscuits, when we became aware of the presence of hydrogenated fat, which contains a very small amount of trans fats," a spokeswoman said.
Heinz defended its Farley's rusks as an "ideal weaning food for babies from around four months".
"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."
The CFC, part of food and farming campaign group Sustain, said it examined the nutritional content of 107 baby and toddler foods available in UK supermarkets in March.
It found only half the products were low in saturated fat, salt and sugar, as defined in Britain's Food Standards Agency guidance. (Reporting by Kate Kelland; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
- 05-05-2009, 07:13 AM #2Registered User
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Firstly, it depends on the kinds of fat. Saturated fat is gross for anyone, but babies shouldn't be on a 'low fat' diet - they needs lots of fats, as long as they are the right ones.
All it takes is for people to read the ingredients and the other nutritional info on the label.
It doesn't surprise me that this kinf od baby food is made, and sadly it doesn't surprise me that people buy it.
- 05-05-2009, 07:36 AM #3Registered User
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You'd be surprised, Heinz juice (Both Apple and Grape) for babies tastes like sugar syrup, I bought a pack long ago and its still lying in my kitchen cabinet.
- 05-05-2009, 09:34 AM #4Registered User
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i bought the diluted version of Heinz Apple juice and it really doesn't taste like anything at all...i diluted that again just to be sure, but it's so tasteless my daughter refuses to drink it....i prefer making my own, but on occasions when you're just not home yet, the convenience is unbeatable.
- 05-05-2009, 11:09 AM #5Registered User
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This is very scary, I shall start making all my own foods!
- 05-05-2009, 02:36 PM #6Registered User
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- 05-12-2009, 05:07 PM #7Registered User
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As i really cannot trust the food from China. so I would prefer to feed my boy ( before 1 yr old) with the bottled baby food. like Heinz mum's recipe..etc
I trust it as they are from Australia. but after i read the news, i am asking myself.. am i really right?
- 05-12-2009, 06:08 PM #8Registered User
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Actually, it doesn't take a lot of time or effort to make your own fresh baby food. I buy fresh veggies and fruits and boil/steam them before I put them in the grinder to make purees. Even with rice cereal, I use only a teaspoon of Earth's Best while mixing it with the brown rice powder that I grinded and cooked myself. You can easily freeze the rice powder in the freezer. One cup of rice goes a long way. You won't have to worry the food quality if you prepare it yourself.
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