They might be marketed as healthy foods for our little bubs, but it’s been revealed an alarming number of pre-packaged toddler foods contain more sugar than chocolate bars.
The findings have prompted a national review, and South Australia’s health minister is determined to crack down on the misleading practice.
Packaged items such as purees and yoghurts, often marketed as healthy and organic, have frequently been found to contain excessive amounts of sugar and salt and be heavily processed.
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“We found that they were very low in iron, they were sweet, and they were smooth,” paediatric dietitian Dr Merryn Netting said.
“And they’re marketed in such a way that they look healthy and organic.”
The South Australian government is now calling for an overhaul of food labelling, with a review also considering changes to marketing laws.
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“I think parents presume those baby foods sold are adhering to very strict levels of regulation,” Health Minister Chris Picton said.
“The truth is there isn’t a high level of regulation around those baby and toddler foods and we need to see those put in place.”
Parents have been advised to carefully check the labels on prepackaged foods or opt for fresh fruit and vegetables.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
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