If you’re one of the millions of parents around the world, who cheerfully watch as your precious bundles of joy suck down processed jarred baby food manufactured by the Heinz company, then you might want to consider doing otherwise.
A new report out claims that you’re better off pureeing cheeseburgers and Oreo cookies than feeding your infant Heinz baby food. The report details the nutritional value (which is practically nil) contained in the popular baby food.
British researcher found that Heinz’s baby biscuits contained more sugar than classic Oreo cookies, while its mini cheese biscuits, aimed at toddlers, contained more saturated fat per 100g than a McDonald’s quarter pounder burger with cheese.
Lovely.
Other companies also scored poorly for producing baby foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugar. Cow & Gate products, including its bear biscuits, were also found to contain unhealthy trans fats, which have proven links with heart disease. The report goes on to say that the biscuits have been subsequently discontinued.
Britain’s Children’s Food Campaign (CFC), which works to improve children’s health and well-being through better food, had this to say about the report: “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. In particular, failing to correctly label products that contain dangerous trans fats is outrageous.”
As for Heinz, who took a beating in the report, a company spokesperson said: “Our baby biscuits have been enjoyed by generations of babies, and some adults too, for 120 years. Enriched with vitamins and minerals, the unique recipe has remained virtually unchanged.”
The company added that it offers a range of reduced sugar biscuits, which contain 30% less sugar than the original variety. Heinz execs also noted that their biscuits “contain very little fat and, in keeping with the special nutritional needs of infants, contain no added salt.”
Heinz execs also made a point to say it was misleading to compare its mini cheese biscuits with a McDonald’s quarter pounder with cheese, which is consumed in a much larger portion size.
Still, it’s food for thought, the next time you are shopping for baby food.
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