The Department of Health and Social Care is expected to consult imminently on the marketing and labelling of infant foods. Oral health inequality is now set to widen as a result of the pandemic, warned the BDA, owing to ongoing disruption to routine care, the suspension of public health programmes, and the impact of sugar-rich ‘lockdown diets’. The SACN has also warned infant feeding practices and delayed or poor dental hygiene may be associated with decay prevalence and have recommended a preventive focus on both areas. Tooth decay is the number one reason for hospital admissions among young children, said BNA. Contents are often sucked directly from the pouch, ensuring the food spends more time in contact with baby teeth, just as they are erupting, and putting teeth at risk of erosion and decay.
![daily baby tracker daily baby tracker](https://i.etsystatic.com/24027548/r/il/50d804/2515990379/il_794xN.2515990379_qdin.jpg)
But beyond encouraging a preference for sweet tastes, the BDA warned they also carry oral health risks when compared to foods available via jars. Pouches have surged in popularity among parents, owing to their convenience. Over two thirds of the products examined exceeded the 5g of sugar per 100ml threshold set for the sugar levy applied to drinks. Dentists stress expansion of fiscal measures would likely have favourable outcomes in terms of encouraging reformulation. Some products examined aimed at 4 months+ contained up to two thirds of an adult’s recommended daily allowance (RDA) of sugar. Neither the World Health Organisation (WHO) nor the UK Government’s Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) cite an RDA for children, simply stressing that as little should be consumed as possible. While high levels of ‘natural’ sugar have been described by manufacturers as inevitable with fruit-based pouches, some brands offer products based on similar ingredients that contain around half the levels of sugar of the worst offenders, the BNA claimed. ‘Boutique’ brands have higher levels of sugar than traditional baby food brands or own brand alternatives, with market leaders Ella’s Kitchen and Annabel Karmel coming in for criticism. Those pouches are without exception fruit-based mixes. Market analysis by the British Dental Association of 109 pouches aimed at children aged under 12 months indicated over a quarter contained more sugar by volume than Coca Cola, with parents of infants as young as 4 months marketed pouches that contain the equivalent of up to 150% the sugar levels of the soft drink. Emulsifiers, stabilisers, hydrocolloidsĭespite widespread claims of ‘no added sugar’ in these products, dentists have stressed there’s little to no difference for teeth if the sugar is added or naturally occurring.
![daily baby tracker daily baby tracker](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/f0/74/12/f07412abe8f22641e7a2d9cc85c84746.jpg)
Chocolate and confectionery ingredients.Carbohydrates and fibres (sugar, starches).