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Original poster

How are Farley's Rusks allowed to be sold as suitable baby food?

153 replies

00100001 · 09/07/2020 18:19

They have 4.9g of sugar in them! Per biscuit...not per 100g!

For reference a McVities milk hocolate digestive has 4.8g of sugar per biscuit

Does anyone know why they're allowed?

OP posts:
TheMurk · 09/07/2020 21:27

This thread honestly.

There are people who liquidise fries and nuggets from McDonald’s and serve them to 6mth old babies.

The odd rusk is not going to harm anyone. I’d argue significantly better for you than the “low sugar” version full of sweeteners.

firstimemamma · 09/07/2020 21:28

Yanbu op.

Original poster
00100001 · 09/07/2020 21:41

@TheMurk

FGS I grew up on rusks and full fat Ribena. Not a single filling in my 44 year old mouth and I I only got fat when I started drinking .
Ah, anecdata, the very most rigourous of all data collection methods 😁
OP posts:

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Families
Inthemuckheap · 09/07/2020 21:44

Gosh amazing how many of us over the age of 40 are still alive with all our teeth considering we had Farley rusks. Oh but we didn't have mangos with 43gr or whatever of sugar or juice Hmm

Bhappy12 · 09/07/2020 21:45

@SandMason I don't worry about sugar in my babies food as he doesn't have teeth yet.
He's had pretty much weekly blood tests and at one point daily injections for a while since he was born - the hospital give us a little tube of sugar syrup to feed him to distract him. They use it a lot in hospitals and affectionately refer to it as "baby crack" Wink Its strictly ONLY for babies with no teeth yet, though.

SamSeabornforPresident · 09/07/2020 21:46

As a FTM I was shocked by that little sugar capsule that the paeds gave my baby. So much for 'no sugar till she's 5s'...

Teacaketotty · 09/07/2020 21:54

Honestly if your baby is eating healthy, homemade food most of the time the odd biscuit or whatever isn’t going to make any difference. Low sugar options contain sweetener also.

I honestly couldn’t care less what anyone feeds their kids, I’ve seen mums feed babies from a pack of chocolate fingers and that’s not for me to judge. I do think learning to incorporate treats occasionally at an early age is a good thing, promoting a healthy attitude towards all foods.

I do think it’s unreasonable to judge other mums.

mrbob · 09/07/2020 21:58

@SandMason

Is the sugar thing about their teeth? What if they’ve got no teeth yet? Then is it fine? Genuine question Blush
I would have thought it was as much about getting them on to the sugar and then them developing a taste for artificial sugars. But that is a very non professional opinion. It drives me crazy that “kids” cereal and “kids” yogurt is full of sugar. They just don’t need it
mrbob · 09/07/2020 22:00

@SamSeabornforPresident

As a FTM I was shocked by that little sugar capsule that the paeds gave my baby. So much for 'no sugar till she's 5s'...
That is pain relief! And if you see babies sometimes and their faces when you give it when they go into some sort of trance then you will see why it is like crack for babies and therefore only used for medical reasons
Topseyt · 09/07/2020 22:00

I used to like rusks as a child, although I wouldn't now as I think they are sickly sweet.

I used to give them to my children occasionally when they were babies and toddlers, especially if they were recovering from being ill. Then it would often just give them enough of a boost and was a little bit of comfort food. No harm in that once in a while.

Sheenais · 09/07/2020 22:10

@ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal

Yeah I'm good thanks. I'm just stick to the back teeth of idiots like you judging other mothers for how they raise their children. And suggesting that those who started weaning before 6 months are at risk of bathing their children in bleach. You obviously think you're a much better mother than they are.
That is not quite what the OP said though is it? She is pointing out that the guidelines of 6months are just to discourage people weaning dangerously, like at 6 weeks or by putting risks/biscuits in a bottle, or giving foods high in sodium etc. While it is actually safer to wean under 6 months the majority of the time, for example in countries where the weaning age recommendation is earlier than 6 months there are much fewer incidences of dangerous food allergies. It is just easier to say a blanket 6 months than trying to wheedle out those who may not realise you can’t give a 3 month old baby quavers (they do melt so....) The OP is not saying weaning your baby early is what people who would bleach their babies would do.
AskingforaBaskin · 09/07/2020 22:15

Yes. All those adults who were raised on crap and are just fine.....

Not like the country has an obesity crisis.

stargirl1701 · 09/07/2020 22:16

My first food at 8 weeks... 😳

Original poster
00100001 · 09/07/2020 22:16

@Inthemuckheap

Gosh amazing how many of us over the age of 40 are still alive with all our teeth considering we had Farley rusks. Oh but we didn't have mangos with 43gr or whatever of sugar or juice Hmm
... again with the anecdata... Grin
OP posts:
Original poster
00100001 · 09/07/2020 22:17

My mum smoked 20+ a day for 40 years and never got lung cancer...must be bollocks that smoking causes cancer then

OP posts:
Llamazoom · 09/07/2020 22:19

I was raised on rusks, sugary tea and custard creams, I am not fat, I do not have diabetes, I have all my own teeth and I had my first and only filling at the age of 39. I also do not have a sugar addiction.

I’m so pleased I’m past the age of having babies, the constant angst about what to feed them or worrying about gender neutral clothes and toys, baby sensory classes and baby yoga would give me a nervous breakdown.

Honestly as soon as your babies get to teens and have a few quid in their pocket they will be straight in McDonalds Grin

TheTeenageYears · 09/07/2020 22:21

Ultimately advice and recommendations on suitable foods change over time. What was the norm and perfectly acceptable 40+ years ago us not the case now. Some will say it never did me any harm, others will learn from research. Seatbelts only became compulsory for drivers in the early 80's. Before then people happily drove cars without seatbelts - some lived to tell the tale and some didn't. Some people were fed rusks everyday as children and live to tell the tale, for others it will have been the start of long term health issues. Some people choose to move with the times and others don't.

Daffodil1967 · 09/07/2020 22:27

These were always on my shopping list till I found out they had palm oil in them Sad

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 09/07/2020 22:33

Considering antenatal classes round our way tell you not to bath your baby in bleach, I'm guessing the advice on 6 months is targeted towards those people...

Ishouldtryabiteachdayer · 09/07/2020 22:39

They are solid as a rock I don't know how anyone can eat them. They don't seem that sweet compared to a biscuit. I had a packet that said reduced sugar but assumed that was the only version?! They also say from 6 months. I tried mixing it with warm fruit purée and it was still like gravel ( only because I crushed it) Totally rubbish, but many Childrens cereals will have added sugar. Weetabix is often given to babies and that has added sugar, it's al about moderation. I'll happily give my baby a normal plain biscuit one in a while.
Sweetened with grape juice baby biscuits are just costing you more money.

My app won't show the top like for me to @ the OP but what country are you in? US? I don't believe we have fortified flour in the UK.

lemorella · 09/07/2020 22:40

I went to a weaning class before I started weaning my dc and was shocked at the amount of sugar in baby products. The worst being the fruit squash type drinks marketed at babies & toddlers.

One of the Ella's pouches is just banana purée, just give your child a real bloody banana for a fraction of the price fgs.

I think the high sugar high crap ones need to be banned, it's just a horrible ploy to trap parents with false marketing.

Thank goodness for up to date advice from experts so parents can be more informed.

Babs709 · 09/07/2020 22:44

This thread turned sour quickly...

OP didn’t say “let’s judge anyone who has ever had a rusk or fed their kids a rusk”. She did however say “let’s judge the marketing standards of this country that heinz can still sell these a baby food”.

I reckon it will be illegal to market them as such one day. Not illegal to buy, not illegal to eat, not illegal to feed your babies, but illegal to market as a baby food.

TheMurk · 09/07/2020 22:44

Incredible how sugar is so evil yet man made chemical sweetener, absolutely fine.

Sheenais · 09/07/2020 22:45

@ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal

Considering antenatal classes round our way tell you not to bath your baby in bleach, I'm guessing the advice on 6 months is targeted towards those people...
Yes, the type of people who may bath their babies in bleach may also be the type of person to cut out a big hole in the teat to give a slumped over baby rusk-thickened milk. So it is just easier to say 6 months all round. Do you get it now?
TheMurk · 09/07/2020 22:45

@Babs709 can’t remember the last time I saw an advert for rusks, but carry on.