No iron in baby snacks

[MammaCat]

I'm probably the only person on the planet who didn't know this, but I just found out that Organix does not use fortified flour in its products. I am aghast, because for a few years I assumed that because UK law requires baked goods to use iron fortified wheat flour, that anything containing wheat flour must be a source of iron...and have been giving crackers with cheese etc thinking no extra iron was needed 😬. I feel terrible about this, hoping I haven't done any lasting harm, and really think that food being marketed for young children should make it very clear that they are using non-fortified flour. AIBU?

I didn’t know that but then don’t particularly use organix stuff anyway.

But - presumably you don’t only feed your toddler crackers and cheese, so I’m sure they will be fine getting their iron from other sources. Other good sources are meat, fish, eggs, beans, hummus, lentils, dark green leafy veg. I think porridge oats are good too. Also cereal like weetabix. And you can serve the non animal sources of iron with vitamin c rich foods (fruit, tomatoes etc) to help absorption.

I've never given a second thought to iron fortified wheat, or to my kids' iron intake. I just assume they're ok as they have a pretty varied diet.

Would children be eating so much Organix food that it's an issue? Mine only eat the rice cakes but I see them as a filler rather than main source of nutrients.

Really disappointed that you aren't looking for suggestions for snacks you don't have to Iron.

As long as you're offering a variety of food you don't need to worry too much about micronutrients.

My toddler really liked steak...

Most children with a healthy diet will have plenty of iron. It’s also recommended they take a multivitamin anyway. It’s things like vitamin D which are harder to get.

Dark green leafy veg and vitamin C together, once a day, for you also, and breastfeed. Job done.

Yeah this.

I didn’t know about the iron specifically in those snacks, but they’re junk food for an occasional treat. If they’re leading to a lack of iron, you’ve got bigger problems with their diet.

I think by the time the baby is on to solids OP might be past the point of starting to breastfeed. Besides I thought breast milk doesn't provide much iron at all.

Breast milk contains little iron.
I haven't ever worried about this tbh, as toddler eats lots of other things with iron in them.

Well if you're giving them with cheese you're reducing the iron your child's body uses anyway, as dairy hinders absorption. Also, is the bioavailability of iron added artificially to grains anywhere near as high as the heme iron in meat? Carry on with the cheese and crackers if you like, but add a slice of beef (at a different time to the dairy). But I wouldn't worry too much - if your child eats a good varied diet I'm sure they're fine.

DS loved spag bol and curry from 8/9 months. Never even bought 'baby' snacks let alone earlier about iron. Just offer them a variety of real food.

YABU.

Give your child the vitamins all under 5s are meant to have. Local pharmacies do the NHS healthy start ones.

You don’t need to be worrying about fortified flour if you give your child a balanced diet. I never gave my DS those snacks anyway - waste of money, and they don’t fill them up. Snacks here were always fruit or yoghurt.

You can get plenty of iron in to your children by serving some red meat at meals and giving them spinach and other green vegetables.

I have never thought that there was anything particularly nutritious in baby snacks. Nothing wrong with them at all but I use them purely for convenience.

Thank you to everyone who has commented. I agree a varied diet is important, and convenience snacks are best avoided...but if these snacks are being given to other people's children on the go etc (obviously not yours because you're much better organised than me!) surely the fact that they are not fortified with important nutrients THAT OTHER WHEAT CONTAINING FOOD IS should be clearly stated on the packaging?

Ha ha, love this! Sorry to disappoint....

Surely the iron content is on the packet though?

Human milk has practically no iron in it.

Honestly OP this is a bit bizarre. My toddler was under a haematologist (for other reasons) and it came up she was anaemic. Despite eating a very varied, but predominantly vegetarian diet. The consultant said that people are always worried about protein but in reality, its very easy to get enough protein from a varied diet, the problem is toddlers consume relatively small quantities of food and its basically impossible for them to get the right amount from leafy green veg etc unless they're getting it from red meat. We were told to give her 30g red meat twice a week.

There is literally no way fortified wheat would have any meaningful impact on a baby's iron levels. If you really believed that crackers and cheese would be a source of iron then you need to get some kind of external advise on nutrition. If you are not feeding your child a vegetarian diet, then don't worry about it.

To be fair, I only vaguely knew that wheat was fortified in the first place. I knew bread was but didn't realise it was the same for all flour.

Well, perhaps there is a reason why these products don't contain iron. These snacks are deliberately designed for consumption by tots, so if iron was that much of a requirement, then surely they would put some in.

I hope your little one's iron levels have been sorted out. I see what you're saying, but It's my understanding that we should try and ensure that every meal has something with iron in it. Of course something with red meat or leafy greens will have a ton more iron than a cheese sandwich (iron in bread not cheese), but it all factors in to your little one’s weekly iron intake. I am under the impression that iron is vital for healthy development, so those missed opportunities on busy days - yes my fault I know - really does bother me.

I can see some confusion - I haven't just fed my toddler crackers and cheese for 2 years! I meant no extra iron needed with that particular snack...followed by spaghetti bolognese for tea!

Perhaps IABU. I was just shocked 😑

Is everything ok OP? Worrying about a toddler's iron consumption to the extent that you are worried about iron content of snacks and regret not topping up after cheese and crackers is a bit ott for a healthy child with a varied diet.

You really don't need to be obsessing over iron in every meal and snack.

Most snacks will just be fruit/veg, surely?!

The iron content of what DD is eating has never even occurred to me. I just feed her normal food. What on earth has got you so paranoid about iron content? Just feed a healthy diet and don't worry about whether individual snacks have iron in them or not! Overpriced stodge anyway.

Thank you everyone. I actually feel massively reassured by the fact that everyone seems to think I am definitely being unreasonable and need help! Clearly I have not harmed my child and just need to chill a little 😊