suitable for 12 months +

[Schmoop]

What's the deal with baby foods that have an age suitability on them? Bought DS some kiddylicious strawberry and banana smoothie melts and organix carrot sticks which both say 'suitable for 12 months+'
Seeing as they can have anything except honey, high salt etc from 6 months+

Is it because they're a choking hazard? Or maybe because they're seen as a snack and younger ones aren't having snacks yet?

He's eaten them both and loved them regardless (7.5 months)

who knows?!

Could it be salt content?

The smoothie melts are just fruit and the snacks have no added salt

Have just checked and the carrot sticks have a little salt added (less than 1% salt)

I think they reckon they will choke. Or maybe they make more money with the whole stage 1/2/3 thing. Mine ate them all from about 7/8 month s when they had got the hang of eating

Does anyone elses thread have an organix ad showing now?

Boots give salt on ingredients but picture says no added salt so don't know really

Hmm think it's mainly a marketing/covering their backs thing. Not planning on them being a big part of his diet so if the carrot sticks have a little salt in it shouldn't be an issue, everything in moderation.

little ducks yes I've got an Organix advert to the right, big brother is watching!

I actually emailed organix about this as my then 7 month old loved their 12+ month old flapjacks. They said it was a choking risk thing - about the texture of the food...,

Thanks for sharing that busty . Glad that's all it is.

I started ignoring the age thing when I saw two identical snacks in Boots - one Organix and one Boots own, that had completely different ages. I think one said 7m and the other said 12m.

I ignore that completely - my DS is 7.5 months but the Ella's kitchen stage 3 pouches for 10 months are nothing but mush! He eats ordinary food just mashed with fork or chopped with knife and fork.

It's because they want you to follow their stages and to be scared of lumps and finger foods, so that you keep buying their products. The pouches are great for out and about (or any other reason you may want to use them, business, convenience etc). But baby food manufacturers don't want us to realise we can just feed our DC the same food we eat if we so choose.