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Weaning

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Original poster

High sugar in baby porridge

34 replies

Mccarthyaisling · 15/01/2019 22:10

Hi
I feel totally duped and annoyed. I have been giving my eight month old porridge for two weeks now. There other meals I have been making but thought baby porridge to be healthier than regular oats. I should have checked and so mad with myself I didn’t . Aptimal porridge has such a high sugar content. So the government is taxing fizzy drinks due to high sugar but it it is ok to sell such a high sugar product to babies. I feel it is false advertising as it is marketed as being healthy and now I have been exposing my babies to sweet food. I have read threads today from other mums complaining about the high volume of sugar but I think we should go further I think it should be made more explicit or even better removed from the market.

OP posts:
CrazyOldBagLady · 15/01/2019 22:18

You can just use regular porridge. I wouldn't buy any products marketed for babies without reading the ingredients first. I'm sure your babies will be fine though.

Original poster
Mccarthyaisling · 15/01/2019 22:36

That’s my point; you would think baby porridge would be better than regular oats. It’s an easy mistake to make for a busy mum of twin babies. I know they will be fine but there is so much talk about clear labelling and lowering sugar content surely baby food is a pretty important place to start. Am I the only person seriously annoyed by this?

OP posts:
mindutopia · 15/01/2019 22:56

A lot of children’s food has a high sugar content. It’s also heavily processed. Kids eat it easier and the companies sell more product. A lot of the baby porridge is rice based and has a high arsenic content too. But really you just have to read labels. I never buy any of the ‘baby’ foods without comparing the sugar content.

Don’t beat yourself up about it though. Just switch. Plain porridge has no added sugar. Same with plain yogurt. Babies don’t know what they’re missing.

JuniperBeer · 15/01/2019 22:59

How would baby porridge be better than plain oats in a bag that you make up yourself? Just check the ingredients list.
It’s not the end of the world, it’s a very small blip, change the porridge and just look forward to your baby trying new things! 😊

newtlover · 15/01/2019 23:04

you're right to be annoyed, but it's not really surprising- baby food manufacturers want to sell you stuff and make as much money as possible- I've no idea how much 'baby porridge' costs but ordinary porridge is dead cheap- and the more something is processed the more expensive it will be. We really, really don't need to buy special stuff for our babies to eat. A fork, maybe a handblender. Leave out the salt and sugar that your adult tastes prefer. That's it.

lewk · 15/01/2019 23:08

Just use regular oats from now on with water. It'll be the formula milk in it too - 100ml/3oz Aptamil has 7.3g of sugar (whole cows milk has 4.7g).

littlecabbage · 15/01/2019 23:11

Better to use "Ready Brek" type porridge (rather than plain porridge oats) as it is fortified with vitamins and iron. Babies are very commonly slightly anaemic, and breakfast cereals are a good source of iron.

Original poster
Mccarthyaisling · 15/01/2019 23:14

I so wasn’t beating myself up and didn’t open the thread to beat myself up cos I trusted the label. I am simply complaining that companies get away with this.

OP posts:
JuniperBeer · 15/01/2019 23:37

There is salt and sugar in readybrek, it’s not needed! You can just blend dry oats if you want a smoother mix.
Baby porridge is designed to be appealing. Like anything that’s processed. Clever marketing. Its just common sense to check the ingredients. Of course ‘raw’ ingredients are going to be better.

Original poster
Mccarthyaisling · 16/01/2019 04:46

Again I didn’t come on here to be told I lack common sense for not checking the details! The package says no added salt or sugar clearly on the front I brought the product and used it and then saw that it had a high sugar content. I know I can use oats which I will. My point though is this is misleading advertising on a baby product and I am wondering why it is legal.

OP posts:
littlecabbage · 16/01/2019 20:32

Ready Brek does not have any added salt or sugar. I have just Googled to double check! Nutritionists definitely recommend it over normal porridge oats for babies, for the added vitamins and minerals.

rubyroot · 16/01/2019 21:39

I like reddy brek as fortified with other vitamins and minerals and I don’t give extra cuts to baby. I need to purchase some drops from amazon as wont take the liquid

rubyroot · 16/01/2019 21:40

Should say vits not cuts!

ThanksItHasPockets · 16/01/2019 22:35

There is salt and sugar in readybrek, it’s not needed!

There really isn’t. Are you looking at the nutritional info for when it is made up with milk? Milk contains some naturally occurring sugars and salt.

Stardustinmyeyes · 16/01/2019 22:42

I agree op, it shouldn't be allowed and it is very misleading.
I'm a very cynical old woman now, I've always been cynical though. If a product clearly states no added salt or sugar then I wonder what's in it to make it appetising especially if it's a product that is marketed towards children.

ThanksItHasPockets · 16/01/2019 22:54

Victoria Coren tweeted about something similar a few months ago, OP.

ThanksItHasPockets · 16/01/2019 22:54

Argh, no image. Trying again.

High sugar in baby porridge
Original poster
Mccarthyaisling · 17/01/2019 11:52

Thanks I am giving readybreak now. There is no salt or sugar and added iron. But really the point of this tread is there needs to be clearer labelling on baby products. Such an important time and I wanted advice on how to take this further. I am making a complaint to the standard advertising authority.

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 17/01/2019 11:54

Was it a flavoured baby porridge?

dementedpixie · 17/01/2019 11:58

I don't think they add sugar to the mix so any sugar comes from any fruit or milk that is added. I used to add fruit puree to ready brek so that increased the sugar level

NannyR · 17/01/2019 12:05

I've just looked at the aptamil breakfast ingredients and none of the products have any added sugar. The sugar content comes from the added fruit and the fact that its already mixed with formula powder (which is high in lactose). If you were to make your own porridge with plain oats, formula milk and a couple of blueberries the sugar content would be the same. Making it with cows milk would give it a slightly lower sugar content.

williteverend99 · 17/01/2019 12:22

Do be very careful about feeding babies cereals designed for adults as the SALT content can be fatal.

This was probably an extreme example but it did happen

news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/404667.stm

dementedpixie · 17/01/2019 12:36

Ready brek hit back at that article as ready brek does not (and has never) contain added salt or sugar. That 3 month old baby was being fed instant mash and instant gravy which I imagine was the source of the excess salt

williteverend99 · 17/01/2019 12:44

Thanks demented. I had not seen that reply. So Readybrek might not be a problem.

But I still think it pays to be ultra cautious when giving infants any processed food that has not been specifically designed for infants.