New research by the British Dental Association, BBC Panorama, and Leeds University reveals concerning sugar levels in popular baby food pouches, raising fears they may give infants a lifelong sweet tooth.
Baby food pouches, often perceived as healthy, may contain more sugar than Coca-Cola, according to alarming findings. Experts warn that some pouches pack more sugar than a one-year-old should consume in an entire day, putting children at risk of developing a long-term preference for sweet foods.
The British Dental Association (BDA) and BBC Panorama commissioned laboratory testing of 18 pouches from six major brands: Ella’s Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi, and Lidl. Over a quarter of the fruit-based pouches tested contained more sugar by volume than Coca-Cola. Some savoury pouches, often used as meal replacements, were also found to be low in essential nutrients like iron.
“Parents are still being sold products more sugary than Coke,” said Eddie Crouch, Chair of the BDA. “It shouldn’t take dentists naming and shaming the worst offenders to bring change. Voluntary action has failed—we need Government intervention.”
While manufacturers argue the pouches should be part of a varied weaning diet, lab results revealed some marketed for infants as young as four months contained up to 184% of the sugar content of Coca-Cola. A 330ml can of Coke contains 35g of sugar, or 10.6g per 100ml.
The NHS advises that babies should consume as little sugar as possible, with a recommended maximum of 10g of free sugars daily for a one-year-old. Free sugars are created when fruits are pureed or juiced, making the sugars rapidly absorbable and more harmful to teeth and overall health.
A recent BDA report revealed 37 out of 60 fruit pouches sold in supermarkets exceed the 10g sugar guideline. A separate Leeds University study examined 632 baby food products, finding that:
Over 50% of snacks contained added sugars.
41% of main meals were overly sweet.
89% of fruit products should carry a “high sugar” warning under international standards.
Dr Diane Threapleton, Leeds University researcher, said:
“Babies and toddlers require high-quality nutrition to support their rapid development. These highly pureed, sweet products are not just nutritionally poor—they may encourage a lifelong preference for sugary foods and expose developing teeth to high sugar levels.”
The study also highlighted misleading marketing with claims such as “only naturally occurring sugars,” “no added sugar,” “nutritionist approved,” “organic,” and “1 of your 5 a day.” In reality, pouches marked “no added sugar” contained about four teaspoons of free sugars—because blending fruit breaks down cell walls, releasing sugars more readily.
Spouted pouches, making up 38% of the market, are discouraged by the NHS and WHO, who warn against letting babies suck directly from them. Doing so can promote fast eating and increase the risk of dental decay. However, around half of the tested products failed to advise against this method of consumption.
A survey of 1,000 UK parents showed 47% rely on these commercial baby foods regularly—“always” or “most of the time.” Dr Threapleton noted that the products are so prevalent that they’re nearly unavoidable.
“Voluntary guidelines don’t work,” she said. “We need regulation to ensure better quality baby food. With 1.7 million children between 6 and 36 months in the UK, poor-quality options risk harming child development on a massive scale.”
Sue Davies, Head of Food Policy at Which?, added:
“It’s unacceptable that so many baby foods and snacks are poorly formulated and misleadingly marketed. Updated regulations are urgently needed to limit sugar and salt content and improve labeling clarity.”
Barbara Crowther, of the Children’s Food Campaign, echoed:
“Parents trust these brands, so they’re shocked to discover they’ve been misled. The industry must be regulated properly.”
Industry Responses
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