Advertisement

Are ultra-processed baby foods setting children up for obesity?

“We’re not only seeing issues around kids being comfortable eating normal pieces of fruit and vegetables, we’re even seeing issues sometimes around things like speech."
Aoife Daly
Aoife Daly

12.55 2 Aug 2025


Share this article


Are ultra-processed baby foods...

Are ultra-processed baby foods setting children up for obesity?

Aoife Daly
Aoife Daly

12.55 2 Aug 2025


Share this article


One-in-three baby food products filling supermarket aisles are classed as ultra-processed foods, according to researchers at the University of Leeds.

These types of products have been linked to long-term health damage.

Dietician & Founder of Eatwell Sarah Keogh said that some ultra-processed foods are useful, but they are often unnecessarily pushed onto consumers.

Advertisement


“The University of Leeds highlighted quite a few issues with the nutrition and a lot of foods for babies,” she told Newstalk Breakfast.

“Some of the ultra-processed foods like baby formula is essential for many babies, obviously where breastfeeding isn’t working, it’s an excellent product for that.

“When we look at things like food snacks and issues around fruit pouches and things like that, I think there’s a huge amount for us to look at in terms of the nutrition for babies and what’s available.”

Child eating vegetables sitting in white high chair. Solid food for baby. Little boy eating healthy vegetable lunch of steam cooked carrots. Nutrition Child eating vegetables sitting in white high chair. Solid food for baby. Little boy eating healthy vegetable lunch of steam cooked carrots. Nutrition

Ms Keogh said that while the content of the products themselves can be healthy, they can still lead children to form unhealthy eating habits.

“Anyone who’s working in childcare or child nutrition [knows that one of the big issues] at the moment is that kids are using huge amounts of food from pouches, which can be perfectly fine,” she said.

“But they’re supposed to squeeze it onto a spoon and eat it, or they’re not chewing as many things because everything is pureed for much longer.

“We’re not only seeing issues around kids being comfortable eating normal pieces of fruit and vegetables, we’re even seeing issues sometimes around things like speech.

“Because chewing is important for speech and muscle development.”

'There's ways of doing it'

According to Ms Keogh, this does not mean that every child who eats fruit pouches will be unable to talk, but suggested parents to make more of an effort to introduce them to natural foods to avoid issues.

“They don’t need baby foods, give them things like fruit, give them yoghurt, pieces of cheese,” she said.

“We can puree it up for younger babies and things like that; there’s ways of doing it.”

Main image: Baby food


Share this article


Read more about

Baby Food Nutrition Obesity Ultra-processed Food

Most Popular