New drive to cut sugar in baby food

SUgAR in baby food could be cut as part of the government’s plan to tackle child obesity.

Health officials are checking if ingredients can be changed – and new targets set for baby food manufacturers.

Food for babies and other young children falls within the next phase of Public Health England’s sugar reduction programme.

The drive has already seen food firms ‘challenged’ to cut sugar in biscuits, breakfast cereals, sweets and ice cream.

The Childhood Obesity Plan was published in full for the first time yesterday. On baby food, it states: ‘We will review the scope for reformulation of product ranges aimed exclusively at babies and young children.’ Findings will be published next year. Obesity and baby food expert Dr Clare Llewellyn, of University College London, said: ‘Commercial baby foods are predominantly sweet in flavour and high in free sugars.’ She added that they ‘can contribute to obesity risk’.

The obesity plan also revealed proposals for a ban on ‘guilt aisles’ of sweets at checkouts and unhealthy food at shop entrances.