Shocking New Information: The Hidden Health Threats in Baby Food

You wouldn’t feed a baby or toddler a Big Mac . . . would you? Well, that’s exactly what you might be doing when feeding your baby some of the most popular baby foods on the market today. Before you give the typical “baby food” to your baby, be sure that it is actually healthy food. Some of the baby food that is on the market today is so full of sugar and saturated fats that it makes it similar to giving your baby cheeseburgers and cookies. And so-called organic baby foods are not exempt, either. Keep reading to find out how you can avoid the junk food baby foods.

It’s a shocking statistic: baby foods that are made for babies and toddlers can contain as much as 29 percent of sugar and also contain dangerous trans fats (which have been linked to heart disease). The food and farming group, Sustain, sponsored the Children’s Food Campaign that took a look at 107 different types of baby food.  Only half of the products were considered “low” when it came to trans fats, sugar and salt.

While many people are feeding their babies organic baby food, this may not be the best option, either. 

One company that was examined was Earth’s Best. This manufacturer has a high selection of baby foods but its products were also found to be high when it came to sodium. One organic baby food that was low in saturated fats, sugar and sodium was Organic Baby, but the products were difficult to find in stores. 

Gerber Organic baby foods come in plastic containers, which may contain harmful toxins.

Two other companies, Plum Organics and Happy Baby had BPA-free packaging but had a high price and not many flavor options. Little Lettice was found to be a good company for organic baby food in that it is packaged in safe packaging, has many flavors and is low in sodium. The downside? It’s not found outside the state of Massachusetts. 

So what can you do?
One option you may want to try when it comes to baby food is to make your own. This can easily be done with a food processor. These foods can also be frozen so that they can last longer. 

If you are looking for healthy baby food, you need to read the labels. The sodium content, sugar content and fat content should be examined closely. And, there should be no trans fats in the baby food at all.

The baby food should also be packaged in containers that are safe and non-toxic. 

In addition to the jarred foods, parents also have to look at other foods that are made for babies and toddlers such as teething biscuits. These foods often contain trans fats. Despite the dangers of trans fats that are known to the public, some baby food manufacturers still put these fats into their food because it is less expensive.

In fact, one baby food manufacturer was contacted by the Children’s Food Campaign and asked if there were trans fats in their biscuits. The company said that they were sure that there weren’t, but after checking with a nutritionist, found out that they were and called back saying that the trans fats were no worse than saturated fats. The manufacturer also said that there was no evidence that trans fats pose any sort of health risk.

Apparently they’ve missed the hundreds of health reports indicating the dangers of trans fats.

Next time you’re on the hunt for your baby or toddler’s next meal, make sure you pay extra-close attention to the label and choose a variety of baby food that is safe and nutritious for your little one.