Don't feed babies ready-made pouches, NHS tells parents
New health service guidance warns mothers and fathers that newborns should only be fed processed, store-bought pouches and jars 'occasionally'.
The NHS instead recommends a diet of home-made meals and no processed snacks after claims by nutritionists that ready-made baby food is less healthy.
It is the first time the health service has ever mentioned processed baby food in its advice on infant nutrition.
In the updated guidance, the NHS tells parents that preparing simple food at home for babies is 'often healthier and cheaper'.
'Although food jars, pouches, trays and pots can be convenient, you should not rely on them as an everyday food,' it reads. 'If you use them, only use them occasionally.
'Preparing food at home is often healthier and cheaper than shop-bought food.'
'Choose products with least sugar'
Parents should also buy pre-made products with 'the least amount of sugar' and avoid feeding their babies snacks until they are at least 12 months old.
The guidance goes on to say that infants should not be fed solid food until they are six months old, 'even if labels say it's suitable from four months'.
It also advises parents that allowing infants to suck food from a pouch can cause tooth decay.
They should instead 'always squeeze the contents from pouches onto a spoon to feed your baby' and also 'move on to mashed or finger foods from purees or blended foods as soon as possible'.
For children aged 12 months or older, the NHS says parents should avoid buying processed snacks from shops.
'Try not to feed them shop-bought biscuits, rusks, biscotti, melty snacks and other packaged foods,' it reads. 'They can contain a lot of sugar and your baby doesn't need them in their diet.'
It adds: 'Remember, your child does not need salt or sugar added to their food or cooking water. Children should not eat salty foods as it is not good for their kidneys, and sugar can cause tooth decay.'
Research by University College London (UCL) found last year that toddlers received almost half their calories from ultra-processed foods (UPFs).
The study of 2,500 children found that consumption of such foods continued to rise as they got older.
The most common highly processed foods eaten by toddlers were flavoured yogurts and wholegrain breakfast cereals.
A BBC investigation earlier this year found the pouches were not meeting the nutritional needs of babies.
Experts said habits formed in the early years were likely to continue into adulthood, fuelling Britain's obesity crisis.
The Department of Health and Social Care said: 'Good nutrition is essential to giving babies the best start in life. We're updating the Better Health Start for Life website to reflect the growing variety of baby foods available and to give parents clear, consistent advice.
'Current laws already set strong standards for baby food and we support action against any products that don't meet them.'
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