Baby Food Manufacturers Given 18 Months to Improve Nutrition and Labelling

Published: 22 August 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

Baby food manufacturers in England have been given an 18-month window to enhance the nutritional quality of their products and improve labelling practices, following concerns over high sugar content and misleading marketing claims. The government’s new voluntary guidance calls for reduced sugar and salt levels in food for infants and toddlers, along with clearer labelling to prevent parents being misled into thinking products are healthier than they are.

The guidance targets products marketed with phrases such as “contains no nasties” despite being high in sugar, as well as snack-style foods for babies. Such products contradict official advice that children aged six to 12 months do not require snacks between meals, with milk remaining the primary source of nutrition.

The move comes after research by the University of Leeds’ School of Food Science and Nutrition highlighted that major brands, including Ella’s Kitchen and Heinz, were producing sugar-heavy and nutritionally poor baby foods that failed to meet the dietary needs of infants. The report, published in April, also criticised marketing practices that could mislead parents, urging the introduction of a traffic-light labelling system similar to that used on chocolate bars and ice cream.

Dr Diane Threapleton, lead author of the Leeds study, described the voluntary guidelines as narrow in scope, focusing mainly on sugar and salt while neglecting the overall nutritional value of many purees and pouches intended for weaning. She emphasised the importance of energy-dense, nutrient-rich foods containing iron, zinc, and diverse fibres, warning that watery or low-nutrient purees could displace essential milk feeds and hinder a child’s nutritional development.

High sugar intake in young children is recognised as a key contributor to childhood obesity in the UK, which has one of the highest rates in Western Europe. Official statistics indicate that more than 22% of children in England start primary school overweight or obese.

Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton said the new guidelines would help parents navigate confusing labels that often disguise foods high in sugar and salt. Prof Simon Kenny, NHS England’s national clinical director for children and young people, added that the measures would empower parents to make informed decisions that support their children’s health and development.

A House of Lords report last year had already highlighted concerns that commercial infant foods are routinely high in sugar and often marketed misleadingly. It recommended mandatory legal standards for commercial infant foods, independent of input from manufacturers. A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said manufacturers are expected to comply with the guidelines within 18 months, warning that “tougher measures” would be considered if businesses fail to act.

Evidence suggests that stricter regulation can have measurable effects: a University of Leeds study found that legislation restricting supermarket sales of foods high in fat, sugar, or salt led to a daily reduction of two million such products purchased across major UK retailers, including Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, and Asda.

The government’s initiative aims to ensure that infant nutrition aligns with official dietary guidance and to reduce the hidden risks associated with sugar-heavy baby foods, giving children a healthier start in life.