A PROFESSIONAL nanny has revealed the Aldi kids’ food she would never give her clients’ children.
Emily, who works with families all over the world, claimed that she would personally avoid “pouches and meal trays” that you can pick up in supermarkets.
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Over recent years, numerous companies have found success in convincing parents that feeding a baby with a quick and convenient processed pouch is easier and also nutritious.
However, there have been growing concerns over whether they are nutritionally sufficient and if they hinder a varied diet.
On her @thenosugarcoatnanny account, Emily, who is trained as a prestigious Norland nanny, held up two items from Aldi’s Organia Mamia range, which are designed for children.
Speaking of their “super cheap” 65p apples, parsnips and carrots pouch (intended for ages four months and above) and their 95p chicken and vegetable cous cous (designed for 12 months and older), she said: “These are products that I do not recommend to parents.”
PANORAMA INVESTIGATION
Emily cited an investigation by BBC Panorama, which found that six leading UK brands did not meet their key nutritional needs for baby food pouches.
The NHS website has published advice on commercial baby food, and said parents should not rely on shop-bought pouches as everyday meals.
Some popular baby food pouches are labelled as being “perfectly balanced for growing babies” or “packed with goodness”.
Emily added: “Lots of you know about the Panorama documentary that came out about pouches and food.
“I think if you haven’t watched it as a parent, definitely go and watch it.”
The study followed the World Health Organisation stating that it is “critical” that infants and toddlers get good nutrition in the first three years of life.
Babies need food that is “pure, varied, minimally seasoned and nutrient-dense.“
Despite this, by the age of two to five, the average UK toddler has been found to get 61 per cent of their energy from ultra-processed foods, according to a 2022 study.
IRON LEVELS
Emily’s next gripe was with the iron levels in baby meals, and claimed that “a baby needs 7.8 mg a day.”
In the Panorama documentary, Ella’s Kitchen spag bol had just 0.7mg of iron, while Aldi’s Bangers and Mash contained 0.5mg of iron and a Lidl meal had about 0.4mg.
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Emily claimed: “Aldi’s products were tested, and their iron levels in them were around 0.5 mg.
“So, if you give your child, let’s say, this for breakfast, this for lunch, and a similar one for dinner, your child’s, getting 1.5 milligrams of iron a day?
“That’s so incredibly low.
“And obviously, children need iron to grow their blood cells.
“It’s obviously to help with their oxygen and the flow around their body.
“So, that’s something to really, really consider when thinking of these.”
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Emily shared how she wasn’t advising parents to avoid them completely, and said they are “absolutely fine” for days out if you’ve not made anything or forgotten a snack.
She explained: “But what I don’t want parents to be doing is stocking their cupboards full of these sorts of things, and then that’s your go-to.”
A spokesperson for Aldi said: “Our range of products can help parents and carers to support a child’s weaning journey by introducing a wide variety of food and flavours as part of a varied diet.
“Any sugar in them is naturally occurring and would be the same in a fruit puree made at home.”
Can I use shop-bought jars and pouches to feed my baby or toddler?
ACCORDING to the NHS website: “If you are using food pouches, jars, trays and pots, they should only by used occasionally. They should not be used as an everyday food.”
- Wait until your baby is around 6 months old before feeding them solid foods – even if labels say it’s suitable from 4 months
- Check food labels and choose the food with the least amount of sugar
- Always squeeze the contents from pouches onto a spoon to feed your baby
- Do not rely on food pouches, jars, pots and trays as everyday food
- Do not let your baby suck food from the pouch – this can increase their risk of tooth decay
- Do not feed your baby snacks until they are 12 months old
Source: NHS: Start for Life
NHS GUIDANCE
The NHS Start For Life website states that parents should wait until their baby is around six months old before feeding them solid foods, even if labels on pouches say the products are suitable from four months.
Experts say the products should only be used sparingly, and not as replacements for homemade meals.
They also advised they can cause children health problems if used as their main source of nutrition.
The six brands involved in the investigation were Ella’s Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl, who all said their products were intended to be used as a complementary part of a child’s varied weaning diet.
