How Much Sugar is in Baby and Toddler Snacks?
Written by Jess Mackenzie, Founder of Jess Cooks - a range of healthy and convenient frozen meals for children and families.
In recent times, there has been growing debate around the sugar levels in popular ready-made snacks and pouches for babies and toddlers. To clarify the facts from fiction, let’s take a closer look at this sticky issue.
What’s the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of sugar for babies and toddlers?
According to the NHS, children aged 4-6 should consume no more than 19g of sugar per day (equivalent to 5 sugar cubes). Surprisingly, there are no specific guidelines for children under 4 years old. This is likely to avoid endorsing us feeding any sugar to our toddlers, although as most of us know this isn’t always realistic! We can assume, however, that the RDA would be below 19g.
What’s the deal with “no added sugar” claims?
It’s really important to understand the meaning of the term “free sugars”. “Free sugars”, as defined by the British Nutrition Foundation, include sugars in food or drink (like that in cakes, biscuits, chocolate etc), sugars from honey, syrups and nectars (e.g. agave) and crucially, sugars from fruit purees and concentrates (like smoothies and juices). So, even if a product contains only naturally occurring sugars, if they come from purees or concentrates rather than whole fruits, they are still considered “free sugars.”
Why are fruit-derived sugars a concern? Aren’t they healthier than those in cakes and biscuits?
This is where the debate gets a bit contentious. The British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) says that free sugars from smoothies and fruit juices are problematic because they “can be consumed more easily in larger quantities than sugars from whole foods”. This is because most of the fibre is either lost in the discarded peel or broken down when the fruit or vegetable is blended or juiced. Fibre helps slow down sugar absorption, and when it’s missing, our bodies absorb sugar more quickly. However, they also say that “fruit juices and smoothies do contain useful micronutrients like vitamin C”. The NHS advises adults to “limit their consumption of smoothies and fruit juices to 150ml a day” and that “squashes sweetened with sugar, fizzy drinks, soft drinks and juice drinks have no place in a child’s daily diet”. Plus, don’t forget—fruit sugars can affect your little one’s teeth just like other sugars!
How can I check the sugar content in my child’s snacks?
Look out for the “carbohydrates of which sugars” on nutritional labels. Remember that the government RDA for kids aged 4-6 is 19g a day. Additionally, check the ingredients for free sugars, such as fruit purees, concentrates, juices or other forms of sugar such as glucose, dextrose or corn syrup. Naturally occurring sugars in whole fruits, milk or yoghurt and vegetables are not considered free sugars and the NHS website advises that there is no reason to limit these.
In conclusion, moderation is key. Even if a product claims “no added sugar”, it’s important to check both for the sugar content and the types of sugar it contains. If “free sugars” are involved, it might be worth limiting them to occasional treats.
Jess is the founder of Jess Cooks.
Disclaimer: Jess is not a qualified nutritionist but has extensive experience in the children’s food industry and bases her insights on credible government sources.