New NHS baby food warning: Parents told to cut back on shop-bought pouches
New advice urges parents to limit shop-bought baby food and wait until 6 months for solids
If baby food pouches are a staple in your changing bag or cupboard, it might be time for a rethink.
For the first time ever, the NHS has issued official advice on commercial baby foods — and the message is clear: shop-bought pouches should not be everyday meals.
The updated guidance, now live on the NHS Start for Life website, follows a BBC Panorama investigation which found that products from six leading UK brands didn’t meet the key nutritional needs for babies and toddlers.
While convenient and shelf-stable, experts say pouches should only be used occasionally and are no substitute for homemade meals. And that’s not just about nutrition — letting little ones suck directly from pouches could be putting their teeth at risk too.
New guidance: what’s changed?
The new NHS advice includes:
- Avoid using baby food pouches as everyday meals
- Don’t let babies suck directly from pouches — spoon-feed instead
- Choose options with the least amount of sugar
- Don’t give snacks like baby puffs and sticks to under-1s
- Wait until your baby is around 6 months before starting solids
This is the first time the NHS has addressed commercial baby food specifically — and experts say it’s long overdue.
Charlotte Stirling-Reed, baby weaning expert and author, told the BBC: “It’s about time that this was addressed... because food pouches and commercial baby foods are used so much by parents. It was a real gap in the NHS advice until now.”
Why pouches are under scrutiny
The BBC Panorama investigation took a close look at popular baby food pouches from brands like Ella’s Kitchen, Heinz, Piccolo, Little Freddie, Aldi and Lidl.
Despite being marketed with phrases like “packed with goodness”, the findings suggest that many of these products aren’t meeting the bar when it comes to essential nutrition for babies and toddlers.
Dr Vicky Sibson, director of the charity First Steps Nutrition Trust, said the lack of clear guidance has left many parents understandably confused.
It can be confusing for parents when they see shop-bought products marketed as being ‘just as good’ as homemade foods.
The investigation also highlighted concerns around brands promoting weaning from as early as four months — despite NHS and World Health Organisation advice to wait until around six months.
Since the Panorama report aired, Ella’s Kitchen, Piccolo and Aldi have all said they’ll rebrand their products as suitable from six months.
What do the brands say?
Ella’s Kitchen, the UK market leader, said it agreed that baby food pouches should be used sparingly and not as a primary food source. Other brands featured in the investigation also stated that their products are meant to complement, not replace, a varied diet during weaning.
In response to the findings, the British Retail Consortium said companies “take great care to optimise the nutritional composition of these products”, and that “all products are clearly labelled so parents can make informed decisions when feeding their baby.”
Is regulation next?
Dr Sibson says stronger regulations are needed to make sure all commercial baby food is suitable for young children — and marketed responsibly.
While the Department of Health and Social Care maintains that “current laws already set strong standards for baby food”, campaigners and nutritionists argue it’s not enough.
For now, parents are being urged to focus on home-prepped, varied meals where possible, and to treat pouches as an occasional convenience — not the norm.
This updated NHS advice marks a welcome shift in official guidance, especially for new parents navigating the often overwhelming world of baby food. The convenience of pouches isn’t going anywhere, but with the right info, you can use them in a way that supports your little one’s nutrition — without relying on them too heavily.
And if you’re starting to wean soon? Stick with the six-month rule and aim for real, varied food experiences whenever you can.
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Authors
Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.