As more parents grow to rely on kids’ food pouches, experts raise concerns

Oct 29

Craig Nigrelli Anchor

By Craig Nigrelli (Anchor), Shea Taylor (Producer), Emma Stoltzfus (Video Editor/Producer)

They seem to be everywhere you go, and despite the name, kids of all ages appear to love baby food pouches. These popular kid-friendly food sources are often touted as a great way to get kids to eat more fruits and vegetables, but their increasing popularity has some children’s nutrition experts concerned.

According to the Los Angeles Times, baby food pouch sales have gone up 900% since 2010. In the last 12 months alone they raked in $466 million in U.S. sales.

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While nutritionists agree they make for a good, less-messy snack, they’re worried parents are becoming too reliant on these pouches. Experts say the pouches’ nutritional value may be overstated in advertising, because they’re not as strictly regulated as formula is — and they tend to contain more sugar and sodium than parents realize.

One pediatric nutrition expert told CNN, since kids don’t have to learn to chew when they eat from these pouches, it could lead to future dental problems.

Tags: Children, CNN, food, Health, Los Angeles

[Craig Nigrelli]

THEY SEEM TO BE EVERYWHERE YOU GO AND – DESPITE THE NAME – KIDS OF ALL AGES SEEM TO LOVE THEM… BABY FOOD POUCHES.

THESE POPULAR KID-FRIENDLY FOOD SOURCES ARE OFTEN TOUTED AS A GREAT WAY TO GET KIDS TO EAT MORE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES… BUT THEIR INCREASING POPULARITY HAS SOME CHILDREN’S NUTRITION EXPERTS CONCERNED.

ACCORDING TO THE LOS ANGELES TIMES… BABY FOOD POUCH SALES HAVE GONE UP 900 PERCENT SINCE 20-10.

IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS ALONG, THEY RAKED IN 466 MILLION DOLLARS IN U-S SALES.

AND WHILE NUTRITIONISTS AGREE THEY MAKE FOR A GOOD, LESS-MESS SNACK… THEY’RE WORRIED PARENTS MAY BE BECOMING TO RELIANT ON THESE POUCHES.

EXPERTS SAY THE POUCHES’ NUTRITIONAL VALUE MAY BE OVERSTATED IN ADVERTISING BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT AS STRICTLY REGULATED AS FORMULA IS – AND THEY TEND TO CONTAIN MORE SUGAR AND SODIUM THAN PARENTS REALIZE.

AND ONE PEDIATRIC NUTRITION EXPERT TOLD C-N-N SINCE KIDS DON’T HAVE TO LEARN TO CHEW WHEN THEY EAT FROM THESE POUCHES… IT COULD LEAD TO FUTURE DENTAL PROBLEMS.

SO, JUST LIKE ANYTHING ELSE – THEY SHOULD BE FINE IN MODERATION.