LITMIR.BIZ

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is buying vegetable ready meals for babies a wiser buy

      than a fresh carrot or squash?

      In terms of pesticide residues, it could provide a guarantee of safety from them, but the benefits of cooking fresh food for a baby or child are greater. It should be said that pesticide manufacturers and conventional farmers continue to argue that agricultural chemicals are safe, but there is still much debate about the so-called cocktail effect of more than one residue on one vegetable. You can always buy organic produce and make baby food with that. Organic growers and producers are permitted to use very few agricultural chemicals, whereas hundreds can be used in conventional farming.

      Where do the meat, dairy and eggs in baby

      food come from?

      Unless the label has Soil Association organic certification, or carries a statement on animal welfare and feed, the meat, dairy or egg content could derive from intensively reared livestock. Other organic marks are a good sign but Soil Association animal welfare standards are the most stringent.

      Is the milk base of formula milk from cows

      kept in intensive farms?

      Non-organic formula will have come from conventional farms, though not all conventional farms are intensive. Again, a reputable organic certificate is a sign of good husbandry. Be aware that conventional, large-scale milk production is bad for the environment (see page 247) and that animal welfare can be compromised. It is not, however, an unsafe food.

      What’s added to conventional formula milk?

      The basis of formula milk is protein, whey and casein in a ratio as close as the manufacturer can get to that in breast milk. Fat is added, usually a mix of animal and vegetable fat, but increasingly long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPs) are added too. These include fish-oil-based omega-3 and plant-based omega-6, which are known to benefit the heart and stimulate brain function. Vitamins and minerals are also added, along with amino acids and sometimes proteins called nucleotides, which occur naturally in breast milk and can boost immunity.

      Are non-dairy (cow’s milk) formulas available?

      There are formulas based on goat’s milk and soy for babies with a family history of allergy-based illnesses. They also contain added nutrients. If you think your child is intolerant or allergic to dairy milk, it is important to seek the advice of a paediatrician or nutrition expert before choosing any alternative.

      What’s the difference between conventional

      formula and organic?

      There is little difference in the basic ingredients, but with each formula the proportions of each may vary. In organic formula, the food-based ingredients must be organically sourced.

      Are the recipes for infant formulas tested?

      Formulation of infant milks is under the control of UK and EU legislation. The law is designed to stop the use of untested novel substances in the manufacture of infant formulas and changes cannot be made to formula milks without proper trials.

      Why are free samples of formula milk

      given to new mothers?

      For loyalty and profit – the manufacturers want their business. It is very tempting for mothers who are struggling in the early breastfeeding days to top up with formula or even switch over to it. The same practice takes on a more sinister role in developing countries with water cleanliness problems. In 2002 Unicef estimated that 1.5 million babies would die a year from unsafe bottlefeeding. The food corporation, Nestlé, was singled out for aggressively marketing formula milk in developing countries and a worldwide boycott of their products began in 1978. In May 1999 a ruling was published against Nestlé by the UK Advertising Standards Authority (ASA). In an anti-boycott advert, Nestlé had claimed that it marketed infant formula ‘ethically and responsibly’. The ASA found that the corporation could not support this or other claims in the face of evidence provided by the campaigning group, Baby Milk Action.

      Can baby food and formula be contaminated with GMOs?

      Livestock that produce milk, meat or eggs for the baby food and formula market may be given GM feed, unless they are only grass fed. The authorities say that since the feed passes through the gut, there will be no contamination. GM watchdogs argue that there is some evidence that DNA from GM material remains in and passes through the gut of animals. They also insist that testing and labelling of GM foods is not adequate. Organic baby food producers police for GM contamination very effectively, and the smaller producers provide exceptionally clear traceability.

      Do baby foods contain colourings or other additives?

      Yes. The only colours permitted are riboflavin and beta-carotene, which are vitamins with a natural colour. The government complies with EU law and ‘restricts’ the use of other non-natural additives. Keep an eye out for starch-based ‘fillers’, such as modified maize starch (corn starch) and maltodextrin, which are added to bulk out food, thus reducing the ingredient cost (water can be added for the same reason). They make food tasteless, necessitating the use of flavourings. Maltodextrin has no nutritional use. Read the labels, choosing only foods that are 100 per cent natural.

      Do baby foods contain added sugar?

      Yes. A survey by the Food Commission found 50 per cent sugar in Nestlé Fruit Stick and 37 per cent in Boots Teddy Bear biscuits, compared with 36 per cent in a jam tart. Traditional Farley’s Rusks (29 per cent) have more sugar than a chocolate digestive (27 per cent). And so-called ‘reduced-sugar’ products from Farley’s (21 per cent) and Hipp (21 per cent) had more sugar than a jam doughnut (19 per cent sugar). These are biscuits for children who are just getting their first teeth! Check the ingredients list for added sugar, including any mention of dextrose, glucose, corn syrup and other types of sugar.

      Do baby foods contain salt?

      There should not be any salt in baby food. Babies up to 12 months need lg or less salt a day, which they will get naturally from their milk and meals without adding extra. Never add salt to food for a baby or a child under five.

      Where to buy trustworthy baby foods

      It is always better to wean a baby on to home-made foods prepared from good-quality fresh ingredients. Only feed ready-made foods when there is a genuine time constraint, in which case look out for the following brands:

      

       All Good Stuff, Chadwick House, Birchwood Park,Warrington WA3 6AETel: 01925 830500www.allgoodstuff.com

      Not so much ready meals as simple fruit and vegetable purées, frozen in individual portions. Very good for newly weaned babies. Home delivery available.

      

       Baby Organix, Knapp Mill, Mill Road,Christchurch, Dorset BH23 2LUTel: 0800 39351 Iwww.babyorganix.co.uk

      Baby Organix was among the first British mainstream organic baby food manufacturers. The recipes are based on traditional home cooking. Available from most supermarkets, as well as independent shops.

      

       Daylesford Organic Farm Shop, Daylesford, Nr Kingham,Gloucestershire GL56 0YGTel: 01608 731700www.daylesfordorganic.com

      Organic fruit and vegetable purées for babies, cooked for a short time to retain nutrients, and free from additives, salt and sugar. Home delivery available.

      

       Goodness Direct, South

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