For the price of a few pouches of baby food, you can feed your infant for weeks. And that’s before you factor in the convenience and savings. But, before you go out and buy baby food pouches from any company or organization just because they seem like a good deal, make sure they are safe and healthy. Here are five things you should check when buying baby food pouches:
- Don’t buy from a company without a website or phone number: You should be able to check out a company’s website and see the standards they have set for themselves. You should also be able to call the organization or a person at their office and ask questions about their products.
- Look for preservatives listed on pouches of baby food: Some foods, especially meats, will require an additive to keep bacteria like salmonella from growing before you can eat it. If you don’t want your baby eating sodium nitrate or calcium propionate (or if you do), read the label carefully so you know what’s in what you’re buying. Many manufacturers use ascorbic acid as a natural preservative instead of adding potentially harmful compounds.
- Check the expiration date: If the product is already past its prime, often the best method of disposal is to throw it away or, better yet, donate it to a food bank or shelter and help someone else get something they didn’t have before.
- Is there a long list of ingredients that don’t sound good: Some baby pouches have several things in them that sound like they won’t be good for your baby’s health. The most common are artificial coloring and flavorings which can have adverse effects on your baby (including low blood sugar) if you don’t know what’s in them, or if they’re all listed together as “natural flavors”.
- Are the pouches BPA free and vegetarian? Bisphenol-A (BPA) is a chemical that has been used in food and drink containers for years, but there have been concerns about its health effects on adults, never mind on babies who are much more susceptible to harmful chemicals and additives. If you want to be sure your baby is getting the healthiest food possible, you can steer clear of pouches that contain BPA. Another consideration is whether or not the pouches you plan to buy are vegetarian. The U.S. government no longer allows dairy and meat byproducts to be used in baby food pouches, and some of the pouches are certified as vegetarian.
Above all, be sure that you are getting what a company claims to be in their packaging (including their website or phone number) and that you know how to use the product properly so you know what’s inside your pouches before you feed them to your baby. Some companies will give a list of the ingredients on products as a way for parents to check out which ones are safe for their children. Others will give you a list of websites where you can get information.
If you are having trouble finding information about a baby food pouch company, contact the manufacturer and ask them questions about their products. Sometimes the sales representatives have more information than what’s on the company website. Remember, when it comes to your infant’s nutrition, you want to find safe and healthy baby food pouches that are good for your baby and easy on your budget.