Choosing your baby’s food
Did you know? In many countries, pre-packaged baby food has to meet strict safety standards.
Whether you are making food at home, buying it from the store, or a combination of the two, making sure it’s safe for your baby to eat is top priority. Infants and young children are more likely to be affected by food-borne illness. That’s why it’s important to take extra care when buying, preparing, and storing food for your little one.
Buy from places you trust
As well as being a convenient option, readymade baby food can be highly nutritious, healthy, and safe to eat. This is because, in many countries, manufacturers are required to meet strict standards to reduce exposure to pesticides, food additives, and harmful bacteria.
Some manufactured foods are fortified with key nutrients such as iron, calcium, and zinc, which may be low in traditional foods. In addition, readymade baby food can provide many varieties of fruits and vegetables for your little one to learn to enjoy.
Sources
Carstairs, SA, Craig, LC, Marias, D et al. A comparison of prepared commercial infant feeding meals with home-cooked recipes. Arch Dis Child 2016; 101(11):1037-42. doi: 10.1136/archdischild-2015-310098.
Health Canada, Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada, & Breastfeeding Committee for Canada (2014) Nutrition for healthy term infants: Recommendations from six to 24 months. Accessed July 2021.
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