It’s important to know what you are giving your child, especially when it comes to young children and babies as their bodies – and therefore immune and digestive systems – are much smaller and more sensitive than adults. Fortunately, if you read the ingredients on the back of the package, you’ll know everything that is in the product. Or will you?!
We have all heard stories about how processed food can be dangerous to our health, but it doesn’t stop us from eating them because they taste good. But what about baby food? It’s so easy to grab a jar or can off of a shelf without thinking much about it. And then we give it to our children, not knowing that there are unhealthy additives inside of them at all.
Did You Know?
A recent study found that several heavy and toxic metals were present in a variety of different baby foods. The heavy metals tested for in these studies included cadmium, lead, mercury, and inorganic arsenic. As mentioned in an article at https://www.cd-lawyers.com/toxic-metals-in-baby-food/, the FDA has since stepped in and made it known that they are putting in effort to stop these trace amounts of toxic ingredients from ending up in baby food. As parents and consumers, it is our responsibility to be aware of what we are putting into young children’s bodies!
Many companies add infant cereal or other grain-based foods to their products because they know that mothers and fathers see this and think of it as something healthy for their kids, which gives businesses a reason to sell more products. But many things can go wrong with processed grains, especially if they are high in arsenic.
How to Read the Jar
If you look at the ingredients on your child’s jar of food, there are three items listed there: A list of ingredients, a label declaration, and the net weight. The list of ingredients will include everything that is in the jar or can. This includes any grains, chemicals, artificial flavors, and colors, among other items. This is important because if your child happens to be allergic to one of those items, you need to know that they are included in the total ingredients. However, be aware that names can be confusing and many harmful ingredients can be hidden under generalized names (as will be discussed more below).
Checking the label declaration will allow you to see how much sodium or sugar there is per serving size in the jar. One company could make their product healthier by cutting down on these additives, while another company might add more salt or sugar for flavor in their jars compared to others. And lastly, checking the net weight allows you to see how big each jar actually is.
What To Watch Out For In Baby Food Ingredients
As a parent, you know that your child’s health is extremely important to you, and you always want to make sure they’re eating healthy and nutritious food. When feeding your child baby food, it is important to check ingredients.
Sodium: Many baby foods contain a significant amount of added sodium. Too much sodium can be bad for your child’s health because it may cause an increase in blood pressure and may also have an effect on the development of their kidneys.
Artificial Sweeteners: A common ingredient in many baby foods is added sweeteners, which may be listed as sucrose, cane juice crystals, or any other type of sugar. This can cause your toddler’s blood sugar levels to spike dangerously high. It also doesn’t provide any nutrition to help them grow healthy and strong.
Aspartame: Aspartame is a very common sweetener that is found in certain types of baby food such as desserts or dessert mixes, but this substance has been associated with causing cancer and neurological health problems like headaches and migraines.
Sodium Benzoate: Sodium benzoate is another additive that serves as a preservative and is found in baby food. This substance has been linked to causing severe damage to DNA that can lead to cancer, but it also affects the body’s ability to absorb calcium, which can affect your child’s development.
Vitamin A Palmitate: Vitamin A Palmitate is added vitamin A that provides sufficient amounts of beta-carotene or vitamin A for growth and development. It is found in some kinds of baby foods like cereals, desserts, fruit drinks, and meal replacements. But long-term consumption of high doses of this additive has been associated with liver toxicity, elevated cholesterol levels, and bone fractures.
Artificial Food Dyes: There are many different kinds of artificial food dyes that are added to baby food including Red 40, Yellow 5, and Blue 1. These additives have been linked to cancer, hyperactivity in children, allergic reactions, and other harmful effects on your child’s development. The best way for your child to avoid these additives is if you make it yourself at home, making sure you read all ingredients carefully before cooking.
Natural Flavors: This is another way to say “we don’t want to tell you what is actually in this product”. Try to avoid any vague ingredient references at all costs because you will never truly know what they mean!
Healthy Food Alternatives for Your Kids
In order to avoid all of these harmful substances in your child’s baby food, it is best to make sure that you yourself read all ingredients carefully before buying any jarred or canned foods for your children. Try making their food at home instead by cooking and puréeing fresh fruits and vegetables.
Many parents believe that the convenience of store-bought baby food outweighs the possible dangerous additives and would rather buy a jar than prepare homemade baby food. However, there are many other things than just convenience and cost when choosing between store-bought or homemade baby food. Making it yourself can be more cost-efficient because you will know exactly what is inside the jars and cans that you buy from the supermarket. Also, making your own homemade baby food will ensure that you as a parent know exactly how it is made and if there are any negative additives inside of it. This way, you can control what your child eats and make sure they avoid any harmful ingredients or substances that may be harmful to their bodies.
When you are selecting baby food for your child, it is important to read the ingredients. Reading through all of the items on what is in the jar can help you know if there are any substances that may be harmful or not nutritious for your toddler’s health. You also want to watch out for sodium benzoate and vitamin A palmitate, which have been linked with causing cancer among other things; this information should be listed on all jars, so parents will know before they purchase a product!
