The big salt shake-up – what mums need to know

When cereals just aren’t worth their salt

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the news, you may have noticed that salt has been getting a lot of attention. A new Food Standards Agency (FSA) campaign targeting hidden salts in cereals, soups and ketchup has got some household name manufacturers worried. They claim their products have been unfairly singled out. We’ve answered some of the big questions so you can draw your own conclusions when it comes to baby food.

Why is salt no longer flavour of the month?

Salt can be harmful to your baby in two ways. In the short term, too much salt can be harmful to your baby’s developing kidneys. In the long term, it can develop into a harmful habit and a desire for salty foods as they grow older. This can lead to higher blood pressure and put pressure on the heart.

How much salt do babies need?

The FSA recommends a daily salt intake of no more than 1g for babies younger than a year, and 2g for under-3s. That’s a lot less than the 6g recommended for adults. And as salt (sodium) occurs naturally in many foods, it makes sense to choose products created specifically for babies – and not to add any extra salt to your baby’s food.

What should I look for on the label?

Salt is sometimes listed as sodium. Multiply the sodium content by 2.5 to work out how much salt that adds up to. Anything more than 1.6g of salt per 100g is considered high for adults – so it’s particularly important to avoid added salt when it comes to baby food! If you see salt listed in the ingredients list, then check that it contains a sensible proportion of your baby’s 1g recommended daily intake.

How much salt is hiding in family cereals?

As much as 75% of the salt we eat is already in the food we buy. And cereals are a major culprit, with 9 out of 10 family cereals containing added salt. An adult portion of cereal could contain as much salt as a small bag of salted peanuts. In fact, many family cereals contain over 0.5g of salt per serving. That’s over 50% of your baby’s maximum daily intake in just one bowl. If you’re looking for a cereal for your baby, try choosing one with less than 0.15g of sodium per 100g.

Where can I find cereals with no added salt for my baby?

Right here! Unlike family cereals, Cow & Gate Baby Balance breakfast cereals have been developed just for babies. That means no added salt, no added sugar and a third of the daily vitamins your baby needs in every bowl. If you’d like any more information on salt and your baby’s nutrition, we’d be delighted to answer your questions on 08457 623 623.

Where else to look for salt

Savoury meals are an important part of your baby’s diet and, being `savoury`, they are more likely to contain salt. Some of our baby and toddler savoury meals contain salt. This is because salt is found naturally in some of the ingredients we use.
But you can rest assured that these salt levels are within baby control standards and are always at least 50% less than the Baby Food guidelines.
The best way to ensure your baby’s salt intake stays within recommended levels is to keep your baby’s diet balanced and always check food labels – remember, salt can also be listed as sodium.

At Cow & Gate, we have made a commitment to reduce the levels of salt in our savoury meals to an absolute minimum over the coming months. In the meantime you can click here to see which of our meals contain salt and how much.

For more advice or information our feeding advisors will be happy to help – simply get in touch.