Government launches new guidelines to cut sugar and salt in baby foods
Parents and carers in England are set to benefit from sweeping new government guidelines designed to make baby food healthier and easier to navigate.
The Department of Health and Social Care has announced reforms that will challenge manufacturers to reduce sugar and salt in commercial baby foods and introduce clearer labelling, in a bid to tackle childhood obesity and improve infant health.
The voluntary guidelines, part of the government’s wider Plan for Change, will apply to foods marketed for babies and toddlers up to 36 months. Manufacturers have been given 18 months to implement changes, which include removing misleading health claims and aligning product labelling with official infant feeding advice.
Public Health Minister Ashley Dalton said the move will help address poor dietary standards in early childhood and reduce strain on the NHS. “Every child deserves a healthy, happy start to life,” she said. “Too often, parents are bombarded with confusing labels disguising foods packed with hidden sugars and salt. Our Plan for Change gives parents the information they need and children the nutrition they deserve.”
The guidelines also aim to stop the use of claims such as “no nasties” on products that may still be high in sugar, and to phase out labels promoting snacks for babies from seven months, contrary to NHS guidance that children under one do not require snacks between meals.
Recent data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey shows over two-thirds of children aged 18 months to three years are consuming too much sugar. Meanwhile, more than one in five children aged four to five are living with overweight or obesity, figures which place the UK among the highest in Western Europe.
Health experts and campaigners have welcomed the announcement. Charlotte Stirling-Reed, known as “The Baby and Child Nutritionist”, called the guidelines a “step towards empowering families” and said parents deserve clearer, evidence-based standards. Dr Vicky Sibson from the First Steps Nutrition Trust added that while the measures are voluntary for now, stronger legislation may be necessary if the industry fails to comply.
The government has pledged to evaluate compliance within 18 months and hinted at further measures if progress is slow. Alongside this initiative, the 10 Year Health Plan includes broader efforts such as £57 million for Start for Life services, extended nursery access and a ban on junk food adverts before 9pm from January 2026.
Officials say the changes mark a decisive shift in supporting families with healthier choices. If widely adopted, the guidelines could significantly reduce obesity rates and improve the long-term health of children across the country.