Researchers call on baby food to be reevaluated for potential harm to eating habits

Researchers at Stellenbosch are calling on baby food to be reevaluated for their potential harm to young children's eating habits.  

The researchers found that 36% of baby foods had added flavourings.  

ALSO READ: Researchers raise concerns over potential harm of flavourings in baby food

The sweet flavouring could cause babies to prefer sweeter foods over their natural flavours.  

This could impact their eating habits as they grow older.  

A researcher for the department of food sciences at Stellenbosch University, Wilana Barnard, said many foods were incorrectly labelled to have natural ingredients.  

"We found that many packaged foods for babies and young children sold in South Africa contained flavouring that could harm their eating habits and health. To protect our babies and young children, the flavouring in these commercial complimentary foods needs to be reevaluated and labelling regulations must be properly enforced."