How to read a baby food label in 60 seconds (and spot the tricks)

The 60-second version

1. Ingredients list order — by weight. First three ingredients are 70–90% of what's in the jar. 2. Watch for "oil" words in the first 5: palm, sunflower, rapeseed. Common filler. 3. Allergens are bolded (UK/EU) or underlined. Scan quickly. 4. "Per 100g" on nutrition — always read this column, not per-pouch (sizes vary). 5. Age on front is the manufacturer's recommendation. Take it seriously.

Ingredients order matters most If a pouch says "apple, carrot, water, fruit juice concentrate, rice flour" — it's majority apple, and the "healthy baby food for dinner" framing is a stretch. Savoury doesn't mean savoury.

Signals of a good label - Fewer than 10 ingredients - First three are whole foods (not oils, not concentrates) - No "flavourings" unless specified - Allergens clear and bold

Signals of a bad label - "Natural flavourings" with no specifics - Fruit concentrates in the top 5 - Emulsifiers or stabilisers (lecithin, xanthan, carrageenan) — usually means the product's been engineered, not cooked - Multiple oils

Dates and storage - Best before ≠ unsafe after. Quality declines, not safety. - Use by = actually unsafe after. Respect it. - Opened baby food pouches go in the fridge and are done within 24 hours. Spit-back from a spoon contaminates the rest — never store what's been eaten from.

What the label can't tell you - Pesticide residue levels (unless organic-certified) - Heavy metals (lead, arsenic, cadmium) — regulated but not disclosed per-batch - Whether the fruit is whole or puréed (texture matters for baby's development) - Batch-specific recall information

EggYolk fills in some of these blanks by cross-referencing against public safety databases, flagging recalls, and tracking heavy metal concerns for rice-based products.

Not medical advice. Always follow your paediatrician's guidance on weaning and nutrition.