The update meets the Government’s new nutritional guidance, ahead of the 2027 target
Boots has become the first national retailer to make a major change to its food range that will interest millions of people across the country. There are estimated to be 19.7 million families in the UK, with the majority residing in England, and Boots’ new announcement is likely to please many mums and dads.
Boots has announced a significant step forward in its mission to help parents make healthier choices for their baby’s nutrition. Now, Boots will only sell ready-made baby food products that meet the new nutritional guidelines published by the Government, making it the first major UK retailer to adopt these voluntary guidelines ahead of the target of February 2027.
These guidelines are part of the Government’s wider agenda to address childhood obesity. For babies under 12 months, the new standards mandate no added sugar, sweetening ingredients or added salt in baby foods or finger foods.
There are also limits on total sugar and/or fruit, and sodium content in snacks for children aged 12 months to three years. By reviewing and refining its full baby food range with the support of its nutritionists, Boots says it is making it easier for parents to feel assured that the products they choose are healthy, nutritious, and aligned with expert guidance.
Ready-to-eat baby foods play an important role for many families, offering convenience, long shelf life and ease for feeding on the go. Boots sells a large baby food selection, featuring almost 250 baby snacks, dried food and wet pouches at accessible prices from just £1.
Vicky Pennington, Lead Nutritionist at Boots, who led the review, said: “This is an important step forward for the baby food market and for parents who want to give their children the best possible start in life. We’re trusted by millions of customers and are committed to helping parents navigate children’s nutrition.
“We know that comparing labels and understanding nutritional information can be challenging, especially when life is busy. Our aim is to make it easier for families to feel confident and know that every product they find at Boots meets high nutritional standards.”
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, said: “Families deserve to know the food they’re buying for their babies meet high nutrient standards, which is why we’ve set clear guidelines for the industry. Government can’t build a healthy society alone, it requires business, the voluntary sector, and all of us as citizens to play our part.
“It is fantastic that Boots are leading the charge and no longer selling products with excessive sugar and salt. I hope other outlets will now follow the example Boots has set. Every child deserves a healthy start to life and making it easier for parents to choose healthier options is an important part of that.”
Baby food brands are also reacting quickly to these new nutritional guidelines. Within its full category review, Boots has also launched several new products, including ‘nutty pouches’ from Ella’s Kitchen, which is also expanding its snacking range, new pots and pouches from Cow & Gate, and newly reformulated Organix Original Rice Cakes.
Boots will have replaced all non-compliant products in its range by mid-April. In 2022 it was one of the first retailers to ban plastic in wet wipes and later that year, it switched to only sell organic cotton wool across Boots Brand products.
