Quetschies in the Test: Too Much Sugar and Waste

As a practical and convenient snack for on the go, squeeze pouches are popular with both parents and children. In a recent test, the AK Upper Austria takes a closer look at 20 fruit-milk mixtures in squeeze pouches. Products from the refrigerated section are particularly criticized: The addition of sugar, flavors, and additives makes them more like a dessert than a balanced meal.

Expensive and Lots of Waste: Squeeze Pouches in the Test

Squeeze pouches, also known as "Quetschies," no longer consist only of fruit or vegetable puree, but often also contain dairy products like yogurt or cream cheese. The AK Upper Austria compared 20 such products. The price for 100 grams ranged from 0.69 to 1.54 euros. Thus, they are significantly more expensive compared to fresh fruit and yogurt. Additionally, they generate a considerable amount of packaging waste.

Chewing Important for Toddlers

While the tested squeeze pouches in the refrigerated section do not contain an age indication, the other products specifically target babies from 6 months to their first birthday. However, regardless of age, squeeze pouches offer no nutritional benefit. From the end of the first year of life, purees are usually unnecessary - chewing solid food is important for jaw muscles and language development. Additionally, frequent sucking on the pouches can promote cavities. Manufacturers often recommend using a spoon, but it is precisely the direct sucking that is appealing. Such advice seems unconvincing and appears to serve marketing purposes rather than actual consumer protection.

Refrigerated vs. Non-Refrigerated: More Differences Than Expected

- The squeeze pouches, due to the addition of yogurt or cream cheese, have a higher protein and fat content compared to pure fruit or vegetable squeeze pouches. Depending on the composition, there are also noticeable differences in energy density. This ranges from 58 to 99 calories per 100 grams. The sugar content is between 6.7 and 10 grams per 100 grams.

Caution with Misleading Labels: "No Added Sugar" Does Not Mean "Sugar-Free"

The twelve squeeze pouches from the baby food aisle are exclusively organic products to which no flavors, additives, or sugars have been added. They rely solely on the natural sweetness from fruits and all advertise with the label "no added sugar." While this is legally permissible, it can create the misleading impression for parents that it is a low-sugar product. For health, the total amount of sugar consumed daily counts - whether naturally as fruit sugar or as added sugar.

Squeeze Pouches from the Refrigerated Section with Many Additives

The eight conventional products from the refrigerated section contain comparatively little fruit and compensate for this by adding sugar and flavorings. Additionally, other additives such as acidity regulators, stabilizers, or thickeners are included. This makes them more similar to a dessert than a healthy snack - and they are sometimes advertised as such. Some of these squeeze pouches are also fortified with vitamin D and/or calcium. While this suggests a health benefit, it does not change the fact that they are essentially highly processed children's fast food.

In 14 cases, manufacturers use cheap fillers like flour, starch, or modified starch. These are presumably intended to improve the consistency of the squeeze pouches but offer no nutritional value.

Conclusion

Giving squeeze pouches is unproblematic. However, prefer high-quality products without added sugar and in organic quality. Fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, or pastries are always the healthier alternative for on the go.

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This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.