When you are a new parent, those brightly labelled baby cereals and purées on supermarket shelves look like a lifesaver. They are convenient, colourful and promise wholesome nutrition.
But a new South African study suggests there might be more going on behind those natural flavours than you realise.
Researchers at the Stellenbosch University recently took a closer look at baby food flavourings in South Africa, and what they found might make you rethink what’s in your pantry.
SWEET FLAVOURS, SWEET HABITS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT BABY FOOD FLAVOURING
The study, published in Maternal & Child Nutrition, analysed hundreds of commercial complementary foods (CCFs), which included cereals, snacks and drinks designed for babies aged six months to 23 months. About a third (36%) of them contained added flavourings, and most of those were sweet. Vanilla is the most common, followed by caramel, chocolate, honey and rooibos.
It is not the first time baby nutrition has made headlines. In 2024, Nestlé denied claims that some of its baby foods sold in countries like South Africa had a high sugar content, a controversy highlighting how easily sweetness can slip into baby diets.
While these flavours may seem harmless, researchers warn that early exposure to sweetness may be shaping baby taste preferences from as early as six months, encouraging a love of sweetness. This might make veggies and less sugary foods harder to accept later on. In other words, a vanilla cereal could quietly influence lifelong eating habits.
THE PROBLEM WITH BABY FOOD LABELS
The researchers also found labelling issues. Just more than half of all baby cereals in South Africa and other complementary foods followed labelling rules correctly. Some products claimed “no added flavourings” while including them, directly violating national regulations. Misleading marketing like this could make it harder for parents to make informed choices.
WHAT PARENTS CAN DO
If you are starting baby feeding at six months, take a moment to check ingredient lists carefully. Look for words like “flavouring” or “natural flavour”, even when the packaging sounds healthy. Offer your baby a variety of natural tastes and textures, from mashed veggies to savoury porridges, so they learn that food doesn’t always need to taste like dessert.
The researchers say stronger regulation is needed to ensure that baby foods in South Africa meet safety standards and help parents make the best choices. Until then, awareness is your best tool. Every spoonful helps shape your baby’s relationship with food for life.
