Study Finds High Levels of Microplastics in Baby Food Pouches

"Parents believe they are giving their children a healthy snack," said Greenpeace consumer expert Madeleine Drescher. "But our tests reveal dangerous chemicals and microplastics in Quetschies."

Health Risks for Children

The report also noted that similar packaging materials are used in products available in Austrian markets, such as Danone Fruchtzwerge Quetschies and Hipp Hafer Smoothie. This suggests comparable microplastic contamination could be present in these products as well.

Greenpeace has urged health authorities to systematically test plastic-packaged baby food for microplastics and toxic chemicals. "As long as such risks cannot be ruled out, plastic should not be the standard for baby food," Drescher added.

The organization emphasized that infants and toddlers are particularly vulnerable to harmful substances. "Their bodies go through critical developmental phases that can be disrupted by chemicals," the report stated. "They also consume more food relative to their body weight than adults."

Calls for Action

Despite claims of being 'healthy,' 'no added sugar,' or 'whole grain,' these snacks often contain between 6.7 and 10 grams of sugar per 100 grams. Some pouches can contain up to 19 grams of sugar, covering more than half the daily recommended intake for certain age groups.

Greenpeace is calling on major baby food manufacturers to end the use of single-use plastics in their products. The group also advocates for stricter regulations and transparency in labeling to protect children's health.