The OCU detects excess sugar in half of the multigrain porridge analyzed

2023-04-12 12:56:38

An analysis of 10 multicereal porridges for babies six months or more (in two brands, from the fifth month) carried out by the Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) reveals a high sugar content in 5 samples. Specifically, in Blevit 8 cereals (32.3% sugars), Nutriben 8 cereals (20.4%), Damira Multicereales (18.9%), Nestlé 8 cereals (18.95) and Gerber Grain & Grow 8 cereals (17.4%), as explained by the OCU in a press release.

Excess sugar

For the most part, this excess sugar is the result of the hydrolysis of cereals, a technological process that aims to break down starch into simple sugars to make them more digestible. But that is unnecessary once the baby reaches six months, since then he is able to assimilate starch without problems. In the Nutriben porridge there was also maltodextrin, a type of carbohydrate that is used as a thickener. While in Damira’s, sucrose was also used, the chemical name for common sugar.

baby eating

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Vitamin B1, required by law

And although all porridges include vitamin B1, required by law, not all are supplemented with iron, as would be desirable in 6-month-old babies. A deficiency shared by four products: Almirón Multicereals, Nutribén 8 cereales, Carrefour Baby Bio Multicereales and Hipp Biológico Multicereales. By the way, the presence of other minerals, vitamins or bifidobacteria do not harm the health of the baby, although in the opinion of the OCU “it is better to reserve them for when they are really necessary”.

The Consumer Organization has also analyzed the possible presence of 27 possible toxic substances: pesticides, heavy metals, nitrates, mycotoxins, acrylamide, tropane alkaloids, pathogenic bacteria. The results have been good in all cases, although it is not uncommon to find cadmium and arsenic in intake amounts tolerated by the regulations, a circumstance that should prompt regular surveillance by the health authorities. However, non-pathogenic enterobacteria have been detected in a porridge, that of Almirón, an indicator of lack of hygiene that weighs down the evaluation of this product.

Price: variations of up to 22 euros

Regarding the price, the differences are very significant: it varies between 8 and 22 euros per kilo depending on the brand. But, as with many other foods, more expensive is not necessarily synonymous with more quality. In any case, it is worth comparing prices for the same product between different establishments: from one point of sale to another there are differences of up to 60%. By the way, if you are looking for them in online stores, remember that the final price increases with shipping costs.

In any case, before purchasing a multigrain porridge, you can Check your nutritional intake in the free OCU Market application, which assesses the level of saturated fat, sugar and salt, in addition to the additives present. This app also allows you to find the cheapest shops in the area, since it includes the price of 150,000 food and drug products. All you have to do is read the barcode of the product or enter its name.

This information has been prepared by a team of health professionals, nutritionists, food technologists, statisticians, editors and designers from the OCU who, in collaboration with independent laboratories, have been analyzing the main health and food products and services since 1975.