Observational studyNutrients2024
Frequent Use of Baby Food Pouches in Infants and Young Children and Associations with Energy Intake and BMI: An Observational Study.
Observational study in Nutrients, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Eating speed in complementary fed infants: associations with energy intake, weight status, breastfeeding, baby food pouch use and baby-led weaning.International journal of obesity (2005) · 2026Article
- A scoping review of squeeze pouch use among infants and children: Frequency, types, sociodemographic characteristics and parental experiences.Nutrition & dietetics : the journal of the Dietitians Association of Australia · 2026Review
- A qualitative exploration of Australian parental perspectives of commercial squeeze pouches for infants and children.Health promotion international · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
25 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveMost wet commercial infant foods are now sold in squeezable 'pouches'. While multiple expert groups have expressed concern about their use, it is not known how commonly they are consumed and whether they impact energy intake or body mass index (BMI). The objectives were to describe pouch use, and determine associations with energy intake and BMI, in infants and young children.
methodsIn this observational cross-sectional study of 933 young New Zealand children (6.0 months-3.9 years), pouch use was assessed by a questionnaire ('frequent' use was consuming food from a baby food pouch ≥5 times/week in the past month), usual energy intake using two 24-h recalls, and BMI z-score calculated using World Health Organization standards.
resultsThe sample broadly represented the wider population (27.1% high socioeconomic deprivation, 22.5% Māori). Frequent pouch use declined with age (infants 27%, toddlers 16%, preschoolers 8%). Few children were both frequent pouch users and regularly used the nozzle (infants 5%, toddlers 13%, preschoolers 8%). Preschoolers who were frequent pouch users consumed significantly less energy than non-users (-580 kJ [-1094, -67]), but infants (115 [-35, 265]) and toddlers (-206 [-789, 378]) did not appear to have a different energy intake than non-users. There were no statistically significant differences in the BMI z-score by pouch use.
conclusionsThese results do not support the strong concerns expressed about their use, particularly given the lack of evidence for higher energy intake or BMI.
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