Baby food firms told to cut sugar and stop promoting snacks for under-ones

Baby food manufacturers must cut levels of salt and sugar in their products and stop promoting snacks for babies under the age of one, the government has said.

The new guidance would also restrict the use of marketing claims that suggest health benefits without scientific evidence.

Firms that do not make their products healthier within 18 months may face action.

It comes four months after a BBC Panorama investigation found top-brand baby food pouches lacked key nutrients and parents were often being misled by marketing.

Manufacturers told the BBC they were committed to providing high quality and nutritious foods, and marketing and labelling them in a responsible way.