Boots has completed the biggest shake-up of its baby food range to date as it moves early to meet new government nutrition guidelines.

The health and beauty retailer said it is the first major retailer to adopt the voluntary standards for ready-made baby food products, almost a year ahead of the February 2027 deadline.

The new guidance forms part of the government’s broader push to tackle childhood obesity. Under the rules, baby foods and finger foods aimed at children under 12 months must contain no added sugar, sweetening ingredients or added salt. There are also new limits on total sugar, fruit content and sodium in snacks for children aged between 12 months and three years.

Boots’ baby food range spans almost 250 lines across snacks, dried food and wet pouches.

As part of the overhaul, the retailer has introduced a number of new products, including Ella’s Kitchen ‘nutty pouches’, new pots and pouches from Cow & Gate, and newly reformulated Organix Original Rice Cakes.

Boots said all non-compliant products in the range will have been replaced by mid-April.

Vicky Pennington, lead nutritionist at Boots and leader of the review, said: “This is an important step forward for the baby food market and for parents who want to give their children the best possible start in life.

“We’re trusted by millions of customers and are committed to helping parents navigate children’s nutrition.

“We know that comparing labels and understanding nutritional information can be challenging, especially when life is busy.

“Our aim is to make it easier for families to feel confident and know that every product they find at Boots meets high nutritional standards.”

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting welcomed the move and urged other retailers to follow suit.

He said: “It is fantastic that Boots are leading the charge and no longer selling products with excessive sugar and salt. I hope other outlets will now follow the example Boots has set.

“Every child deserves a healthy start to life and making it easier for parents to choose healthier options is an important part of that.”

The move comes as retailers and suppliers face growing pressure to improve the nutritional profile of products aimed at young children, with scrutiny increasing around sugar and salt levels in baby and toddler foods.

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