Changes to age range and colour coding on Heinz Baby Foods

The Heinz baby food range in cans and jars has been slightly adjusted so that the age range and colour coding now co-incides more closely with baby's development in terms of texture and taste. The red colour coded range of foods is being phased out with these foods  now being incorporated into the yellow range for ages 6+ months.

The adjusted range is:-

1. BLUE  suitable for infants aged 4-6 months when they are starting solids. At this age the extrusion reflex has disappeared and infants are learning to use their lips and tongue and take food from a spoon. The texture is smooth puree and the range includes smooth cooked fruits, vegetables and pureed meats with vegetables

2. YELLOW suitable fo ages 6+ months. Infants are now ready to chew and can manage mashed small soft lumpy texured foods. Varieties include soft lumpy sweet and savoury foods with more varied ingredients.

3. GREEN suitable for ages 8+ months. By this age chewing and swallowing should be  well established so more variety, increased texture and larger serve sizes can be given. The texture in this range is mashed with larger soft pieces.

4. ORANGE suitable for ages 12+months. By 12 months infants are ready for family foods and are keen to feed themselves. They can now manage chunky bite sized pieces and finger foods.  In this range Heinz has a variety of finger foods and meals.

It's important that baby's progress through the various textures as the ability to chew can impact on speech development. The muscles used for chewing are the same ones used for speaking.