Nutritionist’s warning to parents giving 'Bluey-themed' food to their kids

A paediatric nutritionist explains how one of the ingredients has actually been linked to recurrent flares of atopic eczema. 

We can all agree that Bluey is the GOAT when it comes to TV shows. It's gone 'wackadoo' with products and merch across the globe, winning the hearts of parents and their kids. 

However, some products recently caused a stir online when a nutritionist pointed out how unhealthy they are for kids, prompting parents to share their disappointment and concern. 

Given the show's wholesome values, parents have come to trust that anything with the Bluey seal of approval is 'for real life'. However, Paediatric Nutritionist Mandy Sacher recently pointed out how unhealthy these popular food products are for kids.

She shared a carousel of photos of food items, including Paul's Bluey Strawberry Milk and the Vanilla Flavoured Custard pouches, alerting her followers to some of the product ingredients linked to health issues.

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These Bluey snack products aren't as wholesome as the show. Source: Bluey/Coles

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"Let’s talk about how Bluey promotes processed food products to our kids!" Mandy begins the post. "Most parents are not food detectives, and the manufacturers (and Bluey!) take advantage of this by assuming parents won’t know how to read labels and buy snacks based on the “fun” Bluey packaging."

She continues, "So what do all the Bluey food products have in common? Most of their products contain processed and ultra-processed ingredients with refined sugar and additives, and set up kids eating habits to prefer these types of food products over ones made from unprocessed ingredients!"

In the Instagram post, Mandy circles various ingredients - such as carmine, which she says is linked to recurrent flares of atopic eczema, and carrageenan, which she says is linked to gut inflammation.

Continuing her Instagram caption, Mandy also points out that research suggests that clever marketing tactics, such as using licensed characters, can significantly influence kids' taste preferences and make them favour energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods. 

"These brands have a huge opportunity to do something great with Bluey - but choosing the poor-nutritional route. Very disappointing!"

Nutritionist, Mandy Sacher warns about the dangers of these snack foods. Source: Mandy Sacher

"Our kiddos deserve better… do better."

The post received numerous responses from parents shocked and upset with the Bluey food products, given how the show promotes healthy eating habits.

"It is such a revolutionary show; even a girl doesn’t eat sugar, gluten or artificial stuff. Bluey and Bingo even eat healthy ketchup instead of the one with sugar. Promoting sh*tty food doesn’t make sense at all!" one mother asked the Bluey account. 

While another told them, "Our kiddos deserve better… do better."

"I find this so frustrating; I wish they cared more about kid’s health than making $$$", a third wrote.  

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But what about the parents? 

Other followers concurred with Mandy's viewpoint that the ingredients were problematic, but they also emphasised that parents are the gatekeepers for their kids' meals and snacks.

"Drives me mad! My daughter is always interested in those products, but I’m the no-fun mum that says, ‘We don’t get those’ Haha, thankfully, that explanation has been enough," one mum lamented. 

"You’re right; they use characters to manipulate decision-making," said one person. "But the onus is on the parent/guardian, etc., to make informed decisions."

Another wrote, "Am I missing the part where we think consumerism has a responsibility to our kids' health? Or to anything good? Or is that not the parents' job? It’s fairly simple, ‘Can I have the bluey food?’ ‘No.’"

Warnings about Bluey labelled snack products. Source: Bluey/Woolworths

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Top tips for healthy snacks for kids

Speaking to Kidspot, Mandy shared her tips on navigating the supermarket aisles with our keen-eyed little ones.

"It's safe to assume that kiddie snack products targeted to small children with colourful cartoon characters will not be the most nutritionally sound products on the shelves," Mandy says, empowering parents to say these are "sometimes snacks or party foods."

"Offering highly processed and sweetened kids' snacks can alter young children's taste receptors - meaning, other food tastes bland and may not taste sweet enough, for example. Plus, the other downside of these products is once children become used to them, they may be disappointed when the food arrives in no packaging or bland packaging as they get used to the sensory stimulation from the bright-coloured packaging of these cartoon-filled products."

Parents, don't despair because there is a way forward for your Bluey-lovers. 

"A strategy I use with my clients is for parents to take their kids out shopping to select reusable containers and stickers or fun reusable pouches," Mandy explains. "Kids can then decorate these containers with stickers, and parents can fill them with homemade replacements or more nutritious store-bought options that may come in bland packaging."

Know what's going in your trolley

Another piece of advice that Mandy offers is to look for products that contain natural foods rather than artificial ingredients and excessive sugar. Instead, natural products and snacks with protein, whole grains, real fruits, vegetables, and fibre should be the ingredients to embrace. 

"Do not trust the marketing hype. If a package claims to have health ratings or is ' full of fibre', ' low in sugar' or' contains fruit', do not trust these claims. Still, read the ingredient list to determine if it's good enough for your family," Mandy shares. 

While Mandy has not received a response from the food companies, this post was meant to open parents' eyes. 

"I believe that it is a shared responsibility. My role is to educate parents to make informed decisions, and hopefully, we can reduce the consumer's desire for these products, but at the same time, we cannot negate the fact that these companies have a duty of care to our children. Their social and moral responsibility is to improve the nutritional quality of the foods they promote to our children. 

Originally published as Nutritionist’s warning to parents giving 'Bluey-themed' food to their kids