Predictors of Frequent Commercial Squeeze Pouch Consumption Among a Sample of Australian Infants, Children, and...

Foods in commercial squeeze pouches, primarily designed for infants, are expanding into school-aged children and adolescent markets. Such products are increasingly scrutinized for misleading health claims and poor nutritional content. This study aimed to explore the use of commercial squeeze pouches among Australian children (0-17 years), identify sociodemographic predictors of frequent consumption, and examine the relationship between perceived barriers to achieving a healthy diet and commercial squeeze pouch consumption.

A cross-sectional survey of Australian parents explored their children's frequency of commercial squeeze pouch consumption alongside parents' sociodemographic data and perceived barriers to achieving a healthy diet (e.g., time, cost). Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with frequent consumption of commercial squeeze pouches (weekly or more).

Among our sample (n = 343), 73.8% of children consumed food from commercial squeeze pouches in the past 12 months, and around half consumed them weekly or more (49%). Frequent usage was highest among children 0-2 years old and 2-5 years old (64% of each group), with fruit and dairy-based pouches the most frequently consumed. Dairy-based pouches were consumed by 74% of school-aged children and 30% of adolescents within the past 12 months. Younger parents (OR = 4.2, p < 0.001) and middle-income families (OR = 2.5, p = 0.019) were more likely to report their children were frequent consumption of commercial squeeze pouches. Perceived time constraints significantly increased the likelihood of using commercial squeeze pouches (OR = 2.6, p < 0.001).

Commercial squeeze pouches are frequently consumed by Australian children, driven in part by demographic factors and parenting challenges like time constraints. In addition to supporting parents to make informed choices, public health strategies could extend beyond individual-level education to include regulatory reforms that limit inappropriate marketing and improve the nutritional quality of foods in commercial squeeze pouches.