When you become a parent, a lot revolves around food. What should you give? When should you start? And what is actually best for your child's taste development?
A question that many parents ask themselves is: why does so much baby food taste so sweet – even when it doesn't say anything about added sugar on the packaging?
We at Unna have chosen a different path. Our children's porridges and gravies are developed with a clear goal: to taste as little sweet as possible . In fact, today we can say that our products are the least sweet on the market . Here we tell you why that's important – and how we succeeded.
Why does baby food often taste sweet, even though it has no added sugar?
When you read the ingredient list on many baby porridges and custards, it may look completely okay: no added sugar, no unnecessary additives. Yet the taste is often perceived as sweet. How is this connected?
There are a few explanations:
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Fruits and berries
If the product is flavored with fruit, berries, juice concentrate or fruit puree, it naturally contributes fructose. The result is a sweeter taste, but does not need to be declared as added sugar. -
Flavorings/aroma
– “Fruit flavouring” can give a distinct taste of fruit without technically contributing sweetness, but it can enhance the experience of something sweet. Flavourings must be declared on baby food packaging, and synthetic flavourings are in principle banned in baby food in the EU. -
Naturally occurring sugars
Both cereal and milk, which are the main ingredients in children's porridge and gruel, contain natural sugars, not least lactose in milk, which gives a certain sweetness. This needs to be declared under sugars in the nutritional table. -
Malting of grain
Even completely natural baby porridges and gruels can taste sweet. It depends on how the grain is processed. When you malt or break down the starch in the flour, sugars are released – much like when bread dough tastes a little sweeter after fermentation. The more finely ground and broken down the grain is, the shorter the sugar chains become, and the sweeter the taste is experienced. This sweetness remains hidden, because it does not need to be declared. The sugar content of the grain in its raw form is the only thing that needs to be declared.
Unna's way: less sweetness, more balance
We don't think that staples for young children – like porridge and gruel – need to taste like desserts. The taste of cereal and milk itself is both good and natural.
Therefore, we have chosen raw materials and processes that give our products a mild and balanced taste, without the obvious sweetness that is otherwise common on the market .
We have tested, compared and developed until we could be sure: our gruels and porridges, from 6 months and 12 months respectively, are guaranteed to taste the least sweet of the alternatives you can find in stores . Feel free to compare for yourself!
👉 See our porridge & porridge from 6 months here
👉 See our gruel & porridge from 12 months here
Why is less sweetness important for children?
All humans are born with a sweet tooth. It's a natural preference that evolution has given us. But the ability to appreciate other tastes – such as sour, bitter or neutral – needs to be trained.
By not getting children used to basic foods always tasting sweet , you can contribute to a healthier and more varied taste development.
Three reasons to choose less sweet products
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Greater flavor variety
Children who get used to different tastes early on have an easier time appreciating more foods later on. -
Less risk of "sugar addiction"
Even if it's not about added sugar, a constant sweet taste can be habit-forming, making it harder to introduce other foods. -
Better eating pleasure for the whole family
When children learn that food doesn't have to taste sweet to be good, it becomes easier for parents to serve a varied diet.
In short:
- Less sweetness today → greater flavor variation tomorrow.
- Greater taste variation → simpler eating habits for the whole family and the chance for better dietary habits in the long term.
Organic, Swedish and nutritious
In addition to taste, all our products are:
- Organic
- Produced in Sweden
- Enriched with vitamins and minerals according to the Swedish National Food Agency's recommendations.
We want to show that it is possible to make baby food without added sugar, without unnecessary additives – and that tastes the least sweet on the market .
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is it dangerous to add sweetness to baby food?
No, it is not dangerous in itself. However, we believe there is a risk that children will get used to basic foods always tasting sweet, which could affect their taste preferences and eating habits in the long term.
2. Do children need to get used to different tastes?
Yes! Research shows that children often need to try a new flavor several times before they start to like it. By offering less sweet alternatives, you train the ability to like even neutral and more complex flavors.
3. How do I know if a porridge is sweetened or not?
Check the ingredient list. If it contains fruit, juice concentrate or fruit puree, it is likely that the taste will be perceived as sweeter. How the grains are processed is harder to read, it is not written on the packaging. The best way is to taste it yourself – and compare.
4. What does Unna mean by “least sweet on the market”?
We have compared our products with other natural baby porridges and gruels* sold in stores. Our conclusion is clear: Unna tastes the least sweet.
*We have not compared with dairy-free alternatives or other special diet variants.
Conclusion: still good
We are proud to be able to offer an alternative that is organic, nutritious, Swedish – and which also tastes the least sweet on the market.
Because we know that good food for children doesn't have to taste sugary. It's still so good.
