Researchers from the Quadram Institute have supported the development of a healthy range of baby food by providing a comprehensive analysis of its nutritional composition, its bioactive contents and their bioavailability.

The findings show that the ‘Little Inca’ baby food range provides a well-balanced nutritional profile, rich in plant-based proteins, essential nutrients, and bioactive compounds, even 10 months after production.

The Little Inca range of infant foods have been developed using the most up-to-date scientific knowledge to enhance the gut microbiome to benefit immediate and long-term health. As well as providing well-balanced nutrition, the range of purees have been designed to include a range of plant-derived compounds with biological activity that previous research has shown can positively influence health.

To demonstrate that these potential health benefits would carry through the products consumers buy, the Food & Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure (FN-NBRI) carried out an extensive analysis of the nutrient composition of the recipes. This analysis surpasses standard nutrition labelling and was supported by a grant from Innovate UK as part of their work to support innovative businesses to benefit from the facilities and access the expertise provided by research organisations like the Quadram Institute.

The analysis showed that Little Inca products provided essential macronutrients to support healthy infant growth. Each contained around a third of the daily protein requirement. The Little Inca range is based on quinoa, which provides a superior range of amino acids compared to other plant-based protein sources.

The products were all high in fibre, which will foster gut health and immune support by promoting the development of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), which are essential for early microbiome formation. This means the products which will support the development of a healthy population of gut microbes and promote long-term gut health and benefit cognitive development.

A development focus on boosting flavour without adding extra sugar has ensured low sugar levels across the range, making Little Inca a healthier option compared to conventional baby foods. They also contain a full range of omega-3 fatty acids (DHA, EPA and ALA) that are critical for brain development and also support infant gut health.

The Little Inca range provides the range of essential micronutrients for infant growth, such as iron, vitamin A and vitamin C. Importantly, the iron bioavailability in Little Inca is high, which is not always the case especially for plant-based products.

Finally, analysis using FoodBioactivesDB, database hosted by FN-NBRI containing detailed information on bioactive compounds in foods, that the Little Inca products were rich in bioactive compounds, with good levels of various polyphenols, phytosterols and carotenoids that support antioxidant effects, enhance microbiome diversity, and may contribute to neurodevelopment.

The analysis was carried out on products 10 months after their production, meaning that the potential health benefits from its excellent nutritional profile are durable, suiting home storage.

“Overall, Little Inca’s baby foods provide a well-balanced source of nutrition rich in plant-based proteins, essential nutrients and are high in bioactive compounds, which we would expect would support baby’s gut health and immunity and also deliver long term benefits during development” said Dr Maria Traka, head of the Food and Nutrition National Bioscience Research Infrastructure at the Quadram Institute.

The Food & Nutrition NBRI is a vital resource, that provides nutritional data essential for top-tier research on diet-health relationships nationally and internationally. As well as producing and managing the UK’s food composition dataset, the team manage the European Bioactive Substances in Food Information System (eBASIS)and its user-facing tool, FoodBioactivesDB. The Food & Nutrition NBRI receives strategic support from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council as part of the Quadram Institute.

About the Quadram Institute

The Quadram Institute’s mission is to deliver healthier lives through innovation in gut health, microbiology and food and its vision is to understand how food and microbes interact to promote health and prevent disease. Interconnected research themes deliver a pipeline of research in microbes and food safety, gut health and food innovation.

About Valley Foods and Little Inca

Valley Crops is a company dedicated to develop healthy targeted foods, to provide a superior nutrition based on scientific evidence. Our organic quinoa-based formulas are created with only the best plant ingredients backed by science to ensure every mouthful supports good gut health, optimal development, and disease prevention.

Here at Little Inca our mission is to provide babies with a well-balanced rainbow of quinoa-based foods to diversify and nurture the healthiest gut possible, and promote the maximum absorption of nutrients for cognitive, emotional and physical development especially in the crucial first 1,000 days of baby’s life.