Prepackaged pouch foods are convenient for moms and fun for kids. What's not so fun is the repeated recalls.
Pouches from Gerber and GoGo squeez were both recalled because of mold in the past month. GoGo squeez was recalled last year for the same issue. Even juice giant CapriSun had issues with mold.
What's a mom to do if she loves the concept of the pouch but is wary of the repeated recalls?
Some moms turn to the DIY method. There are several fill-your-own pouches on the market that offer advantages over the prepackaged pouches.
"You know what your ingredients are. With the premade ones, you don't know the ratios of the ingredients and you don't know how long its been sitting there," said Dorothy Whitfield, a mom of four younger than 6 and author of The Sane Mom blog in Atlanta.
If it seems like too much work, Whitfield said, it's not. "The pouches are really, really easy."
Krystyn Hall, author of the Really, are you serious? blog in Atlanta, suggests filling the reusable pouches with a turkey baster. She has been using the reusable pouches for about two years, but still buys the prepackaged versions on occasion for her two youngest kids.
For moms looking to buy their own pouches, she says to stick to brands that keep the closure on the side instead of the bottom the pouch. The styles with the bottom zipper are more likely to burst, resulting in a mess.
"All it takes is one squeeze if the spout is clogged. The zipper is the weakest spot," Hall said.
There are a few other things to consider when buying your own pouches.
- Make sure they are the right size for your child.
- For young children, make sure the pouches have big caps that are choke-proof.
- To avoid mold problems in your homemade pouches, make sure they are easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Some are made of clear plastic, which cuts down on the hidden mold issues.
- Pouches must be food safe. Most are made of PVC- and BPA-free plastic.
- Pouches that can be frozen can help with planning. Making a big batch in advance and storing in the freezer means there's always a pouch ready to toss in your bag and go.
- Look for pouches that stand up on their own, so they are easier to fill.
As for what to put inside your pouches, the possibilities are endless and as simple as you want to make it.
"I'll use anything I would use to make a smoothie," Hall said.
Applesauce and yogurt are popular options. There's also oatmeal, mashed bananas or other fruit blends, sweet potato or carrot puree, or, for a sweet treat, pudding.
Filling is mostly a matter of taste.
"I figure if I like it, they will like it. If it's nasty to me, it'll probably be nasty to them," Whitfield said.
But if doing it yourself just isn't an option, manufacturers have made some changes to the packaging after the mold issue. The 100 percent juice CapriSun changed its pouch in 2014 and now comes with a clear bottom.
Food pouches with a clear bottom would be selling point for some moms even if it's not a perfect solution.
"If they had them I would buy them. At the same time, you can't check them until you buy them and get home with them," Hall said. "I haven't had any experience with a bad one. It's like any other food. It can go bad."
This type of packaging probably won't come out with clear sides anytime soon. Manufacturers say that design leads to leaks or other issues.
But even if moms have to abandon the pouch concept all together, the kids will make it.
"In reality, kids survived all this time before we were able to blend up food. They will be fine whether we blend up the food or not," Whitfield said. "We all made it here; we made it to adulthood. The kids will be just fine. Kids are pretty resilient."
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