FOOD STORAGE AND PREPARATION

What is the shelf life of each package, unopened? Are there expiration dates printed on each package?

The shelf life of each pouch of baby food, unopened, is 18 months. Each pouch is individually labeled with a “Best Before” date. Once opened, it should be refrigerated and used within 3 days.  It is not recommended that food which has come in contact with a spoon that has been in your baby’s mouth be stored and used later.  This is due to bacteria from your baby’s mouth potentially contaminating the food.  This will occur with any baby food.  If you are not sure yet how much food your child will consume and you want to minimize waste, spoon a small amount of the food into a bowl and then feed from the bowl, using a different clean spoon for contact with the food still in the package.

What should I know about food safety?

As parents, we know that the most important thing is your child’s safety.  Making food shelf-stable invariably requires it to be heat-treated.  Each pouch is heated to a temperature that produces a sterile product.  Through packaging innovations the time required is much shorter than commonly used for a glass jar resulting in a better tasting and more nutritious product for your baby to enjoy.  While our manufacturing process meets or exceeds all regulatory requirements, we personally ensure the quality and safety of each of our products.  Our packaging is constructed of proprietary BPA free materials that are proven to be safe for food processing.  We have included a foil layer to preserve the nutritional profile as well as the flavor and color of our food, which is the reason why Sprout Baby food cannot be microwaved in the pouch.

How is your food prepared, and how is it different?

The difference is the flavor! Sprout Baby Food is produced in small batches using proprietary processes that develop the natural flavors of the ingredients through carmelization and browning. We never add any preservatives, sugar, starches, or fillers. Our food is made from all-natural organic ingredients. Our Chef, Tyler Florence, took the traditional methods that he uses in the kitchen and tailored them to work on a little larger scale. Our unique packaging also allows us to preserve more flavor and nutrients.