The products are 'equivalent to fruit smoothies' and should be off the table for those aged under one, researchers have suggested.

This is in line with NHS advice, which says newborns under 12 months 'do not need fruit juice or smoothies'.

And the study also found that only just under 9 per cent of these pouches met the desired health criteria.

Wet commercial baby food (CBF) available at six supermarkets was examined by a team at Glasgow University.

They compared the sugar, protein and energy levels to breast milk in 298 products.

The majority (60 per cent) were sold in spouted pouches or 'sPouches'. Of these, 70 per cent were 'targeted' at children aged under six months – despite health officials recommending babies are weaned only after half a year has passed.

Compared with breast milk, pouches were more likely to have lower levels of protein, more sugar and less energy, they found.

In all, only 14 (8.5 per cent) were defined as being completely suitable and met all the desired health criteria. 'Many wet CBF delivered in sPouches have the texture and composition of sweet drinks, while very few meet the desired characteristics for complementary foods,' the authors wrote in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood.

The authors wrote in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood: 'CBF packaging often displays the misleading claim no added sugar despite containing high amounts of free sugars due to pureed fruit content.' 

The authors called on regulators to 'review whether labelling spouted-pouch, baby food products as complementary foods is appropriate and consider whether these delivery systems are inappropriate for complementary feeding.'

Study co-author Dr Vicky Sibson added: 'Parents are being misled into believing that these are healthy and appropriate choices for their babies.'

'The Government have given the baby food industry until February 2027 to comply with new voluntary baby food guidelines.

'A quick glance at the shelves and online suggests slow progress and undoubtedly a mandatory approach would be preferable.

'Stronger regulations on the composition, marketing and labelling of commercial baby and toddler foods and drinks should be based on the latest evidence, to ensure maximum protection for infant and young child health.'