Heinz for Baby baby food is marking 90 years of feeding the nation’s children, with a look back at the company’s history.
Heinz range of food for babies was launched to help support parents facing the challenges of bringing up baby in the midst of a financial crisis in 1931.
Food historian Polly Russell said: “A lot has changed in attitudes to parenting over the last 90 years. In fact, the story of Heinz for Baby is also the story of changing attitudes towards childcare and feeding in the context of shifting family structures and evolving parental roles.
“The word “parenting” wasn’t even in existence when Heinz for Baby first launched in the UK.”
Polly provides social and hiostorical context as Heinz remember some of their key dates.
1930s
During the 1930s The Great Depression impacted on family incomes, and malnutrition among children saw an increase, leading to an increased focus on child nutrition and welfare.
Family sizes were decreasing, with the average number of children per family at two by the 1930s, compared to 3.5 in 1900.
1931: original ‘Heinz baby’ Howard Heinz launches a new range for babies, with four varieties packaged in enamel lined tins: strained peas, carrots, mixed veg and spinach.
1935: Heinz bring their baby food to Britain, where the brand is already a firm favourite thanks to popular varieties like Heinz Beanz and Heinz Tomato Ketchup.
1939: During World War 2 Heinz stops selling the range in the UK due to wartime rationing,…
