Is it safe to buy applesauce in plastic pouches for kids?
Use caution. Pouches are convenient, but daily applesauce is better from glass jars when you can choose it.
What's actually in it
Applesauce pouches are usually flexible, layered packaging. They are easy for kids to hold, but they also put soft, wet food in long contact with plastic-style food packaging.
One pouch is not a crisis. Daily pouches are the habit to rethink. Toddlers and young kids eat more food for their body weight than adults, so repeated packaging exposure matters more for them.
What the research says
A 2025 study in J Hazard Mater tested 109 foods and found plasticizers in 85% of samples. The study found non-phthalate plasticizers such as ATBC in baby foods and reported a DEHP-related hazard quotient for infants in its baby food assessment.
This was not an applesauce-pouch-only study. It does support a practical rule for parents: use fewer daily plastic-packaged baby and kid foods when an easy glass option exists.
Buy applesauce in glass jars when you can, or make it at home and serve it from glass. Use pouches for travel, daycare, or moments when convenience really helps.
The research at a glance
| Study | Journal | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic additives in the diet: Occurrence and dietary exposure in different population groups. | J Hazard Mater | 2025 |