The government intends to introduce a one-off payment of £190 for expectant mothers from the 25th week of pregnancy.
The idea is for the money to be spent on healthier foods, and it would be available to all women normally resident in the UK.
The proposal is contained in the Health and Social Care Bill, which was debated yesterday in Parliament.
Shadow health secretary Andrew Lansley said National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence draft guidance on maternal and child nutrition does not support the plans.
“Let us leave aside the simple fact that the grant may be spent by pregnant women on things other than what is necessary for their diet,” he said.
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