Popcorn grab bags are not a suitable snack for children under four, whether the popcorn is sweet, salted, ready to eat or intended for cooking. The Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Doctors warns that popcorn can get into young children’s windpipes and cause choking; a smaller pack does not reduce this risk.
If you’re looking for a snack for a child under four, rule out popcorn regardless of its flavour or pack size. The Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Doctors highlights the risk of popcorn getting into the windpipe.
A handy bag doesn’t make popcorn a suitable snack for toddlers. The Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Doctors particularly warns against letting young children walk or play while eating.
When choosing a snack for a child under four, whether the food itself is suitable matters more than its flavour or packaging. Sugar, salt and portion size only come into play when comparing popcorn products for later on.
| Consideration | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Choking risk | Don’t choose popcorn as a snack for children under four; a smaller pack doesn’t change the form of the product. | When choosing a snack for a child under four, I want to rule out popcorn because of the potential choking risk. This safety concern comes first for around 63% of consumers. |
| Sugar, salt and portion size | When comparing products for older children at a later stage, check the nutritional information per 100 g and the portion size recommended for the specific pack. | Even though popcorn isn’t an option now, I’d like to compare the recipe and portion size for later; these considerations are at the forefront of the buying decision for around 25% of consumers. |
| Taking it along and preparation | Check whether a smaller pack contains ready-to-eat popcorn or a microwave bag that needs to be prepared first. | For the journey to nursery, I’m looking for a snack I can take along without preparing it first. For around 12% of consumers, a convenient individual portion is the main consideration. |
Portion size doesn’t change the shape of popcorn. According to the Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Doctors, it can get into the windpipe of young children under four and cause choking.
Choose a different type of food for your toddler’s snack time, and check separately that it’s suitable for their age.
The flavour doesn’t remove the safety risk for toddlers. The sweet GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn described by EDEKA contains 16 g of sugar per 100 g, while the salted version contains 2,5 g of salt per 100 g.
If popcorn becomes an option for an older child later on, compare the nutritional information and ingredients on the specific pack rather than assuming its ingredients based on the flavour.
The sweet and salted GUT&GÜNSTIG products described by EDEKA each contain three 100 g bags that need to be prepared. They must be cooked in the microwave before eating.
For snacks to take with you, check whether they’re ready to eat. Popcorn in either form is still unsuitable for children under four.
EDEKA describes sweet and salted GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn, with each pack containing three 100 g bags to prepare.
Lorenz’s German range includes Crunchips, Saltletts and NicNac's, among other products.
funny-frisch’s range includes Chipsfrisch, crackers, pretzel sticks and products in the popchips category, among other things.
No. Popcorn isn’t a suitable snack for children under four, regardless of the pack size. The Professional Association of Paediatricians and Adolescent Doctors warns that it can get into young children’s windpipes and cause choking.
No. Neither flavour is suitable for children under four. However, the recipes differ, which is worth bearing in mind when comparing products later on: EDEKA states that its sweet GUT&GÜNSTIG microwave popcorn contains 16 g of sugar per 100 g, while the salted version contains 2,5 g of salt per 100 g.
No. Microwave popcorn bags need to be prepared before eating. The GUT&GÜNSTIG varieties described by EDEKA each contain three 100 g bags; the prepared popcorn is still not a suitable snack for children under four.