Parents with a baby at the family table
You’d like your baby to join in and eat independently at mealtimes, so you need a separate, age-appropriate complementary food option rather than crisps from the adults’ table.
Who needs to make this decision?
Hosts serving snacks to adults and a baby
You’re planning crisps for your adult guests and preparing suitable complementary food separately for the baby.
Parents checking ingredients and allergens
You read the label on the pack you buy, as salt, other ingredients and allergen information depend on the flavour you choose.
What should you look for when buying?
First decide whether the food is for your baby or the crisps are for adults. Only then consider the flavour and pack size.
| What matters | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Complementary food for the baby | Plan an age-appropriate option without added salt instead of crisps. The Gesund ins Leben network recommends avoiding added salt in complementary foods. | I want my baby to join us at the family table without giving them the adults’ salted crisps. This is the main concern for around 38% of consumers. |
| Separate snacks | Keep the crisps out of your baby’s reach and serve their food separately. | I want to serve crisps at a shared meal without mixing up the adults’ food and the baby’s. Keeping them separate is the top priority for approximately 23% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Check the ingredients, salt per 100 g, allergen information and precautionary statements on the pack you buy. | When choosing a flavour for the adults, I want to be able to check the ingredients and information on the actual pack. This is a priority for around 23% of consumers. |
| Pack size | Choose the net quantity according to the number of adults eating, not the baby. | For a family get-together, I want to choose an amount that suits the adults without leaving unnecessary leftovers. This takes priority for approximately 16% of consumers. |
Common misconceptions
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Assuming a large bag is suitable for babies
The pack size doesn’t change the ingredients. The crisps featured here contain added salt, while the Gesund ins Leben network recommends avoiding added salt in complementary foods.
Plan the crisps for adults and prepare suitable food without added salt separately for your baby.
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Choosing based only on the product photo or flavour name
For ingredients and product information, check the label on the pack you actually buy. Online details may differ from the packaging.
Before serving, read the ingredients list, salt information and allergen details on that pack.
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Assuming “vegan” or “gluten-free” means suitable for complementary feeding
These claims alone don’t tell you whether salt has been added or whether the product is suitable for your baby’s age.
Assess the flavour in question for the adults using the information you need, and choose your baby’s food separately.
Brands and flavours to consider
The information below relates to the specific flavour named, not every product from that brand. Check the label on the pack you buy.
Lorenz
Lorenz Crunchips Salted are potato crisps made with vegetable oils, sea salt and table salt.
- Adults can choose this flavour by checking its ingredients label.
- As it contains added salt, don’t plan it as finger food for your baby.
funny-frisch
According to funny-frisch, Chipsfrisch salted contains potatoes, sunflower oil and table salt.
- Adults can choose between a 150-g pack and a pack of 4 × 40 g.
- Neither pack size makes this salted flavour suitable as finger food for a baby.
Chio
Chio Chips Ready Salted are available in a 150-g pack, made with potatoes, vegetable oils and table salt.
- Chio labels this flavour vegan and gluten-free; check the information on the pack you buy.
- These attributes don’t change the added salt or make the crisps suitable for complementary feeding.
REWE / ja!
ja! Salted Chips are a 200-g potato crisp product. REWE lists potatoes, sunflower oil and table salt as ingredients.
- You can take the pack size into account when planning for adult guests.
- Don’t plan this salted flavour as finger food for your baby; also check the information on the pack.
EDEKA / GUT&GÜNSTIG
GUT&GÜNSTIG Riffelchips Salz are a 200-g potato crisp product with added table salt.
- The 200-g pack gives you a clear size to plan around for the adults.
- This flavour isn’t suitable for your baby. EDEKA notes that product information may differ from the packaging.
Lidl
Lidl offers a range of own-brand food products, including snacks and savoury nibbles.
- For a flavour you’ve chosen, check the pack size and label for the adults.
- Don’t choose salted crisps as finger food for your baby; the information on the specific pack is what matters.
Potato crisps for adult guests at Joybuy
These products could be served as separate snacks for adults at a family gathering, not as food for the baby. The 150-g bag and 185-g tube also differ in packaging, so choose an amount that suits the adults eating.
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Lorenz Crunchips Paprika, 150 g
The 150-g bag is intended as a snack for adult guests when the baby has their own complementary food. The product information lists salt: don’t serve these crisps as finger food for your baby, and check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy.
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Pringles Hot & Spicy, 185 g
The 185-g tube is an option for adults, but it isn’t a sharing bag. According to the product information, it’s resealable and contains salt. Keep it separate from your baby’s food and check the ingredients and allergen information on the pack you buy.
Frequently asked questions
Are potato crisps suitable as finger food during baby-led weaning?
The salted potato crisps featured here shouldn’t be planned as finger food for your baby. The Gesund ins Leben network recommends avoiding added salt in complementary foods; offer your baby a separate, age-appropriate option without added salt instead.
Can adults share crisps when the baby is at the table?
Yes, as long as the crisps are for the adults and your baby has a separate complementary food option. A large pack doesn’t change the ingredients, so it doesn’t tell you whether the crisps are suitable for your baby.
What information should I check on a pack of crisps?
Check the ingredients list, nutritional information including salt per 100 g, and allergen and precautionary statements on the pack you buy. The Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity notes that the 14 most common causes of allergies and intolerances must be labelled when used as an ingredient.