The flavoured tortilla chips reviewed are not a suitable choice for baby-led weaning for babies under 1: they contain added salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies foods with salt; the plain chips reviewed also contain salt. If you want to introduce new flavours and textures, choose a snack with no added salt that you can adapt gradually, and check the label for allergens on packaged products.
You want to introduce your baby to different flavours and textures. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies foods with salt and recommends gradually making the texture of their food coarser. That makes the ingredients list more important than the flavour name on a bag of crisps.
A plain variety might seem like a simpler choice than cheese- or chilli-flavoured crisps. However, the Albert Heijn and Jumbo product pages also list salt in the plain tortilla chips reviewed. So check each snack separately before offering it to your baby.
The flavour and packaging you choose matter. Albert Heijn describes AH Nacho Chips Cheese as gluten-free and lists milk as an allergen; Doritos Naturel may contain wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the current allergen information for the exact product you’re buying.
When choosing a snack for a baby under 1, first check whether it contains added salt. Then look at the allergens and choose a texture that suits the stage your child is at in learning to eat.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who is this most important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Added salt | Read the ingredients list on the current packaging; check the nutritional information per 100 g for extra detail. | I want to choose a practice snack for my baby with no added salt. This is the top priority for around 50% of consumers. |
| Allergens | For the variety you choose, check the ingredients, allergens and any ‘may contain’ statement. | If I need to account for allergens, I want to know what’s listed on this exact pack. This is the main concern for around 33% of consumers. |
| Flavour and texture | Choose a snack whose texture you can adapt gradually; for variety, you could also use mild herbs and spices without salt. | I’m looking for a way to help my baby get used to new flavours and coarser textures step by step. This is the biggest consideration for around 17% of consumers. |
‘Plain’ doesn’t tell you whether salt has been added. The Doritos Naturel and Jumbo Naturel products reviewed contain salt, while the Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies foods with salt.
Check the ingredients list and choose a snack with no added salt for your baby, rather than relying on the flavour name.
Albert Heijn describes AH Nacho Chips Cheese as gluten-free, while the Doritos Naturel product page says it may contain wheat and cereals containing gluten. What’s more, a gluten-free label tells you nothing about other allergens, such as milk.
Check the current label for the variety you’ve chosen. If you’re taking food to school or childcare, also ask the organisation directly about its policy.
The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says you can gradually make the texture of baby food coarser, moving from finely mashed to chunkier. A chip with added salt is not a suitable practice snack.
Choose a snack whose texture you can adapt to the stage your child is at in learning to eat, and stay with your child while they eat.
The Doritos varieties reviewed at Albert Heijn include Nacho Cheese, Flamin’ Hot and Naturel: these are snacks, not baby food.
AH Nacho Chips Cheese is a own-brand variety with a cheese flavour.
The Jumbo varieties reviewed are Tortilla Chips Cool Cream and Tortilla Chips Naturel.
Mission Foods describes tortilla chips internationally, including Triangles Tortilla Chips.
Don’t give the flavoured tortilla chips reviewed to a baby under 1: they contain added salt. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre advises against giving babies foods with salt. Always check the current ingredients list for any other product.
Not if salt has been added. Albert Heijn lists 0.71 g of salt per 100 g for Doritos Naturel, while Jumbo lists 0.90 g per 100 g for its Naturel variety. So ‘plain’ doesn’t automatically mean ‘salt-free’.
Yes, you can introduce mild herbs and spices gradually, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. It advises avoiding spice mixes containing salt for young children under 4, so check the ingredients of any ready-made mix.
No, it depends on the product. Albert Heijn describes AH Nacho Chips Cheese as gluten-free, while Doritos Naturel may contain wheat and cereals containing gluten. Check the current label on the pack you’ve chosen, and ask the school or childcare provider directly about its food and allergen policy.
