Tortilla chips aren’t the best choice for a toddler’s everyday snack. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends snacks from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread. If you occasionally offer tortilla chips to a child who needs to follow a gluten-free diet, check the current packaging for an explicit gluten-free statement, the ingredients and any warnings about other relevant allergens. The fact that a product contains maize isn’t enough on its own.
If your toddler needs to eat gluten-free, your choice depends on the exact product and its current packaging. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre says that a gluten-free statement or the Crossed Grain symbol can help you identify suitable products. Also check the ingredients and any warnings relevant to your child.
If your child doesn’t have a specific dietary requirement, what matters most is where crisps fit into their snack routine. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread as snacks for babies and toddlers.
Plain and cheese-flavoured varieties may have different allergen profiles. For example, Jumbo’s product information lists milk as an allergen in its Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese Flavour, so check each variety separately.
First decide whether you’re looking for an everyday snack for your toddler or considering offering crisps occasionally to meet a specific dietary need. Then check the packaging and the exact flavour.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday snacks | For regular snack times, look for foods from the Wheel of Five, such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread. Treat crisps as an occasional choice. | I’m looking for something for my toddler’s usual snack time, not just something crunchy for the odd occasion. Around 46% of consumers prioritise this everyday choice. |
| Gluten and other allergens | Check the current packaging for an explicit gluten-free statement, the ingredients and any relevant allergen warnings. | If my child follows a prescribed diet, the exact product needs to be suitable. The name or main ingredient alone isn’t enough to reassure me. Around 36% of consumers prioritise this dietary requirement. |
| Flavour and salt | Compare the ingredients and allergens for each variety, and check the nutritional information per 100 g against the stated serving size. | For an occasional crisp snack, I want to be able to choose between flavours and understand what the stated serving size means. Around 18% of consumers give this consideration top priority. |
A corn chip can still carry a warning about cereals containing gluten. Jumbo’s product information says Doritos Naturel may contain cereals containing gluten, including wheat.
If your child needs a gluten-free diet, look for an explicit statement on the current packaging and check the ingredients and warnings too.
Jumbo’s product information lists milk as an allergen in its Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese Flavour. A different flavour can therefore have a different allergen profile.
Check the label again for every flavour and pack size, even if you’re familiar with the brand.
Serving size doesn’t change which foods the Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends as everyday snacks for babies and toddlers.
For regular snack times, choose options such as fruit, vegetables or wholemeal bread, and save tortilla chips for an occasional treat.
Albert Heijn says that a product’s ingredients, nutritional values and allergen information can change.
Check the packaging again before offering crisps to a child with a specific dietary need. If your child has a severe allergy, you can also check the latest safety alerts published by the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority.
Albert Heijn sells tortilla chips and also has a separate category for gluten-free crisps.
Jumbo’s product information shows why plain tortilla chips and nacho cheese-flavoured varieties need to be assessed separately.
Doritos Naturel is an example of a tortilla chip where the main ingredient doesn’t answer the question of whether it’s suitable for a gluten-free diet.
ALDI lists SUN SNACKS tortilla chips in plain, cheese and sweet chilli flavours.
These Joybuy products are tortilla chips to consider if you’re thinking of offering crisps occasionally to a child on a gluten-free diet. Before serving, check the current packaging for the required gluten-free statement and all allergens relevant to your child. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends other foods for toddlers’ everyday snacks.
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An option to check for an occasional crisp snack when a gluten-free diet is required.
The product information lists soya as an allergen. Check the current packaging for a gluten-free statement, and make sure all the ingredients and warnings are suitable for your child’s dietary needs.
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A second tortilla chip variety to assess using its packaging information before offering it as an occasional treat.
The product information lists soya as an allergen. For this variety too, check the current gluten-free statement, ingredients and any warnings before deciding whether it’s suitable for your child’s dietary needs.
Not as a regular choice. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre recommends foods from the Wheel of Five for babies and toddlers, such as fruit, vegetables and wholemeal bread. Tortilla chips are better saved for an occasional treat.
No. Maize as an ingredient doesn’t confirm that a product is gluten-free. According to Jumbo’s product information, Doritos Naturel may contain cereals containing gluten, including wheat. If your child needs a gluten-free diet, check the current packaging for the exact product.
Check the ingredients list. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that allergens which must be declared need to be clearly distinguishable there. Also read any warnings and check the label for allergens relevant to your child’s dietary needs.
No. A gluten-free statement says nothing about milk on its own. Jumbo’s product information lists milk as an allergen in its Tortilla Chips Nacho Cheese Smaak. Check both separately on the packaging of your chosen product.
