Snack Confusion: Parents perceive baby, child and adult snacks as more similar than they actually are

The consumption of commercial snacks for infants and toddlers has risen significantly, yet limited research has explored how parents evaluate these products across age groups. This study examined parental perceptions of snacks marketed for babies (<36 months), children (commercial snacks with child-appealing packaging), and adults, focusing on attributes such as healthiness, appropriateness, and parental willingness to buy. It also assessed the relationship between parents’ knowledge of the European Union (EU) baby food regulations and their purchasing intentions. An online survey was conducted with 704 parents in Germany. ANOVAs with Tukey post hoc tests were used to compare these measures across snacks for each age group. Additionally, Pearson correlations examined the relationship between food regulatory knowledge and buying intentions. Parents showed minimal differentiation in their evaluations of snack attributes across age groups, despite baby-specific snacks being subject to stricter limits on nutritional composition and contaminants. Our analysis also showed that parents were not fully aware of EU baby food regulations, particularly regarding restrictions on preservatives and pesticides, with 45.5 % and 52.5 % correct answers, respectively. While greater regulatory knowledge was moderately associated with a higher willingness to buy baby-specific snacks, correlations were weak, indicating a knowledge-behavior gap. These findings suggest the need for clearer labeling, stricter regulation of health claims, and educational efforts to help parents distinguish baby-specific food products and make informed choices aligned with stricter regulatory standards. Policymakers can support these efforts by ensuring regulations are effectively communicated and enforced.