Baby biscuits: rules and values Made in Italy

‘Baby biscuits’, market analysis: growth of premium and organic segments

In Italy, the sector of  baby food generated revenues of 1.49 billion dollars in 2025, with an expected annual growth of 4.52% until 2030. The Italian market is characterized by a strong presence of premium e organic, with the organic segment reaching 131.6 million dollars in 2024 and a growth forecast up to 195.1 million dollars by 2030, with a CAGR of 6.5% (Grand View Research, 2025).

The  European market of infant foods reached a value of 13.22 billion dollars in 2025, with a growth projection up to 17.87 billion dollars by 2030 and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.21% (Mordor Intelligence, 2025).

The segment of  cereal-based products for children, which includes biscuits and other dry foods, represents a significant share of this market, with a global value estimated at 20.4 billion dollars in 2024 (Market Research Future, 2025).

From the Plasmon legacy to the 5.0 biscuit industry for infancy

The history of biscuits for early childhood in Italy is closely linked to the birth of biscuit Plasmon, in 1948. Starting from the post-World War II period, Plasmon biscuits became a symbol of nutrition for early childhood in Italian families.

In the following decades, other Italian industries followed the path set by Plasmon to specialize in 'baby biscuits', expanding the offer with formulations for different age groups and specific nutritional needs, in compliance with a strict regulatory framework.

Lex specialis: the European regulatory framework

Applicable regulations

In Europe, biscuits for early childhood fall under the category of  foods intended for infants and young children, as defined by the Food for Specific Groups Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which updates sector regulations.

Commission Directive 2006/125/EC implements the FSG regulation to specifically regulate four categories of 'food products intended forspecific nutrition which respond, in particular, to the needs of infants [ and of children [1-3 years of age] in good health of the Community and are intended for infants during weaning and for children to complete their diet and to gradually accustom them to a normal diet’:

‘a) »cereal-based foods«, which are divided into four categories:
i) simple cereals reconstituted or to be reconstituted with milk or other appropriate nutritious liquid;
ii) cereals with added protein-rich food, reconstituted or to be reconstituted with water or other liquids not containing proteins;
iii) pasta used after being cooked in boiling water or any other suitable liquid;
iv) biscuits and rusks used as such or after being crumbled and mixed with water, milk or other suitable liquids;
b) «foods for infants», different from cereal-based foods’ (directive 2006/125/EC, article 1).

Composition and nutritional requirements

‘Based on generally accepted scientific data, substances added to food products’ intended for specific population groups – such as infants and children up to three years of age – ‘are bioavailable for use by the human body, have a nutritive or physiological effect and are suitable for the persons for whom they are intended’ (EU regulation no. 609/2013, article 9.3).

Cereal-based foods intended for infants and young children shall comply with the composition criteria laid down in Annex I to directive 2006/125/EC:

• quantity of Cereals and/or rhizomes and/or tubers not less than 25% of the final mixture by weight of dry matter;

• for biscuits to which foods with a high protein content are added and which are presented as such, the content of added proteins must not be less than 1.5 g/100 kcal);

• proteins: ‘the chemical index of the added proteins shall be at least 80% of that of the reference protein (casein as defined in Annex III), or the PER (protein efficiency ratio) of the protein in the mixture shall be at least 70% of that of the reference protein';

• carbohydrates: if sucrose, fructose, glucose, glucose syrup or honey are added, the amount of carbohydrates added from such sources shall not exceed 7.5 g/100 kcal and the amount of added fructose shall not exceed 3.75 g/100 kcal;

• lipids: lipid content shall not be more than 3.3 g/100 kcal.

As regards minerals:

• sodium: sodium salts may be added to cereal-based foods solely for technological purposes. The sodium content for cereal-based foods shall not be more than 100 mg/100 kcal;

• calcium: calcium content in milk-based biscuits) and presented as such shall not be less than 50 mg/100 kcal.

With regard to vitamins, the thiamine (vitamin B1) in cereal-based foods shall not be less than 100 μg/100 kcal (directive 2006/125/EC, article 5).

‘Only the substances listed in Annex IV may be added in the manufacture of cereal-based foods and foods for young children’, as regards specifically vitamins, amino acids and minerals (directive 2006/125/EC, article 6; EU regulation no. 609/13, article 15 and Annex).

Maximum rigor on contaminants and additives

‘Cereal-based foods and other foods intended for infants and young children must not contain residues of individual pesticides in quantities exceeding 0.01 mg/kg’, subject to specific exceptions (Directive 2006/125/EC, Article 7).

The  Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on contaminants in food also establishes thresholds extremely strict for foods intended for infants and young children, up to 20 times lower than the maximum limits set for similar products intended for the general population. With specific regard to mycotoxins, plant toxins, metals and other elements, halogenated persistent organic pollutants, process contaminants and others (Regulation EU 2023/915, Annex I).

Within this framework of maximum safety fits the strict monitoring of the levels of acrylamide, whose reference thresholds set by Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 for biscuits intended for early childhood are significantly lower than those for conventional baked goods.

Regulation (EC) No 1333/08 which defines the conditions of use of  food additives in turn restricts their use under extremely strict terms compared to the rules set for foods intended for the general population.

Labeling

In addition to the general requirements for consumer information laid down in Regulation (EU) No 1169/11, the foods in question must bear the following on the label mandatory information:

• ‘the age from which the product can be used, taking into account the composition, presentation and other characteristics of the product. In no case is the indicated age less than four months;

• ’the indication of presence or absence of gluten, if the product is indicated for use from an age under six months';

• ‘the indication of the average content of each of the mineral substances and vitamins for which a specific limit is fixed';

• ‘where necessary, the instructions for appropriate preparation of the product with an indication of the importance of following the instructions’.

The labels may also report the optional information as follows:

• ‘the average content of the nutrients indicated in Annex IV’ (vitamins, amino acids, minerals);

• ‘information on vitamins and minerals referred to in Annex V, expressed as a percentage of the reference values indicated therein per 100 g or 100 ml of product on the market and, where necessary, of a specific quantity of product offered for consumption, if the quantities present in the product are at least equal to 15% of the reference value’ (Directive 2006/125/EC, Article 8).

Production technologies and quality management protocols

Selected raw materials

‘Cereal-based foods and foods for children are made with ingredients whose suitability for the special nutrition of infants and children has been confirmed by generally accepted scientific datai’ (Directive 2006/125/EC, Article 4).

Made in Italy infant biscuits are made with  selected ingredients, such as:

• cereal flours: soft wheat type '00' or type ‘0’, sometimes with the addition of other cereals (e.g. malted barley, rice, corn);

• skimmed milk powdered, subject to strict microbiological controls;

• fats: butter or palm oil, sunflower oil and/or extra virgin olive oil;

• raising agents (e.g. sodium bicarbonate);

• emulsifiers (soy or sunflower lecithin);

• nutritional supplements: B group vitamins (thiamine, riboflavin, niacin), calcium, iron;

• natural flavors.

Production process

The production cycle follows standardized phases with  rigorous controls:

1. Reception and storage: raw materials subjected to chemical-physical and microbiological analyses before acceptance;

2. Mixing: automated dosing of ingredients in plants dedicated exclusively to baby food production;

3. Forming: dough processed at controlled temperatures to preserve nutritional characteristics;

4. Cooking: ovens at programmed temperature (160-180°C) with continuous monitoring to minimize acrylamide formation;

5. Cooling: gradual and controlled to ensure optimal crispness;

6. Packaging: in a protective atmosphere to preserve freshness and organoleptic quality.

The entire process complies with  HACCP systems, often also the protocols for IFS, BRC, FSSC 22000 certifications required by retail and international markets.

Advice for buyers

For parents and final consumers

• Check on the label thetarget age and nutritional values, ensuring that the product is suitable for the child's development stage

• Follow the doses and usage instructions indicated on the label

• Consider the added value of products with organic certifications

For international buyers

• Select  Italian suppliers with proven experience in the production of infant food and international certifications (BRC, IFS, ISO 22000)

• Evaluate partners who offer a guarantee of ‘compliance’ with the regulations applicable in destination markets

• Request complete technical documentation: product specifications, analytical certificates, shelf-life studies

• Consider thespecialist assistance of the GIFT team (Great Italian Food Trade): GIFT supports international buyers in selecting excellent Italian producers and defining ‘win-win’ supply agreements

Conclusions

The segment of Italian ‘baby biscuits’ is part of a guarantee ecosystem that exceeds the standards of the general population. The combination of a rigorous ‘lex specialis’ (from acrylamide to ‘zero pesticides’) and Italian industrial expertise offers international markets products with very high added value. For industry operators, access to this transparent supply chain – supported by analyses and the GIFT network – is the key to meeting a global demand increasingly focused on certified qualityand nutritional safety.

Dario Dongo

Credit cover: Crich 1870

Bibliography

• Commission Directive 2006/125/EC of 5 December 2006 on processed cereal-based foods and baby foods for infants and young children (Codified version).  http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2006/125/oj

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/2158 of 20 November 2017 establishing mitigation measures and benchmark levels for the reduction of the presence of acrylamide in food.  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/2158/oj

• Commission Regulation (EU) 2023/915 of 25 April 2023 on maximum levels for certain contaminants in food and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1881/2006. Consolidated text: 08/10/2025.  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2023/915/2025-10-08

• European Commission. (2026). Food for infants and young children – Labelling and nutrition rules.  https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/labelling-and-nutrition/specific-groups/food-infants-and-young-children_en

• Grand View Research. (2025). Italy Organic Baby Food Market Size & Outlook, 2025-2030.  https://www.grandviewresearch.com/horizon/outlook/organic-baby-food-market/italy

• Market Research Future. (2025). Baby Cereal Market Size, Share, Growth, Trend, Forecast 2034.  https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/baby-cereal-market-27022

• Ministry of Health. (2024). Infant foods: in general.  https://www.salute.gov.it/new/it/tema/alimenti-fini-medici-speciali-ed-integratori/alimenti-prima-infanzia-generale/

• Mordor Intelligence. (2026). Europe Baby Food Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast (2026 – 2031).  https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/europe-baby-food-market

• Regulation (EU) No 609/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013 on food intended for infants and young children, food for special medical purposes, and total diet replacement for weight control. Consolidated text: 01/09/2025.  http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2013/609/2025-09-01

• Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2011 on the provision of food information to consumers. Latest consolidated text: 01/04/2025 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/1169/2025-04-01

• Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008 on food additives. Consolidated text: 04/11/2025 http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2008/1333/2025-11-04

• Unione Italiana Food. (2026). Specialized nutrition and foods for early childhood.  https://www.unioneitalianafood.it/nutrizione-specializzata/