The availability and consumption of commercially produced foods and beverages have increased
across low‐income and middle‐income countries. This cross‐sectional survey assessed consumption
of commercially produced foods and beverages among children 6–23 months of age, and
mothers' exposure to promotions for these products. Health facility‐based interviews were conducted
among 218 randomly sampled mothers utilizing child health services in Dakar, Senegal;
229 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; 228 in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal; and 222 in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia. In the day prior to the interview, 58.7% of 6–23‐month‐olds in Dakar, 23.1% in Dar
es Salaam, 74.1% in Kathmandu Valley, and 55.0% in Phnom Penh had consumed a commercially
produced snack food. In the previous week, the majority of children in Dakar (79.8%), Kathmandu
Valley (91.2%), and Phnom Penh (80.6%) had consumed such products. Consumption of commercially
produced sugar‐sweetened beverages was noted among 32.0% of Phnom Penh, 29.8% of
Dakar, 23.1% of Dar es Salaam, and 16.2% of Kathmandu Valley children. Maternal education
was negatively associated with commercial snack food consumption in Dakar and Kathmandu
Valley. Children of Phnom Penh mothers in the lowest wealth tercile were 1.5 times more likely
to consume commercial snack food products, compared to wealthier mothers. These snack
consumption patterns during the critical complementary feeding period demand attention; such
products are often high in added sugars and salt, making them inappropriate for infants and young
children.