Start with the ingredients the child needs to avoid, not the brand or a shop category. Check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings on the current pack of the flavour you choose: gluten-free does not automatically mean free from other allergens. If crisps are an occasional after-school snack, portion size and variety alongside other snacks matter too.
If your child needs to avoid gluten because of coeliac disease, a wheat allergy or diagnosed gluten sensitivity, a general crisps filter isn’t enough. Look for a product that suits their needs, read the current label and avoid contact with gluten-containing snacks when serving it.
If your child also needs to avoid ingredients such as milk, soya, nuts or sesame, a gluten-free label doesn’t tell you enough. Check the ingredients and any cross-contamination warnings for the exact variant you’re buying.
If there’s no need to strictly exclude a particular ingredient, your choice is mainly about how many crisps your child has and how often. The Voedingscentrum advises considering variety in children’s snacks too, for example with vegetables, fruit and wholegrain products.
First, work out which ingredients need to be excluded on the packaging. Then compare flavours and pack sizes, and consider how crisps fit into your child’s other after-school snacks.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding gluten | Look for ‘gluten-free’ or the Crossed Grain symbol on the current packaging, and read any cross-contamination warnings. | If gluten needs to be avoided, I want to know whether these particular crisps are suitable. Around 42% of consumers prioritise avoiding gluten. |
| Other allergens | Read the allergens highlighted in the ingredients list and any warnings about ingredients that need to be avoided. | When several allergens are a concern, ‘gluten-free’ on its own isn’t enough for me to choose a flavour. Around 33% of consumers prioritise checking for other allergens. |
| Portion size and variety | Decide in advance how much to serve; if you wish, compare the salt content per 100 g on the label. | For an after-school snack, I want to be able to give my child crisps occasionally without letting the whole bag decide the portion size. Portion size and variety are the priority for around 25% of consumers. |
Gluten-free crisps may still contain another allergen. For example, Joybuy’s product information describes Croky Bolognese as gluten-free, but also lists soya.
Make a note of the ingredients that need to be avoided and check for each one on the packaging of the flavour you choose.
Ingredients and warnings can change, so a familiar flavour may not always have the same information on the packaging.
Read the label again every time you buy. A product app can help you search, but it doesn’t replace checking the packaging.
An allergen label on its own says nothing about portion size or how crisps fit into a range of other snacks.
Serve a portion separately and vary crisps with other snacks that are also suitable for the ingredients your child needs to avoid.
A gluten-free crisps category can help you search, but it won’t necessarily answer questions about other allergens in a specific flavour.
Use the filter to find options, then make your final choice based on the product-specific ingredients and warnings.
Lay’s offers plain crisps, seasoned varieties and multipacks with small bags, among other options.
Pringles offers crisps in tubes, including Original and seasoned flavours.
Albert Heijn and Jumbo list Schär Curvies Original and Paprika in their gluten-free crisps and savoury snacks categories.
Eat Real offers lentil and hummus crisps, among other products. Jumbo lists some varieties in its gluten-free crisps and savoury snacks category.
Croky offers plain and seasoned potato crisps. Joybuy’s product information says Croky Naturel contains none of the 14 main EU allergens.
This selection includes vegetable, root vegetable, cassava and banana crisps in a range of pack sizes for an after-school snack. If an ingredient needs to be excluded, only choose a product after checking the current packaging for the relevant ingredients and warnings.
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A 20 g bag if you’re looking for a single-serve snack. If your child has an allergy or needs to avoid gluten, check the ingredients and warnings on the current packaging.
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A 25 g bag if you’re looking for a single-serve snack. If you need to avoid a specific ingredient, check the ingredients and any warnings on the packaging first.
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Sweet potato crisps in a 70 g pack if you’re looking for something other than potato crisps. Choose your own serving size and check the current label for gluten and other allergens.
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Chilli cassava crisps if you’re looking for a seasoned variety. The bag contains 250 g; serve a portion separately as a snack and check the label for relevant allergens.
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Banana crisps in a 70 g pack if you’d like to explore snacks beyond the usual potato crisps. Choose a serving size and, if you have dietary requirements, read the ingredients and warnings on the packaging.
No. The label ‘gluten-free’ says nothing about other allergens. Joybuy describes Croky Bolognese as gluten-free and also lists soya, so check the allergen information for the exact flavour you’re buying.
Read the ingredients list for any allergens that need to be avoided and check for cross-contamination warnings. Don’t rely solely on a label on the front or an image of the packaging in an online shop.
No. Use the filter to find products, then check the variant you’ve chosen. Ingredients and labels can change, so the Voedingscentrum stresses the importance of checking current product information.
It’s best not to make crisps a regular staple of after-school snacks. The Voedingscentrum recommends offering children a varied range of snacks, particularly from the Schijf van Vijf; if you choose crisps, consider the portion size and your child’s dietary requirements too.
If your child follows a strict gluten-free diet, make sure the crisps don’t come into contact with crumbs from snacks containing gluten. For example, serve them in a clean bowl and keep shared snacks separate.
