Planning several snack occasions
If you regularly buy tortilla chips for after school, it helps to choose a pack size that matches how much will actually be eaten.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Choosing by flavour
If the chips will be eaten without a dip, a sweet chilli, cheese or paprika variety may be a better fit for the snack you have in mind than plain chips.
Checking allergens
If someone has an allergy or intolerance, the information for the exact flavour matters. If the chips are going to school, it’s also a good idea to check the pack and any school guidelines.
What should you look for when choosing?
First decide whether the chips will be shared or eaten on their own. Then check the ingredients and allergen information for the variety you’ve chosen.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pack size | Check the weight in grams and consider whether the pack will be finished during the snack occasions you have planned. | If I’m buying chips for several afternoons, I want a pack that will actually be finished. Around 42% of consumers prioritise finding a suitable pack size. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the information on the exact pack; don’t rely on the flavour name or the fact that maize is an ingredient. | When buying a snack for someone with an allergy, I want to know what’s listed for that particular variety. Around 33% of consumers give this check top priority. |
| Flavour and how you’ll eat them | Choose plain chips to serve with a dip, or a flavoured variety to eat straight from the bag. | If the chips will be eaten without a dip, I want to choose a flavour that works on its own. For around 25% of consumers, flavour comes first. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming all maize chips are gluten-free
Labelling varies by product: Albert Heijn identifies AH Tortilla chips Sweet Chili as gluten-free, while the Joybuy listing for G'woon Tortilla Chips Naturel mentions possible traces of gluten.
Before buying, check the ingredients and allergen information on the exact pack you’ve chosen.
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Looking only at the flavour name
Different flavours may list different allergens. According to Albert Heijn, AH Tortilla chips Nacho Cheese Flavour contains milk and lactose; possible soya is listed for AH Sweet Chili.
Read the full allergen information if the chips are for someone with an allergy or intolerance.
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Treating tortilla chips as a frozen product
The storage advice for the Jumbo Naturel and Santa Maria chips mentioned here is to keep them in a cool, dry place.
Follow the storage and best-before information on the pack, including after opening.
Brands to consider
Jumbo
Jumbo Tortilla Chips Naturel is a 300 g bag of salted maize chips for anyone who wants to serve plain chips with a dip.
- The plain variety lets you choose whichever dip you like.
- If you’ll be eating the chips without a dip and want a stronger flavour, it’s worth looking at flavoured varieties too.
SUN SNACKS
ALDI lists 300 g bags of SUN SNACKS tortilla chips in plain, cheese and sweet chilli varieties.
- The varieties listed give you a choice of plain or seasoned chips.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for each flavour; the variety name alone isn’t enough.
Albert Heijn
Albert Heijn lists AH Tortilla chips Sweet Chili and Nacho Cheese Flavour in 200 g bags.
- The product information also distinguishes between the varieties by their allergens: Sweet Chili is labelled gluten-free, while Nacho Cheese Flavour contains milk and lactose.
- Possible soya is listed for Sweet Chili. Don’t assume that the characteristics of one AH variety apply to the other.
Doritos
Jumbo’s listing is for Doritos Naturel Tortilla Nacho Chips in a 185 g bag.
- This is a plain variety for anyone who isn’t looking for seasoned chips.
- Check the information for the specific Doritos variety if ingredients or allergens will affect your choice.
Santa Maria
The Joybuy listing for Santa Maria Tortillachips Gezouten is a 475 g bag for a snack or dip occasion.
- The larger pack may be a good fit when the chips are being shared.
- A larger bag is most practical when you’ll finish the contents; also check the allergen information on the exact pack.
Tortilla chips on Joybuy
This selection includes plain and flavoured varieties in bags ranging from 170 g to 475 g, for eating on their own or serving with a dip. Choose based on the snack occasion you have in mind, and check the pack if allergens are a concern.
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Santa Maria Tortilla Chips Salted 475 g
This salted variety is a good choice for a snack occasion when you’re sharing the chips or serving them with a dip.
The Joybuy listing gives maize flour, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients. Check the allergens on the current pack before packing it up.
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Doritos Dippers Original 185 g
The plain variety is a good choice if you want to serve the chips with a dip. If the snack is for someone with an allergy, check the allergens on the pack.
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Doritos Sweet Chilli Pepper Tortilla Chips 170 g
This sweet chilli variety is a good choice if you’re after a bolder flavour rather than plain chips. Check the ingredients and allergens on the bag before packing it up.
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Santa Maria Original Nacho Chips 185 g
These nacho chips are a good fit for a snack or dip occasion where a 185 g bag is enough. Check the pack if ingredients or allergens are important to your choice.
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Doritos Pure Paprika Tortilla Chips 170 g
The paprika variety is a good choice if you’ll be eating the chips without a dip and want that flavour. Check the allergens on the current bag before sending it along.
Frequently asked questions
Are maize tortilla chips automatically gluten-free?
No, don’t rely on maize being listed as an ingredient. Albert Heijn specifically labels AH Tortilla chips Sweet Chili as gluten-free, while the Joybuy listing for G'woon Tortilla Chips Naturel mentions possible traces of gluten. So always read the allergen information on the exact pack.
How should you store tortilla chips after buying them?
Follow the storage advice on the pack; the Jumbo Naturel and Santa Maria varieties listed are kept in a cool, dry place. Once opened, reseal the bag securely in line with the pack instructions.