The host who keeps an eye on energy content
You want to put crisps out and compare the calories per 100 g. Then you decide how much to serve in bowls, rather than looking only at the size of the bag.
Who is this choice important for?
The label-checker buying for a mixed group
You’re buying for several neighbours and want to check salt, ingredients and allergens as well as energy content before serving the crisps.
The host who puts flavour and sharing first
You’re looking for a flavour and pack size that suit the occasion. You’re happy to accept that your choice may not have the lowest energy content of the crisps you’ve compared.
What should you look for when choosing?
Compare crisps per 100 g first, so different bag sizes don’t skew the comparison. Then decide how much you’ll need for the get-together, and check the label for guests with specific allergies.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Especially relevant for |
|---|---|---|
| Energy content | Compare the calories per 100 g, then check the stated portion size. | I want to serve crisps, but first I want to weigh up their energy content within this product group. For around 36% of consumers, this is the top priority. |
| Fat and salt | Check the fat, saturates and salt per 100 g; a label such as ‘less fat’ doesn’t tell you everything about the other nutritional values. | If I don’t want to choose based on calories alone, I want to see how the fat and salt content compares across varieties. Around 29% of consumers give this nutritional make-up top priority. |
| Quantity and flavour | Check the pack weight and decide how much you want to put out; choose a flavour that suits the group too. | For my get-together, the main thing is being able to share the right amount of a flavour everyone wants. This matters most to around 21% of consumers. |
| Allergens | Read the current ingredients list and check for any warning about possible cross-contamination. | If a guest has a food allergy, I want to check the relevant variety before serving it. For around 14% of consumers, this is their main concern when buying. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming ‘less fat’ means low in calories
Albert Heijn lists Lay's Oven Baked Naturel at 428 kcal per 100 g. So, having less fat than standard potato crisps doesn’t mean the product is low in energy: under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, this claim can only be used for solid foods containing no more than 40 kcal per 100 g.
Compare the actual calorie values per 100 g, and don’t use ‘less fat’ as a substitute for that comparison.
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Looking only at calories
The nutritional information for a variety of crisps can also differ in terms of salt and allergens. For example, Jumbo lists We Care Paprika Flavour Chips as containing 2.5 g of salt per 100 g and identifies soya as an allergen.
As well as energy content, check the nutritional information. If any guests have an allergy, check the current packaging too.
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Assuming product information never changes
Nutritional values or an ingredients list you checked previously may not match the pack you eventually buy. The availability of a particular variety can change too.
When you buy, check the exact product and read the label again before serving the crisps to your guests.
Brands to compare
Compare specific varieties, not just brand names: nutritional values and ingredients can differ within the same brand.
Lay's
Offers standard potato crisps, among other products, as well as varieties called Oven Baked and Light.
- Albert Heijn lists Lay's Oven Baked Naturel at 428 kcal, 13 g of fat and 0.85 g of salt per 100 g.
- Less fat doesn’t mean low in energy. Check the nutritional values for the exact flavour you’re buying too.
Pringles
Pringles Original is a stackable crisp sold in a tube.
- Pringles lists Original in 40 g, 70 g and 165 g packs.
- Pringles lists Original at 528 kcal, 31 g of fat and 1.0 g of salt per 100 g. The ingredients include wheat flour; according to the product information, it may also contain milk and soya.
Albert Heijn
Offers a range of crisps, including own-brand varieties described as having less fat.
- Albert Heijn includes AH Ribbelchips naturel minder vet and AH Ribbelchips sour cream & onion minder vet in its range.
- Compare the nutritional information per 100 g for the variety you’ve chosen before drawing conclusions about its energy content or salt levels.
Jumbo
Offers both standard own-brand crisps and a range described as having less fat.
- Jumbo lists Jumbo Ribbelchips Naturel at 528 kcal, 30.8 g of fat and 1.10 g of salt per 100 g. These are useful figures for comparing this specific standard variety.
- A ‘less fat’ category doesn’t tell you the nutritional values of every individual pack, so always check the exact variety.
Crisps for different get-together preferences
These Joybuy products are crisp varieties for a neighbourhood get-together. The Oven Baked flavours are worth comparing if you’re looking for oven-baked crisps; Lay's Patatje Joppie is another flavour option. Check the current nutritional information for each bag and decide how much you want to serve.
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Lay's Oven Baked Mediterranean Herbs – 150 g
For anyone who wants to serve an oven-baked herb flavour at their get-together. The bag contains 150 g; compare the nutritional information for this flavour per 100 g and check the label if a guest has a milk allergy.
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Lay's Oven Baked Barbecue – 150 g
An oven-baked barbecue flavour if it suits the group. The bag contains 150 g; read the nutritional information for this variety and check the ingredients if any guests have a soya allergy.
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Lay's Oven Baked Paprika – 150 g
For a get-together where you want to serve an oven-baked paprika flavour. The bag contains 150 g; compare the calories and salt per 100 g on the current label, and check the allergen information for guests with a milk allergy.
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Lay's Oven Cheese Onion – 150 g
A cheese and onion variety for anyone who wants to share that flavour at their get-together. The bag contains 150 g; check the nutritional information for this specific variety and read the label if anyone has a milk allergy.
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Lay's Patatje Joppie Potato Chips – 200 g
Another flavour option if you’re not looking for an Oven Baked variety. The bag contains 200 g; decide how much to put out and check the ingredients if any guests have a mustard allergy.
Frequently asked questions
Can you call crisps with several hundred kcal per 100 g low-calorie?
No, not as a nutrition claim for solid foods in the EU. Under Regulation (EC) No 1924/2006, a claim that a food is low in energy, or any claim with the same meaning for consumers, can only be used for products containing no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. When comparing crisps, it’s better to give the actual calorie values for the varieties in question.
How do I compare crisps in bags of different sizes?
Start with the nutritional values per 100 g, then consider how much you actually want to serve. The European Commission describes information per 100 g as the basis for nutrition labelling. This lets you compare energy, fat, saturates, sugars and salt across different packs.
Is Nutri-Score enough to choose crisps for a get-together?
No. Nutri-Score can help you compare products within the same category, but it won’t tell you which flavours your guests will like or which allergens are in a specific variety. So also check the nutritional information per 100 g, the packaging and the ingredients list.
What should I check if a guest has a food allergy?
Check the current packaging for the exact variety of crisps before serving it. According to the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority, any allergens that must be declared have to be listed in the ingredients on the label. Also read any warning about possible cross-contamination.