If you compare calories on food labels
You want to keep eating crisps, but first compare the energy per 100 g. Then decide how much to serve; a ‘reduced fat’ claim is no substitute for comparing energy values.
Who are these choices relevant to?
If you share crisps during the autumn half-term
You’re looking for something to share at snack time and don’t want the bag to dictate how much everyone eats. The amount in each bowl is just as relevant as the nutrition information per 100 g.
If you check ingredients or allergens
You want to check exactly what’s in a particular flavour before buying it. If you choose a different flavour or pack, check the ingredients and allergens again.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start with the nutrition information per 100 g to compare similar crisps. Then consider how much you’ll serve and check the ingredients for the exact variant.
| What to look for | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per 100 g | Compare the kcal per 100 g for similar crisps. Assess a ‘reduced fat’ claim separately from the energy value. | If I want to choose by calorie content, I want to compare different packs on an equal basis. For around 50% of consumers, comparing energy values is the top priority. |
| Amount in the bowl | Check the nutrition information per 100 g and the weight you actually serve per person; serving sizes shown on labels can vary. | When sharing a bag, I want to decide for myself how much goes in my bowl. Portion control is the main concern for around 30% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and allergens | Read the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact flavour, even if you already know the brand. | If an ingredient matters to me, I need to be able to see what’s listed for the variant I’ve chosen. Around 20% of consumers make this their top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Taking ‘reduced fat’ to mean ‘low calorie’
Under EU nutrition claim rules, solid foods can only be called ‘low calorie’ if they contain no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. Comparing fat content doesn’t show whether crisps are below that limit.
Use a fat claim only to compare the fat content it refers to, and also check the energy per 100 g on the label.
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Comparing kcal per serving only
A lower figure per serving may be down to a smaller stated serving size. That means you might not be comparing the same amount of crisps.
Follow the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s advice to compare products per 100 g first. Then check how many grams you’ll serve yourself.
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Assuming one flavour’s allergens apply to the whole brand
Ingredients and allergens relate to a specific variant. For example, Albert Heijn lists wheat and cereals containing gluten for Pringles Original, with possible traces of milk and soya; this tells you nothing about other flavours.
Check the current packaging for the flavour you’re buying, especially if the packaging or recipe has changed.
Brands to consider
Lay's
The Oven Baked range is worth looking at if you’re mainly interested in variants that claim to contain less fat.
- Lay's says Oven Baked Roasted Paprika contains 50% less fat than standard potato crisps. This is a comparison of fat content, not evidence that the product meets the low-calorie limit.
- To meet your energy target, compare the kcal per 100 g for the exact variant and check the rest of the nutrition information and ingredients too.
Pringles
Pringles Original is a specific tube of crisps you can assess for its nutrition information and ingredients, not a confirmed low-calorie option.
- Albert Heijn lists Pringles Original at 528 kcal per 100 g and says it comes in a resealable pack.
- According to the product information, Original contains wheat and cereals containing gluten, and may contain milk and soya. Don’t assume the same applies to other flavours.
Lidl / Snack Day
Lidl lists Snack Day oven-baked crisps in paprika and sour cream & onion flavours, each in a 150 g pack.
- The listed flavours and pack sizes give you a starting point for comparing the exact products.
- Check the kcal per 100 g, ingredients and allergens on the pack for your chosen flavour; ‘oven-baked’ is not, by itself, a calorie claim.
Related products at Joybuy
Related products coming soon.
Frequently asked questions
When can crisps be called ‘low calorie’?
Under EU nutrition claim rules, this term can only be used for solid foods if the exact product contains no more than 40 kcal per 100 g. So, for crisps, go by the energy value for the variant you’ve chosen, not a ‘reduced fat’ claim.
Do oven-baked crisps automatically contain fewer calories?
No. ‘Oven-baked’ on its own doesn’t tell you how many kcal crisps contain. Lay's says some Oven Baked variants contain less fat than standard potato crisps; to compare calories, you still need to check the energy per 100 g for the exact product.
Should I compare kcal per serving or per 100 g?
Compare similar crisps per 100 g first, as advised by the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Then check the weight you actually put in a bowl, as serving sizes shown on packs can vary.
How do I check allergens in crisps?
Read the ingredients and highlighted allergens on the packaging for the exact flavour. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains the mandatory labelling of 14 allergens; check the label again if you buy a different variant.
Can Nutri-Score help me choose crisps?
Nutri-Score can help you compare products of the same type, according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. Also check the nutrition information per 100 g: the score alone doesn’t tell you whether crisps are low calorie.