For one coffee break
Want to open one bag while you’re out without having to store the rest of a large pack? Jumbo and Albert Heijn stock small crisp packs, including 40 g varieties.
Who might find a small pack useful?
For several days on the go
If you want to take a bag with you more often, a multipack lets you prepare individual portions in advance. Jumbo describes these packs as containing several individual bags, sometimes in different flavours.
If the label matters to you
If ingredients, allergens or salt affect your choice, the information for the flavour you choose matters more than the pack size name alone. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority says that relevant allergens must be listed on the label.
What should you look for when choosing?
Start by thinking about how many snack breaks you want to take crisps for. Then compare the contents of each individual pack, and check every variety separately if you’re choosing a flavour mix.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| One snack break | Check the net weight of the single pack and whether you’re buying one pack or a multipack. | I want to open one bag with my coffee and not have to take an opened pack home. For around 36% of consumers, having a clearly defined portion comes first. |
| Stocking up for several days | Check the number of individual packs, the weight of each one and the mix of flavours. | If I want to take crisps with me on several days out, I’d rather prepare individual portions in advance. That’s a priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Ingredients and nutrition information | Read the ingredients and allergen information for each flavour; compare the salt per 100 g and per portion. | I want to be able to check exactly what’s in this particular variety before buying. For around 21% of consumers, checking the label is the first thing they consider. |
| A pack size that suits your shop | Check whether your chosen shop offers the flavour you want as a small single pack or a multipack. | I want to stick to my usual shopping routine, but I need a pack size that suits my coffee break. That matters most to around 14% of consumers. |
Common mistakes
-
Confusing a multipack with one small bag
Jumbo lists packs containing both fifteen and twenty individual bags. They can be handy if you want crisps regularly, but they’re not the same as buying one portion for today.
Check both the number of bags and the weight of each one on the pack before you choose.
-
Assuming every flavour has the same ingredients
Ingredients can vary from bag to bag in a flavour mix. Lay's Party Mix contains milk in the Bugles variety; check the other varieties individually.
For a mixed pack, check the ingredients and allergen information for every flavour you plan to eat.
-
Relying on ‘Original’ or ‘Natural’ alone
A flavour name doesn’t tell you which ingredients have been used. For example, Pringles Netherlands lists wheat flour in Pringles Original and says that it may contain milk and soya.
If you need to avoid certain ingredients, use the current label for the variety you’ve chosen as your guide.
-
Assuming a small pack means less salt
A small pack helps you keep track of how much you take with you, but it doesn’t tell you how much salt it contains. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, an average 40 g bowl of crisps contains 0.53 g of salt; the amount in a specific product may differ.
Check the nutrition information per 100 g and, if needed, work out the amount for the contents of your pack.
Brands to consider
Lay's
Worth considering if you’re looking for a small bag or a supply of individual portions. Jumbo lists Lay's Naturel in a pack of 20 × 40 g, for example, and Party Mix with 15 bags of 27.5 g each.
- The range includes both small portions and multipacks with individual bags.
- Ingredients vary between flavours in a mix; the Bugles variety in Party Mix contains milk.
Pringles
Pringles Netherlands lists a 40 g pack size for Original, among other options. That could suit you if you specifically want to take a small pack of Pringles with you.
- According to the Dutch product page, Original comes in a 40 g pack.
- Original contains wheat flour; the same product page says it may contain milk and soya. Check the label if these ingredients matter to you.
Snack Day
Lidl lists several flavours for its Snack Day own brand, including natural, paprika, Bolognese and cheese onion. Before choosing a variety for the journey, check the pack size in the range.
- The flavours listed by Lidl give you a choice within the range.
- Check the net weight and ingredients for each variety you choose; don’t assume that the brand name means it comes in an individual small pack.
Crisp packs for on-the-go snacking at Joybuy
This selection includes a single 40 g bag for one coffee break and multipacks of 12 × 40 g for preparing portions for several occasions. If you choose a multipack, consider the flavour too, and check the label for the exact variety.
Image unavailable
Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili 40 g
A single bag for anyone who wants to take a set portion along for one coffee break.
Contents: 40 g. Check the ingredients and allergens on the pack if you want to avoid certain ingredients.
Image unavailable
Pringles Red Pepper Flavoured Potato Chips 12 × 40 g
For anyone planning several coffee breaks and looking for the Red Pepper flavour.
Pack size: 12 × 40 g. Check the ingredients and allergens for this variety before eating.
Image unavailable
Pringles Hot & Spicy Crunchy Chips 12 × 40 g
For several planned snack breaks if you specifically want the Hot & Spicy variety.
Pack size: 12 × 40 g. Bear the stated spicy flavour in mind when choosing, and check the current label for ingredients and allergens.
Image unavailable
Pringles Original Chips 12 × 40 g
For anyone wanting to stock up on the Original variety for several coffee breaks.
Pack size: 12 × 40 g. Pringles Netherlands lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Original and says that it may contain milk and soya; check the label on the pack you choose.
Image unavailable
Pringles Texas BBQ Sauce Potato Chips 12 × 40 g
For anyone preparing portions for several days who’s looking for the Texas BBQ Sauce variety.
Pack size: 12 × 40 g. Read the ingredients and allergen information for this exact flavour before choosing.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take a single pack or a multipack for one coffee break?
A small single pack is ideal for one planned snack break; a multipack is for anyone who wants an individual portion for several occasions. For both options, check the net weight of each pack, as the number of packs doesn’t tell you how many crisps are in one portion.
Can I assume that every bag in a flavour mix contains the same allergens?
No, check each flavour individually. The Bugles variety in Lay's Party Mix contains milk, and the varieties have different ingredients, so read the information on the pack you choose.
What should I look for on the label if ingredients or allergens affect my choice?
Start with the ingredients list and allergen information for the exact variety. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority explains that relevant allergens must be listed in the ingredients of prepacked foods; a flavour name alone isn’t a substitute.
How do I compare the salt content of two small crisp packs?
First compare the amount of salt per 100 g in the nutrition information, then take the weight of each pack into account. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre gives 0.53 g of salt as the amount in an average 40 g bowl of crisps, but for your choice, the figure on the label of the specific variety is what matters.