Who should consider these factors?

Anyone fitting carbohydrates into an eating plan

Compare the carbohydrates per 100 g with those in the portion you plan to eat. Diabetes.nl says there’s no single amount of carbohydrates that’s best for everyone with diabetes.

Anyone with a specific allergen or gluten-free requirement

Check the ingredients and allergens for the flavour and pack you’ve chosen. A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically answer questions about other allergens.

Anyone comparing salt, fat and portion size

As well as checking claims such as no added salt or oven-baked, look at the full nutrition information. The amount you eat determines how much carbohydrate, salt and fat you get from that portion.

What should you check when choosing?

Start with the nutrition information for your own portion. Then check the allergens that matter to you and compare the salt and saturated fat in the specific products you’re considering.

What to consider What to check before buying Who it matters to
Carbohydrates Check the total carbohydrates per 100 g and work out the amount for the portion you plan to eat; don’t look at sugars alone. If I want to fit crisps into my eating plan, I need to know how many carbohydrates are in the portion I’ve chosen. Around 36% of consumers make carbohydrate planning their top priority.
Allergens and gluten-free status Read the up-to-date ingredients list, highlighted allergens and relevant warnings for the exact product variant. If I have a confirmed allergy or need gluten-free food, I want to check the product against my specific requirements. This is the top priority for around 29% of consumers.
Salt, saturated fat and portion size Compare the salt and saturated fat per 100 g and in the portion you plan to eat. If I’m mainly watching my salt or saturated fat intake, I want to know what I’ll get from my usual portion. This is the most important consideration for around 21% of consumers.
Product and label Check that the nutrition information and ingredients are for the flavour and pack you’ve chosen. When comparing ranges, I want to assess the information for the exact product. This is the first priority for around 14% of consumers.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming no added salt means low in carbohydrates

    Albert Heijn lists Boerderij Pure crisps with no added salt as containing 0 g of salt, but also 55 g of carbohydrates per 100 g. So a no-added-salt label tells you nothing about the carbohydrate content.

    Compare the carbohydrate and salt content of the variant you’ve chosen separately, and work out both amounts for your portion.

  • Looking only at sugars

    The ‘of which sugars’ line doesn’t show the total amount of carbohydrates. So a low sugar value isn’t a substitute for checking the carbohydrates line.

    Use the stated total carbohydrates per 100 g to assess the portion you’ve chosen.

  • Treating a gluten-free category as a final check

    A range of gluten-free crisps and savoury snacks can help you find options, but it doesn’t tell you whether a particular variant also meets your requirements for other allergens.

    Check the ingredients and relevant allergens on the current packaging for the exact variant.

  • Forgetting about portion size

    According to the Voedingscentrum, an average 40 g bowl of crisps contains 20,9 g of carbohydrates and 0,53 g of salt. If you eat a different amount, the values change too.

    Choose the amount you plan to eat and work out the nutritional values using the label on your product.

Brands and ranges compared

Lay's

Lay's offers standard potato crisps as well as its Oven Baked range.

  • According to Lay's, the Oven Baked range contains 50% less fat than regular potato crisps.
  • That comparison is about fat, not carbohydrates or allergens. Check the nutrition information for the flavour you’ve chosen.

Pringles

Pringles offers tube crisps in a range of flavours; Jumbo lists Pringles Original in its plain crisps range.

  • The specific flavour and pack give you a clear starting point for comparing labels.
  • The brand or flavour name doesn’t tell you whether the crisps meet your carbohydrate or allergen requirements.

Albert Heijn

The product page for Boerderij Pure crisps with no added salt shows why one nutritional feature doesn’t tell you everything you need to know.

  • Albert Heijn lists this product as containing 0 g of salt and 55 g of carbohydrates per 100 g.
  • Check the current packaging when you buy; these values apply to this product, not all crisps with no added salt.

Jumbo

Jumbo has separate online ranges for plain crisps and gluten-free crisps and savoury snacks.

  • The gluten-free category can help you find options to consider.
  • A category listing doesn’t replace checking the carbohydrates, salt and other relevant allergens for each product.

Schär

Jumbo lists products including Schär Curvies Paprika Gluten Free and Salinis Gluten Free in its gluten-free range.

  • These variants are aimed at shoppers specifically looking for gluten-free products.
  • Also check the other allergens and nutrition information for the variant you’ve chosen.

Crisps and snacks on Joybuy

These potato sticks and oven-baked crisps are options to compare by ingredients and nutrition information. For each product, consider the portion you’ve chosen and the allergens that matter to you.

g'woon Natural Fries Sticks, 150 g

g'woon Natural Fries Sticks, 150 g

For anyone comparing potato sticks with crisps. Check the carbohydrates in your own portion and the current ingredients and allergen information.

View on Joybuy
Lay's Oven Baked Natural, 150 g

Lay's Oven Baked Natural, 150 g

For anyone comparing an oven-baked option with regular crisps. For this Natural variant, compare the fat and carbohydrates on the same basis, then work out the amounts for the portion you’ve chosen.

View on Joybuy

Frequently asked questions

Are sugar-free crisps automatically suitable if you have diabetes?

No. Sugar-free doesn’t tell you how many carbohydrates the crisps contain overall. Compare the carbohydrates per 100 g and work out the amount for the portion you plan to eat.

Is there a single carbohydrate limit for crisps if you have diabetes?

No. Diabetes.nl says there’s no single amount of carbohydrates that’s best for everyone with diabetes. Consider the portion as part of your personal eating plan. If you take diabetes medication, talk to your healthcare professional before making major changes to your carbohydrate intake.

How can I check whether crisps meet my allergen requirements?

Read the current ingredients list for the exact flavour and pack, and check the allergens that matter to you. According to the European Commission, the 14 main allergens are highlighted in the ingredients list. A gluten-free label doesn’t automatically answer questions about other allergens.