Festival-goer who strictly avoids gluten
If gluten is off the menu for you, an explicit gluten-free label matters more than the flavour name. Also check the ingredients and warnings on the packet you’re taking with you.
Who is this choice important for?
Shopper avoiding milk or lactose and choosing plant-based food
When buying supplies for a shared campsite, you’ll want crisps that meet all your dietary requirements. A gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether there’s a milk warning, and a vegan label isn’t an allergen declaration either.
Camper shopping just before setting off
You want to be able to make your decision in the shop based on the current packaging, especially when online product information doesn’t list all the ingredients or allergens.
What should you look for when choosing?
First, decide which dietary restriction is most important to you. Then compare the claims, ingredients and warnings on the same packet. A gluten-free claim, for example, doesn’t answer a question about milk.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters most to |
|---|---|---|
| Avoiding gluten | Look for an explicit gluten-free label and read the ingredients and relevant warnings. | If I strictly avoid gluten, I want to know before setting off whether these particular crisps are suitable. Around 42% of consumers put this gluten-free choice first. |
| Milk, lactose and plant-based ingredients | Check the ingredients and warnings for milk; assess any lactose-free or vegan label separately. | For my camping supplies, I want to avoid milk or lactose, or choose plant-based ingredients only, without confusing these requirements. Around 33% of consumers prioritise this need. |
| Being able to check the current packet | Read the label in the shop and check whether the pack size suits you or a group. | If I’m buying crisps just before the festival, I want to check my dietary restriction against the packet rather than rely on a product name. For around 25% of consumers, being able to check is the priority. |
Common mistakes
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Assuming gluten-free means free from all allergens
Albert Heijn labels Schär Curvies Paprika as gluten-free, but also says it may contain milk. So the gluten-free label doesn’t tell you whether the product is suitable for someone with a milk allergy.
Make a note of everything you need to avoid, then check the ingredients and any warnings for each one on the current packet.
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Relying on the potato base or flavour name
Pringles Netherlands lists wheat flour as an ingredient in Pringles Original and names milk and soya as possible allergens. The name Original doesn’t make this variety gluten-free.
Check the exact flavour and packet you’re buying, even if you’re familiar with another variety from the same brand.
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Treating a product page you viewed earlier as definitive
Albert Heijn points out that ingredient, nutrition and allergy information can change. Lay’s also says that allergen warnings on packaging may vary during a transition period.
Check the physical packet again before packing your crisps for the festival.
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Relying only on the online name of a product sold in store
Lidl lists Snack Day Naturel crisps as an in-store product, but says in its customer information that it doesn’t provide online ingredient and allergen lists for food products. The product name and pack size aren’t enough to make a decision based on your diet.
Take the time to read the label in store or ask Lidl a specific question about the product you want to buy.
Brands and product ranges to consider
Albert Heijn
AH Chips naturel is a specific plain variety to consider if you want to meet several dietary requirements at once.
- Albert Heijn lists potato, sunflower oil and salt as ingredients in AH Chips naturel, and labels this variety vegan, gluten-free and lactose-free.
- This information doesn’t automatically apply to other AH crisps or a recipe that has since changed. Check the packet when you buy it.
Schär
Schär Curvies Paprika is a specific crisp variety sold as gluten-free.
- Jumbo includes Schär Curvies Paprika in its range of gluten-free crisps and savoury snacks.
- According to Albert Heijn’s product information, this variety may contain milk. Check this warning if you need to avoid milk.
Lay's
When choosing a free-from option from Lay’s, check the individual flavour and packet.
- Lay’s provides information about changes to allergen warnings on its Dutch packaging.
- A brand name alone doesn’t tell you which ingredients or warnings appear on the variety you’re holding.
Pringles
For these crisps in a tube, the ingredients of the exact variety determine whether they’re suitable for a free-from diet.
- Pringles Netherlands publishes ingredient information for Pringles Original.
- According to this information, Pringles Original contains wheat flour and may contain milk and soya. Don’t assume this applies to other flavours: check their own labels.
Lidl Snack Day
Snack Day Naturel crisps are an in-store option if you can check the packet yourself before setting off.
- Lidl lists Snack Day Naturel crisps as a 250 g bag available in store only.
- Read the ingredients and allergen information on the packet: Lidl says it doesn’t provide an online overview of this information for its food products.
Crisps and snacks on Joybuy
This Joybuy selection includes crisps and other crunchy snacks in pack sizes for a camping trip. If you need to avoid gluten, milk or anything else, make your final choice only after checking the current packet. An ingredient or product name alone doesn’t confirm that something is free from a particular ingredient.
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Okra Chips 25 g
A 25 g bag of okra crisps for an individual snack break at the campsite. If you need to avoid something, check the ingredients and allergen warnings on the packet.
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7FRESH Original Cut Taro Chips, sea salt flavour, 50 g
These 50 g taro crisps are a compact choice for your camping bag. If you’re looking for a gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan option, check the current ingredients and warnings on the packet.
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TG Salted Plantain Chips 85 g
If you want to take plantain crisps with you, this bag contains 85 g. If you have a specific dietary requirement, check the packet for ingredients and possible allergens.
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Mirasa Cassava Chips Chilli 250 g
This 250 g bag of chilli-flavoured cassava crisps could be a good size to share. Before buying, check the full ingredients list and warnings on the packet for anything you need to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
Are plain crisps always gluten-free?
No. The flavour name ‘plain’ doesn’t prove that a product is gluten-free. Albert Heijn explicitly labels its AH Chips naturel as gluten-free, while Pringles Netherlands lists wheat flour in Pringles Original. Check the label, ingredients and warnings on the packet you’re buying.
Are gluten-free crisps also suitable if I need to avoid milk?
Not necessarily: a gluten-free label only relates to gluten. Albert Heijn says that its gluten-free Schär Curvies Paprika variety may contain milk. So check the milk information on the current packet too.
What does ‘may contain’ mean on a packet of crisps?
It’s a warning about possible cross-contamination with the allergen named, not confirmation that it has been added as an ingredient. The Voedingscentrum advises reading both the ingredients list and these warnings; check the wording for the allergen you need to avoid.
Can I check online in advance which allergens Lidl crisps contain?
Don’t expect a complete online list of ingredients and allergens for Lidl food products. Lidl directs customers to the packaging for this information, so read the packet in store or ask a specific question about the product you’re considering.