Travellers who want to share out snacks
Travelling with others and want to have a bag ready for everyone in advance? Individual portions make this easier than opening one sharing bag. For example, Jumbo lists multipacks with 15 bags.
Which pack is best for you?
Households comparing labels
If you want to compare portion sizes, ingredients and nutritional information, check the flavour and pack you’ve chosen. The Voedingscentrum gives average figures of 215 kcal, 13.1 g fat and 3.4 g saturated fat for 40 g of crisps; these figures don’t apply to every individual product.
Hand-luggage travellers going without dip
If you’re taking crisps through security at Schiphol, check any accompaniments separately. Schiphol says food can be taken in hand luggage, but treats products such as peanut butter and mayonnaise as liquids.
What should you look for when choosing?
Multipack of small bags
Best for: a group of travellers who want to share out snacks in advance without opening a large bag.
Consider: as well as the number of bags, check the amount in each one; the labels may differ between items in a mixed box.
Large sharing bag
Best for: a household or group who’ll eat the crisps together before setting off and don’t need individual portions.
Consider: an opened bag doesn’t provide pre-portioned snacks for the journey.
Retailer-specific multipack
Best for: shoppers who can check the pack in store. Albert Heijn lists its Pringles multipack as available in store only.
Consider: check how many packs and which flavours are included while you’re there.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Especially useful for |
|---|---|---|
| Hand luggage and accompaniments | Check dips, sauces and spreadable accompaniments separately from the crisps. Schiphol allows liquids in hand luggage in containers of up to 100 ml each. | I want to take my snack through security without overlooking an accompaniment. Around 30% of consumers put this need first. |
| Portions you can share out | Compare the number of bags with the weight per bag and the total weight. Jumbo lists, among other options, a multipack of 15 x 25 g. | When I’m travelling with others, I want to be able to set aside a bag for each person before we leave. Sharing out portions is the main priority for around 40% of consumers. |
| Amount per pack | Check the total weight and decide whether you need individual portions. You can’t compare a large bag and a multipack by looking at the number of packs alone. | For our household, what matters most is how many crisps we’ll actually eat together. This is the main consideration for around 20% of consumers. |
| Label and nutritional information | Read the ingredients, allergen information and nutritional details for each flavour you choose. For different portion sizes, check the figures per 100 g as well as per portion. | When buying a mixed box, I want to know what’s in each item before taking it with me. An estimated 10% of consumers give checking the label top priority. |
Common mistakes
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Comparing only the number of bags
Fifteen or twenty bags don’t tell you much about the total amount on their own: the weight of each bag matters too.
Before choosing between a multipack and a sharing bag, check the number of bags, the portion size and the total weight on the same pack.
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Forgetting about dip at hand-luggage security
Schiphol treats products such as peanut butter and mayonnaise as liquids. The rules for these accompaniments are therefore different from those for dry crisps.
Before packing your hand luggage, check dips, sauces and spreadable products separately against the rules for liquids.
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Assuming every snack in a mixed box has the same flavour
A box containing different snacks may include items with different ingredients and allergens.
If allergens are relevant to your choice, read the label on the full box and on each individual snack.
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Assuming a retailer’s website reflects what’s in store
Albert Heijn lists its Pringles multipack as available in store only; Lidl describes its Snack Day products in the same way. A product page doesn’t tell you which pack you’ll find in a particular store.
Check the contents, best-before date and current label on the pack you actually buy.
Brands and retailers compared
Lay's
For anyone looking to share out small bags, Jumbo lists both Lay's multipacks and a mixed Mega Box containing 20 snacks.
- There are packs with individual snacks for sharing with a group.
- Check the ingredients and allergens for the specific box and flavour you choose, rather than relying on the brand name.
Pringles
Albert Heijn lists a Pringles Crisps multipack as available in store only.
- You can check the contents and label in store.
- Don’t assume a fixed number of packs or flavours before you’ve checked the multipack.
Albert Heijn
As a retailer, Albert Heijn offers crisps from various brands as well as its own AH products, making it easy to compare pack types.
- Product weights help you compare the total amount.
- Albert Heijn warns that product information, including ingredients and allergens, may change; check the packaging.
Jumbo
Alongside branded multipacks, Jumbo lists its own Paprika & Naturel multipack of 15 x 25 g and larger own-brand bags.
- The quantities and weights make it easy to see the difference between pre-portioned snacks and a sharing bag.
- Check the pack you’ve chosen and its availability at the store you plan to visit.
Lidl Snack Day
Lidl describes Snack Day as its own brand, with a range of crisp flavours for anyone considering an own-brand bag.
- The flavours listed give you a choice if you don’t need individual multipack bags.
- Lidl lists these products as available in store only; check the actual pack and contents there.
Crisps and snack multipacks on Joybuy
These packs are particularly useful if you’re looking for individual portions for a group of travellers. If you choose a mixed snack box, check what it contains; the quantity and label are still key to making the right choice.
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Lay's Sensations Thai Sweet Chili 10 x 40 g
Worth considering if you want to take individual portions with you. The product name states 10 x 40 g; check the contents and labels on the pack you choose before sharing out the bags.
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Pringles Red Pepper Flavoured Potato Chips 12 x 40 g
The stated 12 portions of 40 g make it easy to see how much you can share out. If you have an allergy, check the current label for this Red Pepper variety.
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Croky Sharing Mix 180 g
This mix is a good option for sharing if the total weight matters more than a fixed portion size. The product name states 180 g; check the pack for the contents of each individual bag and the allergen information.
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Lay's Family Box 15 pieces
The box of 15 is a good fit for a group looking to share out snacks. Check which snacks are included in the box you choose, and check the weight and allergen information for each item.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take dry crisps in my hand luggage from Schiphol?
Yes. Schiphol says food can generally be taken in hand luggage, as long as it isn’t a prohibited item. Follow the instructions at security and check whether your airline has any additional rules.
What if I want to take dip or sauce with my crisps?
Check the accompaniment separately: Schiphol also classifies some spreadable foods as liquids. According to Schiphol, liquid containers in hand luggage can hold no more than 100 ml each.
How do I check the allergens in a mixed snack box?
Read the current label on the box you’ve chosen and on each individual item, rather than relying only on the brand name on the outside. This helps you check whether all the snacks in the box are suitable for you based on the allergens you need to avoid.
Is a large pack more convenient than small multipack bags?
A large bag works well if you’re sharing crisps and don’t need pre-portioned snacks; small bags make it easier to share them out before you leave. Compare the total weight, the amount in each bag and how much room the pack will take up in your hand luggage for your group.