Start by finding out what your guests need to avoid, then check the label on the exact pack you plan to serve. A gluten-free claim relates to gluten, while a vegan claim relates to ingredients of animal origin. For a food allergy, you also need to check the relevant allergen information and any warnings about cross-contamination.
You’ll want to check the allergen information on the pack you’ve bought and keep the crisps you’ve chosen separate from snacks containing a relevant allergen. The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority highlights the importance of allergen information on the labels of prepacked products.
You’re looking for crisps that are explicitly labelled gluten-free, and you’ll also want to check for other ingredients or warnings that may matter to your guest. A gluten-free category in an online shop doesn’t replace checking the individual product.
You may also want to cater for plant-based diets and personal tastes. Check each requirement separately: vegan, plain and free from allergens don’t mean the same thing.
First, find out which ingredients or allergens matter to your guests. Then choose a flavour and pack size for the games table.
| What to consider | What to check when buying | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Specific food allergy | Read the allergen information on the exact pack and check any warning about cross-contamination. | If a guest needs to avoid a particular allergen, don’t rely on the flavour name. An estimated 36% of consumers put this allergen check first. |
| Gluten-free | Look for an explicit gluten-free claim on the product and check other relevant allergens separately. | For a gluten-free guest, I’d first look for a clear statement on the pack. Around 29% of consumers would choose gluten-free as their main criterion. |
| Plant-based ingredients | Check for a vegan claim or read the ingredients list. If there are other dietary requirements, check the allergen information too. | If a guest avoids ingredients of animal origin, I need to be able to confirm that the crisps are suitable. An estimated 21% of consumers put this plant-based choice first. |
| Sharing and flavour | Check the pack size and, if you’re buying a mix of flavours, read the information for each item. | Once everyone’s dietary requirements have been catered for, I want to be able to share crisps without mixing different flavours on one plate. An estimated 14% of consumers would put this convenience for groups first. |
A simple flavour name doesn’t tell you whether a product is free from allergens. Joybuy Netherlands’ product information for Pringles Original 12 x 40 g lists wheat and gluten, and warns that the product may contain milk and soya.
Check the allergen information and any warnings on the pack you’ve bought.
The ingredients can vary between items in a mix. According to Joybuy Netherlands’ product information, Lay's Fun Mix contains milk and may also contain cereals containing gluten, soya and wheat.
Set aside an option that you’ve checked for the guest in question, and assess each flavour in a mix separately.
Ingredients and allergen information can change. Albert Heijn points out that product information may therefore differ from what’s on the pack.
Even if it’s a product you know and trust, read the pack you’ve bought for this games night.
According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, vegan refers to ingredients of animal origin. A gluten-free claim relates to gluten; neither claim answers every question about allergies.
Match each claim to your guest’s needs and check other relevant allergens separately.
Lay's offers classic crisps, Oven Baked and MAX varieties, as well as multipacks. Choose by individual variety and pack, rather than relying on the brand name alone.
Pringles comes in tubes and a range of flavours. The shape of the pack doesn’t indicate whether it’s suitable for a particular dietary requirement.
Albert Heijn has an online category for gluten-free crisps, with additional dietary filters. This can help you find options to consider, but it doesn’t mean you can skip checking the label.
These products offer a range of flavours and pack sizes for a games night. If a guest needs to avoid gluten or an allergen, check the claims and warnings on the pack you choose before serving it.
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A small pack for anyone who’d like to serve okra crisps while you play. If gluten or a specific allergen needs to be avoided, check the relevant information and any warnings on the pack.
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A pack of chilli-flavoured cassava crisps to put on the table. If someone has an allergy, check the relevant allergen information and any warnings. For a gluten-free requirement, look for an explicit gluten-free claim too.
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A bag of crisps with a smoky paprika flavour for guests who enjoy it. The flavour name doesn’t tell you whether the crisps are suitable for someone with an allergy or a gluten-free requirement, so check the pack.
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The 300 g bag is a good size to share on a games night. If a guest has dietary restrictions, check the allergen information, any warnings and, if needed, the gluten-free claim on this pack.
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Salted plantain crisps in an 85 g pack for anyone who’d like to try something different. Don’t rely on the simple flavour description when catering for dietary requirements: read the relevant claims and warnings on the pack.
No. Under Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 828/2014, a product can be labelled gluten-free if it contains no more than 20 mg/kg of gluten in the food as sold to the final consumer. Check the pack separately for milk, soya, nuts, peanuts and any other relevant allergens.
Use the product information to help you choose, but check the pack you receive before serving. Albert Heijn notes that ingredients and dietary or allergy information can change.
Keep the crisps you’ve checked for that guest in their original packaging, or use a separate bowl with its own serving utensils. Don’t mix them with other crisps. That way, it’s clear which pack each snack came from and you can prevent them from getting mixed up when serving.
No. According to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre, vegan refers to ingredients of animal origin. If someone has an allergy, also check the relevant allergen information and any warnings on the pack.
